THE MIRACULOUS: When the Mundane Meets the Miraculous
Part 2: “The Day the Waiting Ended”
JESUS CHALLENGES THE MINDSET OF THE STUCK AND STAGNANT
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
Jesus challenged his followers to change the way they thought and Paul expanded upon this. No longer are we limited to our own understanding or our own strength after we accept the salvation Jesus offers. We are new, fighting with God’s weapons, which help us to change our mindset at we capture those rebellious thoughts and turn them into thoughts that are submitted to the truth of how we have been changed by Christ.
1 Peter 1:13-16, “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Peter also reminds us that in order to change our mindset from being stuck and stagnant, we need to place our hope securely in our salvation as well as prepare our minds for action as we exercise self-control. We cannot expect change to happen without putting in effort. God will do His part, but we must also do ours.
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Isaiah knew that keeping our thoughts fixed on God was the secret to holding on to peace. When our thoughts begin wandering and we fix our eyes on our circumstances rather than the one who holds our tomorrows, our minds become stuck and stagnant. If you are feeling stuck today, try taking a step of faith and focus your thoughts on how God has seen you through in the past, and trust He will see you through whatever is trying to keep you stuck today.
Romans 7:21-25, “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
Paul knew all too well the battles that we face in our minds. Sin wants to keep us enslaved, consistently doing things that are contrary to the will of God. God knew this, so He sent us Jesus Christ. Through Jesus offers grace and mercy which can free us from the chains of sin that try to keep us in bondage. Jesus brings the victory when our thoughts are focused upon Him and the price He paid for our freedom.
WHERE ARE YOU STUCK AND STAGNANT IN YOUR MIND TODAY? HOW CAN YOU SHIFT YOUR THOUGHTS TO FOCUS ON JESUS AND WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE? ROMANS 7-8 ARE GREAT CHAPTERS TO READ WHEN YOU NEED A NEW MINDSET. DO NOT FORGET, JESUS DID WHAT THE LAW NEVER COULD AND WAS NEVER MEANT TO DO. GOD’S PLAN WAS ALWAYS GRACE. TAKE A STEP TOWARD EMBRACING THAT GRACE TODAY AND TRUST THAT AS YOU DO, GOD WILL TRANSFORM YOUR MIND.
John 12:35-36, “Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light. After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.”
Jesus himself called the disciples and all believers to walk in “the light.” When our eyes are fixed upon Jesus, the light of the world, and we trust where He is leading us, we will walk in victory over the darkness. Let us all work to become children of the light, trusting in Jesus and not the whims of our own minds. God will provide the steadfastness we need to keep our focus on Jesus, we just need to ask.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
Jesus challenged mindset because He knew it was an area of struggle for many people. Is this an area of struggle for you as well? What tools do you have to help yourself move from “stinking thinking” to the truth of God’s Word?
Share with your small group at least one area where you have to be intentional about not becoming “stuck” in your thoughts.
Read Psalm 119:25-40. What message is the Psalmist trying to get through in this passage? Can you pick out one or two verses that reflect on our mindset and how it impacts our faith?
All of Psalm 119 declares the truth of God’s Word to sustain us when our minds try to deceive us, which makes it a great tool to keep at the ready. What other Scriptures help you re-focus your thoughts on Jesus and the things of Heaven? Share your favorites with your small group.
There are many areas in Scripture where we are encouraged to seek wisdom. When it comes to our thoughts, how do you think wisdom can help?
Look up the definition of wisdom and write it down.
Read James 1. What is James speaking to us through this passage?
There are three aspects involved in practicing wisdom. Can you identify what they are and why they are important? Discuss with your small group.
When we walk in the wisdom found in Scripture it is much easier to keep ungodly thoughts out of our minds, or to take them captive and bring them into submission unto Christ.
Read Proverbs 2. Share how this passage gives examples of wisdom and how it guides believers to walk in truth.
Can you find another passage in Scripture that addresses the benefits of walking in wisdom? Take some time to discuss this with your small group.
As we reach the end of this message, reflect on anything that you struggle with in your mind that can keep you in a place of being stuck or stagnant. Now take time to journal a prayer, asking God to help you remember all the ways He has been faithful in the past, and listen for Him to speak to you the steps you are to take to move forward in His power within you. Do not rush this. Keep this request in the forefront of your mind this week and take time each day to listen and do not forget to write down God’s response.
