A Consecrated Mind – Part 2

A Consecrated Mind – Part 2

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Recently, I have been enjoying listening to “The Pause” app by John Eldredge.

In this series, I’ve been focusing on consecrating our mind to God.
To consecrate something means to give it to God, to present it to Him to be especially His. When we consecrate something to Jesus it allows those things to come under His protection and provision.

Last week we looked specifically at “consecrating my interpretation of the events in my life.”
We live in a battle for truth that is mainly fought in our minds.
So if we are in a battle, or are going to be in a battle, we should prepare and strengthen ourselves for the battle that is being waged against us.

What can we do about that? We consecrate our mind to God.

Text: Matthew 6:25-34, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Romans 8:5-8
“…letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” {New Living Translation}

Today I want to focus on ruling over our tendency to speculate.
Speculation = the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.

If I don’t have a game plan in place, and the enemy drops by to harass me, I will be subject to my human nature that allows my mind to wander from place to place without any boundaries to secure God’s truth in my heart.

Speculation, worry, un-restrained indignations, play out in your mind in all sorts of scenarios and is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining.
I believe the demonic takes advantage of those moments to re-write a different truth than what God tells us.

2 Cor.10:3-5
Ver.5 casting down arguments in different translations: demolish arguments - casting down imaginations - every high-minded thing - we pull down reasonings - tear down speculations.

Speculation = I guess at a conclusion without any facts.
Illustration – backpacking in the wilderness – night noises induce my imagination.

Jesus has a lot to say about reining in our speculation.
Mat.6:25-34

Ver.34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” NIV

Book - “The Practice of the Presence of God” - by Brother Lawrence (he served as a brother in a monastery in Paris in 1620)
The basic theme of the book is to develop an awareness of the presence of God.
Our part in practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to him.

What’s the game plan?

When I recognize my mind is in a battle, I set my alarm to remind me to redirect my mind to truth.
When I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t shut my mind off - I listen to “The Pause.”
I re-enforce different scriptures that speak to that exact truth God gives me.

An exercise / a practice to establish as normal in my everyday thinking is to use one word to focus this whole revelation into one focal point. "Jesus."

Simply us the name Jesus as a prayer to turn your thoughts back towards Him.

Let's practice that right now.
Close your eyes and say out loud: “Jesus..., Jesus...., Jesus....”

Jesus - Where have my thoughts begun to wander recently?
Where have I been worrying or speculating about the future?

Forgive me, and I consecrate my mind to You again.
I renounce speculation.
I take captive my wandering thinking.
I surrender the future to You, Lord.
Teach me to rein in my wandering thoughts - imaginations.