Heart & Mind

I am so grateful for friendship. There was a time in my life when I didn't have many. And worse, wasn't sure that I ever would have many. Yet it amazes, how God uses events in our lives as well as people to bring us to places of insight and understanding.

I thought about this yesterday, as I reflected on yesterdays prayer and Sundays' message. I took the opportunity to pray with a couple of guys, as service was coming to a close; my second friend having had a particularly hard week. In a quick moment of what I can only believe was a prompting of the Spirit, was the difference between the state of our heart and our mind regarding our faith.

As I prayed for my friend, the thought process developed. We stand strong in our faith; our heart belongs to God and we believe in Him with all of what is within us. The mind however; likes moving us. Worse; it likes moving in every other direction.

It's a attack of the enemy, really. To detour. To derail. To destroy. Mentally, if we can get distracted; if we can get distracted for long periods of time... what if scenarios start playing out, why did I do this, why didn't I do that; we being to wander, wonder and waiver with possibilities and the outcomes thereof until an alternate reality exists. Albeit a mental reality, we are way off base. And mentally, nowhere near where and what God has in store for us... most likely.

I remember my college days. You know what's in your heart; but mentally, it's easy to start justify things that have no place in the life of the believer. Yet, eventually, the possibility exists that your mind can lure you away and take your heart with it and you have to recognize that while your mind is not focused on God, your heart is also not near His. That usually spells trouble. It's usually accompanied by all sorts of spiritual red flags, that are worth heeding sooner, rather than later.

We all struggle with it. The heart is willing. The flesh is weak. The mind, a traveler.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, for pastors facing this battle. They are not alone. It's happened in my life; turns out my prayer with my friend, was accurate, not because of me, but because of the work God desires to accomplish in His life. Pray that their heart would remain passionate for the things of God. Pray God would guard their mind; from being lured away into thoughts that would distract; from scenarios and possibilities that cause worry and anxiety. May their heart remain pure. May their mind remain focused. Pray for synchronicity, that both their heart and mind would be in tune with the heart and mind of God; to follow His direction; to seek His face; to hear from Heaven; to move in the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Pray the enemy would be unsuccessful in his attempts to distract, derail, detour and destroy our pastors and church leaders.

Passionate hearts.
Fortified minds.
For things of God.
For the glory of God.

- PNC