Is It Mind Over Matter? I’m sitting in a beautiful hotel room, on a wonderful, albeit short, time away. It has been so lovely, everything near perfect, except… the hotel is having repairs done… right above our room. Now, I would think that maybe they would know where the workers are going to be and put people in other places in this vast array of buildings and rooms. (We got lost trying to find the pool!) So, I could be frustrated (OK, I was a little frustrated trying to take a little afternoon nap) and let it spoil all the wonderfulness; or I could make it a “mind over matter” issue. It sounds very trivial as I write this, and it is, but what I’ve come to realize is that the size of the “matter” isn’t the issue—the mind is. Earlier today during breakfast at our 28-hour getaway, I had to deal with another issue—the ongoing issue of caring for my mom. I was hoping there wouldn’t be a problem, but there was. It was just a little problem, but, once again, the little problem brought up the feeling of a bigger issue—the 24/7 care-box that is my new normal.
What is your issue? What do you deal with on a regular basis? Does it rule your life, or have you found the secret of successful living? Years ago, my husband worked with a woman who had purchased a quartz rock. It was supposed to help her handle pressure. Some people rely on other people—psychiatrists, spouses, parents, children, pastors, priests, gurus—to give the help needed for handling problems or issues. So often, we turn to anything or anyone except to the One who can truly help us, and often He is the ONLY One who can help us. I’m speaking from experience: SO OFTEN, IT IS ME—I’M THE PROBLEM!!! AND GENERALLY, I AM THE ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT I CAN CHANGE! This little getaway has already been a time of refreshing, regrouping, refocusing. And, with the danger of sounding redundant, I always come back to the same solution. Mind over Matter = Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
- I’m crucified—DROP DEAD, WANDA. This is not your life but His.
- With Christ—I’m in GOOD company—my best Friend. My life is His life—what greater prospect could there be? Can anything bring more meaning to this life than to glorify my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? I haven’t found any!
- He loves me!!!! What a wonderful, overwhelming, peace-producing thought!
- Gave His life for me—try to get your mind and heart around that one!!
- Living for Jesus, the self-sacrificing life, brings meaning and peace to this life, makes relationships work, adds joy to every decision, and just makes life worth living!
Even when “issues” try to take over our thoughts and ruin our attitudes, we can remember the reason we are here in the first place and make the decision to live the crucified life. And if that’s not enough… here is Philippians 2:6-8 for more encouragement! You can’t do this, but God can!!! That’s the beauty of the Christian life.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:6-8
Beyond Common Sense 