| JoyUs Musing Edition #08-13 |
Yesterday, I stood on my front porch, watching the water in the drainage ditch inch higher and higher. To the
left, the run-off was so fierce it rushed over the side, making a small violent waterfall. That water hits the ditch so
hard that it flowed up over the other side of the ditch into the road. Any trash or leaves in the ditch ended up in
the road.
Today, any trash that was in the ditch yesterday is gone. It was pushed by the torrent of water out of the ditch or
through the drain pipe, emptying into the field across the street.
This is why reading our Bible is so important. When we are first born-again (saved), we are full of the world's way
of thinking - trash. The Bible tells us to renew our minds daily. Why? Even though we are born again, we still
think and act the old way - the way our "old man" thought and acted before Jesus came into our lives.
Notice that it does NOT say we renew our minds one time and then we are set for life. It says to renew our minds
daily. And if we don't renew our minds, we will continue to think and act the same old displeasing ways we always
have. That is why there are 75 year old baby Christians sitting on the church pews. They only opened their
Bibles on Sunday mornings along with the pastor so they have never renewed their minds.
BUT! When we do renew our minds, it is like the run-off in my yard filling up the ditch. You can't see it at first. A
light rain doesn't affect much; usually there is no run-off. But as the rain continues to come down, eventually the
ditches, gullies and dips in the yard begin to fill up with water. As they fill up, any trash that is in the ditch will
begin to float. As it keeps raining, water begins to flow swiftly until it pushes that trash right out of the ditches,
gullies and puddles in the yard - until it is all gone.
Renewing your mind daily is like that rain water. At first you can't tell there is any difference in your thinking. But
as you continue to read your Bible, eventually your mind begins to fill up with God's Word. As it fills up, any trash
thinking you had in your mind begins to float. As you keep reading, that Word begins to flow faster and faster
until it pushes all that trash thinking right out of your mind - until it is all gone.
If you want to think like God thinks, know what God knows and act like God acts, begin to renew your mind daily
by reading your Bible. Don't get religious about it saying, "I will read my Bible 3.4 hours a day, every day." Begin
where you are right now even if it is only a few verses every morning before you go to work. Work up to more
time and you will be amazed at the changes in your life - changes for good!
Who wouldn't want that?
Inspiration Copyright © 2008 Nan C Loyd
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
left, the run-off was so fierce it rushed over the side, making a small violent waterfall. That water hits the ditch so
hard that it flowed up over the other side of the ditch into the road. Any trash or leaves in the ditch ended up in
the road.
Today, any trash that was in the ditch yesterday is gone. It was pushed by the torrent of water out of the ditch or
through the drain pipe, emptying into the field across the street.
This is why reading our Bible is so important. When we are first born-again (saved), we are full of the world's way
of thinking - trash. The Bible tells us to renew our minds daily. Why? Even though we are born again, we still
think and act the old way - the way our "old man" thought and acted before Jesus came into our lives.
Notice that it does NOT say we renew our minds one time and then we are set for life. It says to renew our minds
daily. And if we don't renew our minds, we will continue to think and act the same old displeasing ways we always
have. That is why there are 75 year old baby Christians sitting on the church pews. They only opened their
Bibles on Sunday mornings along with the pastor so they have never renewed their minds.
BUT! When we do renew our minds, it is like the run-off in my yard filling up the ditch. You can't see it at first. A
light rain doesn't affect much; usually there is no run-off. But as the rain continues to come down, eventually the
ditches, gullies and dips in the yard begin to fill up with water. As they fill up, any trash that is in the ditch will
begin to float. As it keeps raining, water begins to flow swiftly until it pushes that trash right out of the ditches,
gullies and puddles in the yard - until it is all gone.
Renewing your mind daily is like that rain water. At first you can't tell there is any difference in your thinking. But
as you continue to read your Bible, eventually your mind begins to fill up with God's Word. As it fills up, any trash
thinking you had in your mind begins to float. As you keep reading, that Word begins to flow faster and faster
until it pushes all that trash thinking right out of your mind - until it is all gone.
If you want to think like God thinks, know what God knows and act like God acts, begin to renew your mind daily
by reading your Bible. Don't get religious about it saying, "I will read my Bible 3.4 hours a day, every day." Begin
where you are right now even if it is only a few verses every morning before you go to work. Work up to more
time and you will be amazed at the changes in your life - changes for good!
Who wouldn't want that?
Inspiration Copyright © 2008 Nan C Loyd
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
| Overflowing Rain |
| Say It: I read my Bible every day, renewing my mind to think like God thinks! |
 |