THE MIND

......Guard it or lose it

Of the many great assets that God has given each of us, the mind must stand out for it’s all importance. The mind is unique. It has immense power and can be used to control whatever situation that might come up. The power of the mind can be used to create a blessing or a curse.

It can cause one to laugh or to cry. Like anything in life that is precious and valuable, the mind must be guarded day and night. It is the mind that the forces of good and evil seek to conquer. Whoever controls your mind, controls you.

In the course of time, the forces of religion, the government, your family and your employer, to name but a few, know that if they have your mind they have you. You will be their servant. You will be loyal only to them. At an early age, they will seek to control you. As you become an adult, and if they have been successful in their efforts, you will belong to them.

How often has it been said, once a Catholic always a Catholic, once a Democrat always a Democrat, and once a Greek always a Greek?

The rulers of nations, knowing the value of controlling the mind, seek after the youth. The youth are gullible and innocent and easily influenced. They can be taught to have a passion, a commitment, for whatever their ruler tells them. Dictators of our time, such as Hitler, Mao and the Muslin radicals have risen in power, and maintained it for a season, because they had a strong influence on the children. They controlled their mind.

Our education system is designed to influence the children to whatever ideology that is fashionable at that time. It is important, then, that Christian parents guard their children so that godly influence will be upon them as much as possible.

God, in his word, tells us to look to him for guidance and wisdom. He will not let us down. The Book of Proverbs is full of verses for parents to follow in raising their children.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Paul writing in II Tim says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." It is important to understand that God places a high importance on us having a sound mind. Our society, too.

Without a sound mind in operation, poor decisions will be made. There will be an atmosphere of darkness, confusion and second guessing. The truth will remain hidden. We will be clueless on what the consequences of our decision will make on others and on us. We will be judged as being out of our mind. With the word of God, we are encouraged to have the mind of Christ.

A major challenge in our society today is which group(s) of thinking will control the mind. At one time, the church was the dominated force in raising our children on Christian principles and establishing a standard on which we were to follow. Today, because of our multi-cultural and diversified society and the emphasis on free speech, many groups are seeking after our mind to control. As always, Satan is there, too.

As powerful as the mind can be, it is also, very sensitive and fickle. A mind can suddenly change direction, as the wind changes direction. In each generation we have seen the mind of our leaders change the course of history, in the field of education, social services, government, music and even the church has changed from its early roots.

But one thing will never change no matter how many minds of men are put together.

God’s word and his character are the same today, as they were yesterday and will be forever.

Align your mind to him.