So if the mind is our filter (see loving w/ your mind Part One) and Jesus teaches us to take in our daily bread (Part Two), what is our response? It’s clear to see we have to feed our mind with spiritual things. But the Bible can be a tough read! Believe me….

I have made more attempts to “Read the Bible in One Year!” than there are years I’ve been able to read. I’ve tried a One-Year Bible, a Two-Year Bible, a chronological bible, a print-it-out and put each book in your purse plan (whip it out at the stop light!) I’ve followed a reading plan from a magazine, an on-line reading plan, and an audio bible reading plan. I’ve read one chapter of Proverbs per night, one chapter of Psalms, and all of 1 John at once for a month (I think I made it ten days). I’ve made huge efforts to read the bible straight through. I’ve even been to seminary, where you would expect I might read hundreds of pages of God’s word in one sitting. I have tried every trick and scheme to read copious amounts of scripture at once.

Deep down, I think I’ve believed that reading the bible straight through, cover to cover, would propel me to a higher level of heaven, a new level of spiritual productivity, or some sort of nirvana-like state with every person who’s every annoyed me. I’ve tried…and failed. Over and over. I keep trying, and I’m still optimistic that one day I’ll get through the whole thing front to back all at once. But until that day, I need to figure out how to make my daily dose of spiritual nutrition work for me.

The problem is not so much in any one plan, but in my expectations for the plan. As I read scripture, I really hope that it’s going to address my problem right then and there. More than once I’ve opened the bible, closed my eyes and pointed, hoping for some horoscope-like answer to my daily difficulty. And I think God can work through these things if he desires. But more likely, developing a peaceful relationship with my Bible is in order.

More recently, I’ve tried to tune out my expectations of what I “should” do with my Bible and tune in to how my heart and mind interact with the words on the page. Sometimes I let a devotional or bible study lead me through God’s word, either a book of the bible or a particular topic. Sometimes I start in Psalms, find one verse catches my eye. I take that one verse and let it meditate with me for a day, or a week, or a month. I let the Holy Spirit do its mysterious work of instructing me, even in the night. Perhaps its just one word that sticks out to me, like “daily.” I use a website concordance to check around for other verses that might speak to my learning. Other times I’ve been inspired by great writers who lead me into new understandings of the Bible. But whatever it is, I find something to look at every day.

Sometimes I feel satisfied, like a filling meal. The verse or passage will be just what I needed or wanted to hear.

Sometimes I feel troubled, almost like spiritual indigestion, and I need to talk about, think about it, or question in my prayers what I feel like I’m hearing.

Other times, I don’t feel anything at all. But I rest in the fact that God’s word still nourished my soul. Just as I don’t totally understand the intricate processes of how my digestive system processes my food or how my kidneys use the nutrients, I don’t totally understand how God’s Word nourished me that day. But I’m confident that it did, and that it does matter.

For a great resource on this, check out Eugene Peterson’s “Solo” or Keri Wyatt Kent’s “Oxygen”.

“What do you say? Thank you?”
“What do you say? Please?”

I think I say, “what do you say” to my kids a gazillion times daily in a feeble attempt to teach them manners. Whoever said a habit is formed in fifty repetitions did not try and teach children. It’s amazing to me that something as simple as “please” and “thank you” does not come easily. How many times do you have to hear “what do you say” before you start anticipating what you say?

But then again, maybe simple things don’t come that easily. Some things in my faith are easier than others. God loves me more than I could ever imagine. He knew me before I’m born. I’m saved by Jesus’ work. But then some things are a little harder. Take judgmental thoughts. How about impatience with people, things and red lights. How about my worries and fears for the future? God tells us hundreds of times throughout his Word “fear not” but I’m still not getting it.

Seems like my kids aren’t the only ones who need daily reminders.

My pastor and I were talking recently and he commented that Jesus teaches about two things that need to be done daily:
• Take up our cross daily and follow him.
• Pray (give us this day our daily bread).

And in those two things I find the habit-forming action of following Jesus.

The arena of the mind is the place where I must daily take up my cross and follow Him, to die to my own independence and welcome his lead.

The arena of the mind is where I must daily feed my soul through God’s word, so that I might discern what is right and true, where I’ve fallen short and where He’s pleased with my attempts at Jesus-living.

And the coolest thing? Here’s one more example of something done daily:

Praise be to the Lord, our God our Savior, who DAILY bears our burdens. (Psalm 68)

I’m glad that’s a two way street! When we die to our own way, we live in His plan. And I’ll take God holding my burdens over me managing them anyday. Please. and Thank You!!

The Psalmist uses this word when he talks about God’s word instructing him at night. He uses this same word when he asks God to test his way of life.

The Hebrew word used is Kilyah. The meaning is kidneys. Huh?

Last I checked, my kidneys had nothing to do with God’s word instructing me or determining my ways. We translate the word Kilyah to the English word mind. How might the two relate?

Here’s what I know about kidneys:

1. they filter waste
2. they balance chemicals for the body.

How is loving God with our mind similar?

1. our mind filters the waste of the world. It is normal to have waste in our bodies and normal for our kidneys to handle it. What causes disease is when we don’t actively filter the waste out. We take in an enormous amount of infomation every day. To follow Jesus, we must be willing to examine what we learn and believe about ourselves, others, and God from the culture around us. What’s normal? What’s edifying? What do we need to filter out?

2. our mind must also balance our needs. Like our kidneys, we must process the combination of waste and useful things that come through our mind. As we look at what we learn every day, we will find we were lacking a little something here and there. Compassion. Gratitude. Self-Control. Patience. Our mind is the place where we invite the Spirit to take inventory of our soul.

How do we actively do these two things? As soon as I figure it out I’ll let you know. Probably sometime in the next post.