Set your Affection

Where is your affection? No really, I mean it. Think about it. Where is your affection? What are you actively concerned about? What do your actions have to say about that? What are you constantly thinking about? What is your mind on?

Me? oh, yeah.... not on what's it's supposed to be most of the time. I have to admit, I have been thinking a whole lot about my future... in a worried way, like will I ever get married? (even though I'm only sixteen, yes, I think about this...) like, will I ever have kids? like, will I be able to afford college? like, will I ever be able to go to Paris (okay, now we're getting a little off-track...)

The point is, my mind is not usually where it should be. Sometimes it is... but lately, not so much. Worry squirms its slimy way into my mind and expands until all other things are completely minimized. And then I feel like I'm walking around trying, trying, trying so hard to squeeze under the worry and dwell on something worthwhile, but the honest truth of the matter is that when worry is in a small part of my mind, it's in every part of my mind. And I don't like it, but for some reason I want to hang on to it. Maybe it's a control thing, I don't know. But I know that worry is no good.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

-Colossians 3:2

We've been studying this verse a lot in girls' group the past couple of weeks... And I've been thinking about worry. I don't think it quite fits in with the "things above..." It fits in a bit more with the flesh. The Greek word used in the previous verse for "set your affection" is phroneo, which is the same word that pops up in Romans 8:5-

"They that are of the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit."

You know what I don't see in that verse? I don't see "they that live in the 21st century may mind the things of the flesh and the Spirit cooperatively." No. Ya either mind the things of the flesh, or the things of the Spirit. Those of the Spirit are called to mind the things of the Spirit. No worry allowed. As a matter of fact, Christ tells us to cast all our worries on Him...

"Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you."

-1 Peter 5:7

And I think I just hit an analogy. Have you ever gone fishing? I haven't. So maybe I don't have the liberty to use that as an analogy... But I'm pretty sure this verse means to completely give all our worries to God ;)

Rewind. There's another one here that I'm sure I understand.... When I read "Set your affection on things above..." it comes to my mind that there are different setting I can have my mind on. For example, picture a metal lever with a big red ball for a handle on the end of it. This lever is coming out of a wall with writing next to the lever. The lever can be moved to stay in one of two modes: the fleshy mode, and the Spiritual mode. Now picture that lever coming out of the side of your head, wired to your mind inside. It's your choice every moment of every day what setting you want your mind to be on... Whatever you choose, you will dwell on things pertaining to that mode. We might say that the result of each of the "modes" is revealed through an attitude, and further revealed through what actions are prevalent in our day. Now actually picture that lever on the side of your head right this very minute. What setting is it on???

You can tell by your attitude or your actions from a few minutes ago... Were they resembling the things of the earth, or the things above? Were they representing fleshly things, or Spiritual things? 

Don't be afraid to admit it if your mind is set on things on the earth right now... We have all been there many times and God already knows. Just grab that lever (FIGURATIVELY) and push it on up to the Spiritual mode. Ask God to change your thoughts, attitudes, and actions to bring glory to Him, instead of yourself.

If your at all struggling with this, read right on down through Colossians 3. The chapter talks all about the flesh vs. the Spirit. Take the time now and refocus on the things of God. It'll be worth it.

*Manufacturer's note: One of my creations once said... "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." The lever to your mind tends to naturally pop back to fleshly mode, because that is your human nature. You can keep this from occurring by continually focusing on the things of the Spirit and let the Spirit have rule in your hearts. If at any time your mind pops back into fleshly mode, you can simply refocus on Spiritual things. If you would like to know what these are, read Colossians chapter 3 in your manufacturer's manual; this will explain further the fleshly things and the Spiritual things.

Someday Today

 

"If only....."

I mutter to myself as I read yet another Facebook post about someone who has anounced their upcoming 

wedding/new baby/house down-payment.

And it's enough to make an eighteen-nearly-nineteen year old girl like myself wonder, 

"When will it be my turn?"

Then I remind myself, "God is enough. His will, not mine," and go on  my merry-ish way.

A couple of days later, a friend tells me, "You know so-and-so? Well, she's expecting!!"

I paste on a smile while my heart cries, "When, Lord, when?? Will it ever be my turn?? Can 'someday' be today???"

Then He reminds me:

  If I am not content in my circumstances today, how will I ever be content in marriage and motherhood?

If I don't love my Savior with all that is in me today, will I really be able to love my husband someday?

I'm so caught up in my desires for someday, that I'm not looking to God to fulfill me. When I take my eyes off of Him, I can't be content. 

True, there will still be days when I in tears bring my desires back to the hands of my Father.

 I need to remember:

Wedding cakes and bridesmaid dresses, 

baby bottles and diapers,

 will never bring true contentment to my heart.

Only Christ can do that.

Today I am single. 

Today I can serve God in ways that as a wife I could not.

Today I can participate in dozens of areas of ministry that further His kingdom.

And in serving, I'll be prepared for 'someday'.

Today I'll live; I'll not hold back, not shy away from the fun and the beauty of now.

Today I'll love Him fully, and learn to love Him with all my heart.

 And maybe, one day, when I am lost in Him and His love, I'll wake up and realize that 'someday' is now 'today'.

What I Learned About Loving

We took on a challenge to pour out Christ's love to others on Valentine's Day.

My "big thing" was to stay nights {Friday-Tuesday of my February break week}

 with my great-grandmother so my grandparents could go on an impromptu trip to visit a sick family member.

Sounds sacrificial, doesn't it?

Not really. 

The routine was so simple and her care so basic, that I almost felt ashamed. 

"I seriously thought this would be a great way to show Christ's love to others?  I feel as if I'm hardly doing anything! I'm sure the other girls are doing great and wonderful acts of love.

And what am I doing?? 

Sitting on a couch crocheting while watching a Hallmark movie.

Nothing sacrificial about that!"

Wednesday morning came.

 I went through the morning routine, packed everything I'd brought with me for spending the night, hugged Great-Nana goodbye, and locked the door behind me. 

I went home, and sat down to write about how I poured out Christ's sacrificial love.

But I still felt I hadn't done all that much. 

It had been a great opportunity, but it seemed like such a trivial one. 

And then it hit me.

Loving others isn't always a huge sacrifice that takes away from my comfort and down time.

Loving isn't just a step of obedience that we as Christians are supposed to take.

It's seeing people with God's eyes and loving them with His love.

It's taking every opportunity, whether large or small, to love others to Christ.

The opportunity doesn't have to be big.

It can be little, too. 

That's what I learned about love.

When a Hymn Becomes Personal

I'm not one who likes change very much. The same old things, day in and day out, have always suited me just fine. Growing up, I had my life all mapped out: I would not go to college; instead I'd get married, have kids, live in one particular house in my hometown, I'd go to the same church I grew up in...my future was all planned, and I liked being so sure that this plan was God-given. “After all,” I thought, “I'd be at peace in that situation. I'd be happy. There's nothing peaceful about moving and adjusting all the time. Change isn't always for the best.” 

Over the spring/summer of 2011, however, I began praying that God would give me a desire for whatever was in His will for my life. Slowly God began changing the way I thought about certain things, certain situations in my life. As I surrendered these things to the Lord, I felt at peace. But I was still certain that God wanted me in my home state of Maine, for life.

Sept. 30-Oct.1, 2011, I was blessed to be able to attend a retreat for pastor's kids with my sister. We looked forward to it for weeks, because we'd be riding to and from the retreat with some good friends of ours. The retreat was lots of fun, we all had a good time, enjoying singing and fellowship with other pastor's kids. Then it came time for the final hymn before we packed up our things. We started singing the first verse of “I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go.”

 

It may not be on the mountains height, or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle's front my Lord will have need of me:

But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,

I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,

I'll go where You want me to go.

I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,

O'er mountain or plain or sea;

I'll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,

I'll be what You want me to be.

~ Mary Brown ~

And as we were singing, I realized something: I could honestly sing those words! Suddenly, I realized that if God were to ask me to give up everything, I really could. I meant every word of that song! As we started in on the last verse, I sang out clearer than before, joyfully singing those words to my Savior—meaning every word. 

And guess what? I'm at peace! I don't know where God would have me go, what He'd have me do, only that He'll be with me and providing for me, leading and guiding all the way.

Can you go wherever God wants you to go, say what He wants you to say, or be what He wants you to be, simply because He asks?

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

~Jeremiah 29:11