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discerning the spirits, encouragement, experience, feelings, following Jesus, God's love, Jesus Christ, peace, prayer, spiritual power, T.A. Sparks, the mind of Christ, thought life
I might be wrong but I imagine that the mind of Christ must be, and must have been as Jesus walked on the earth, like a deep, clear water that could not be moved by anything else but by the voice of His Father. We know that we as believers should be like-minded as we share the mind of Christ. Yet how often do we experience the opposite of clarity in our minds? Are we continually filled with good thoughts toward life, toward our neighbors (even our enemies!) and toward ourselves? 🙄
As to how we will relate to ourselves, depending on the spiritual state we are in, I want to share a short excerpt from one of T. Austin Sparks’ articles with you. TAS said,
“The measure of our self-esteem will be in inverse proportion to the measure of Christ that we have. How much of Christ have we received? Well, if we have a superabundance of Christ, if we have more of Christ than anyone else, we shall not think highly of ourselves at all. The more we have of Christ, the less we shall think of ourselves, the less we shall want to talk about ourselves, the less we shall be in view, the less we shall want to be in the limelight.” (1)
That does NOT mean that we gather negative and scornful thoughts about ourselves, however, we do know that our old nature will not produce anything which is pleasing in the eyes of God, ever. Nonetheless, we know and enjoy that He loves us unconditionally! Our mindset has changed insofar that our thought life has become more occupied with thinking about Christ than with reflecting on ourselves. That is the whole secret of eternal life (see John 17:3): We look at Him Who is in the “eternal limelight”. He who is unlimited and surprising in His thoughts and actions has become more interesting to us than our old, limited nature. Indeed, we will be bored with thinking and especially with talking about ourselves! If that is not freedom, I don’t know… 🙄 If such a change has happened in us, it was surely not a man made thing as we cannot set ourselves free on our own. Whether it might be comforting for you or not I don’t know, but I can tell you from my own experiences that there is only one person who sometimes saves me from my negative hamster wheel of thoughts, namely our Lord Jesus Christ. You can forget meditating on Bible verses, trying to pull yourself together doesn’t work, either, just as reading Christian articles is not really helpful at times. The only exception might be that God leads us to do so, then, of course, everything changes.
Just lately I have experienced a roller-coaster of emotions, up and down almost every day. Sometimes I am pretty nervous, impatient and upset for nullities. Whatever I tried to get rid of my unnerving thoughts and emotions, nothing ever changed. My prayers were VERY short then, though numerous. “Jesus, please, set me free… from ME!!! AMEN.” He did not always help immediately, however, God does help. Without any forewarning or premonition I have suddenly sensed a soothing breeze of sorts as an overwhelming peace swept away everything that could disturb my troubled mind once again. To me, this has been a real miracle!
Dear reader, have you had similar experiences with God?
(1) https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001628.html
“In keeping with T. Austin-Sparks’ wishes that what was freely received should be freely given and not sold for profit, and that his messages be reproduced word for word, we ask if you choose to share these messages with others, to please respect his wishes and offer them freely – free of any changes, free of any charge (except necessary distribution costs) and with this statment included.”
Michael said:
Dear Susanne, once again you have expressed with your experiences much of what my life has been like as well. Your honesty is so refreshing. 🙂
I find my mind is more at ease during the day when I spend the first minutes of my day getting my mind quieted by focusing on Jesus and the Father and submitting my day to them. This means that I have to shut out phone calls from others, the morning news and the internet messages that are of this world. All these thing do their best to drag me away from HIS thoughts and into the mind of this world that is under the influence of Satan and they press in on me every morning as I let them.
Paul wrote, “For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.” (Rom 12:3, RSV). To have the mind of Christ is to be “Christ minded,” that is, we let HIS mind, the mind of the Spirit, operate in us with HIS leading. This is thinking with “sober judgment” and not thinking all the time out from ourselves. I know that you ask God every day what He would have you do even over the most minute things. Coming into His rest is not easy, but as Isaiah said, “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isa 26:3, NKJV). Keep it up and rest in Him knowing that He knows what is best for all of us as we rest in HIS will.
It was good to be encouraged by you once again. I keep praying that He will give me inspiration to do the same AS HE WILLS, not as I will… so I wait.
Your brother in His love, Michael
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Michael said:
One more thing, your picture of the white swan resting by the pond really fits what Father is saying to us, don’t you think?
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
You are so right, Michael. These were my thoughts, too. 🙂 In fact, as we were in Upper Bavaria last year on Pentecost, we visited a wild animal park in Poing with many other people, too. Like you, I do not like crowds at all.
However, as we saw this scene at the pond Sarah and I agreed that peace was there. We could not explain it, yet we were both seized by the silence we felt. I am lacking the words to express it properly but I know it was God.
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Michael said:
Amazing how often a scripture or two comes to my mind as I read your comments, dear heart. Being of one mind and Spirit with you is such a blessing to me. Above you spoke of the swan resting at that pond and the peace you and Sarah felt there on Pentecost. As I read that the following verses came to me, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” (Acts 2:1, NKJV). You and your daughter were in one place and of one mind as you were being refreshed by the Spirit. 🙂 What a blessing you two shared.
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Wow, that Scripture truly fits, Michael!!! Actually, while writing my reply to you I was pondering on dropping the remark about Pentecost, but somehow I felt I should jot it down anyway. Now I know why. 🙂
You are a blessing, my brother!
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Michael, it makes me feel truly refreshed, reading you felt this post was refreshing for you, too. Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
Yes, it makes such a difference to focus on Him before the day starts and also when the day ends. I rather did the latter lately due to a lack of strength and time. But God saw my weakness and intervened, sharing His peace as a gift I could have never “earned” by sticking to regular prayer times alone. In my case, I sometimes sense that there is some danger in making a tradition of sorts out of my prayer times instead of trying to be focused on Him all day long.
You quoted,
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isa 26:3, NKJV).
Wow!! Thank you, my dear brother! Once again, this was the reminder I needed to hear just now. 🙂 In fact, it is so good to be part of a body of believers since together we can get closer to Him as He wills. All alone it is waaaaay more difficult as we do not have any encouragement nor admonition from human beings. But God knows, if there is no fellow believer, then He will help us through these lonely times also.
“And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isa 58:11 ESV)
May God inspire you in His timing, Michael.
Your sister in His love,
Susanne
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Michael said:
You are so welcome, Susanne. Being of the same mind in Him with you is such a blessing to me as well. I can get very lonely during times where that is missing with His saints.
As you know, I have had problems with weak bones in my back and torso. Well, the above verse from Isaiah was a blessing to me as I read it in that I just went through a physical with my doctor last week and she told me that everything was well with my blood test and all. My minerals were all in perfect balance. This was not so in the past. Soooo, He has been making my bones strong and me like His watered garden. 🙂 I will be praying the same blessings in the fullness of this verse for you as well, my sister.
Michael
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
Thanks a bunch for your many prayers, Michael. I am glad to hear you are doing better now! 🙂 This same mind we share is truly a gift from Him!! ⭐
As for this watered garden, I think God might also have a deeper meaning in mind here. More of His Spirit for you, perhaps…
Susanne
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Anna Waldherr said:
The trials and distractions of this life seem designed to draw our attention away from God. Worries can easily overcome us, stirring dark emotions and robbing us of hope, especially in these turbulent times.
Paul advised: “…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things” (Phil 4: 8). Such things remind us of God who is the source of all good, thereby, calming our souls.
John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3: 30). That, of course, is our goal, as well. It is worth noting the statement was made with a sense of joy, rather than resignation.
May He grant you peace, Susanne.
Much love,
A. ❤
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Susanne Schuberth (Germany) said:
I fully agree with you, Anna. Being focused on our trials or on distractions instead of being focused on the invisible part on the other side of life, so to speak, makes us easily forget where our real strength comes from. I described these up and down feelings more than one month ago already and then I got sick all of a sudden. I got influenza and was forced to stay in bed for a longer time than I expected due to high fever and many pains, esp. heart pains. Not being able to do anything I used to do before made me aware, once again, of how dependent I am on God in all things. Our body is such a fragile thing!
Just about a half hour ago I was standing in the bathroom before the mirror as this Scripture you quoted popped up in my mind. 🙂 Indeed, these words express perfectly what our main problem is! ⭐ The more of Christ is in us, the less of ourselves has space to spread. Thank you very much for this confirmation, dear Anna! 🙂
May He grant you His peace, too!
Much love,
Susanne ❤
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