Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

Romans 8:37 (AMPC)

There is no doubt that thinking positive is much easier when life is not difficult, but it is self-defeating to think that you can’t be positive in every circumstance. Be careful not to just focus on your problems but remember to also focus on and be thankful for your blessings. It is very important for each of us to learn how to have the victory in our minds in the midst of our problems. God’s Word reassures us that we are not just conquerors but more than conquerors even during life’s toughest moments (Romans 8:37).

When life gets tough, I often turn to Romans 8:35–39 to remind myself of God’s unwavering love. I try to remember that, at times, I may appear as a sheep being led to slaughter, but in the midst of these things, I am more than a conqueror.

To me, this simply means that we can always be assured of eventual victory. We may go through very difficult things, but following the principles God has set for us in His Word will bring us through safely every time. It is very helpful during difficult times to remember that they won’t last forever. That is what helps me keep my joy in adversity.

Prayer of the Day: God, I know that You love me and that I am more than a conqueror. I need you in my current situation. I believe victory is coming! I will trust You all the way to the finish, amen.

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Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you: Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.

Jeremiah 32:17-19 (NIV)

It is always good to stir up our faith and remember that God is a God of miracles. As the prophet Jeremiah said, nothing is too difficult for Him! Because we believe His Word, we can be confident that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). You may feel that your life is a mess right now and that nothing will ever change. For a believer, that’s just not true. God can take your biggest mess and turn it into your biggest miracle.

In our natural minds, there are certain things we think of as too difficult for us. You may be thinking about a situation right now that seems too hard for you. Maybe it’s getting out of debt. Maybe it’s losing weight and becoming physically healthy. Maybe it’s doing your part to see a breakthrough in your marriage or family. Whatever your circumstances are, if there is something that seems too difficult for you, I have good news today: It’s not too hard for God.

Let me remind you that in the Old Testament, God reached down from heaven and parted the Red Sea so His people could escape their enemies and walk through it on dry land (Exodus 14:21–22). If you or I were to visit the ocean, we would not be able to hold back even a handful of water, but God held back all of it. This miraculous deliverance positioned His people to finally enter into the great promises He had for them!

Think also about how hard you may have tried to change yourself or to change other people at times. That is very hard to do! But God can take hard, wounded, sinful, bitter hearts, and make them soft, whole, strong, holy, loving, and forgiving. If He can do that, then I believe He can do anything. The salvation and transformation He does in us is truly miraculous.

In the New Testament, Jesus did all kinds of miracles. Nothing was too difficult for Him—not turning five loaves and two fish into a meal that fed five thousand people (Mark 6:41–44), not healing a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years (Luke 8:43–48), not raising someone from the dead (Luke 8:49–55), not even walking on water (Matthew 14:22–25). All of these things would definitely be too hard for us, but not for Him.

I encourage you to spend some time thinking about the things you think are too hard for you. Take each one and surrender it to God. Release it and tell Him that you trust Him with it completely and that you believe nothing is too difficult for Him.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I surrender every overwhelming situation to You. Strengthen my faith to believe nothing is too hard for You. Turn my challenges into miracles and help me trust Your power completely, amen.

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And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (AMPC)

Someone once told me of a one-act play with three characters—a father, a mother, and a son who had just returned from Vietnam—who are sitting at a table to talk. The play lasts 30 minutes, and they all get their chance to talk. There’s only one problem: No one listens to the others.

The father is about to lose his job. The mother had once held just about every office in their church, and now younger women are pushing her aside. The son struggles with his faith. He had gone to war, seen chaos and death, and now is bewildered about life.

At the end of the play, the son stands and heads toward the door. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said,” is his parting remark, as he walks out of the room.

The parents look at each other, and the mother asks, “What did he mean?”

What the parents didn’t get—and the audience obviously does—is that the son struggles to believe in a loving, caring God. Every time he tries to explain, one of the parents interrupts with something they want to say. The soldier needed to hear from God. Hoping his mother or father would be the channel through which God would speak, he went to them. However, they were not available for God to use because they were not quiet enough to hear Him. All three of them were so distraught and noisy that they all left the same way they came. What might have happened had they really listened to one another, and then quietly prayed and waited on God? I am sure the outcome would have been very different and much more rewarding.

In the opening scripture, I quoted part of the story of Elijah to make this point clear. That deeply committed prophet had defied the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel for years. The big moment came on Mount Carmel when Elijah destroyed 450 prophets of Baal. Later, when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him, he ran away, apparently in terror.

He must have been worn out by the powerful events. Then suddenly the man was alone, with no crowds, no one trying to kill him, and no one to talk to. Just before the two verses mentioned above, Elijah had gone into a cave to hide out. When God asked him what he was doing there, he spoke of his zeal for God. Then he told God that the children of Israel had gone astray, killing prophets, And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away 1 Kings 19:10 (AMPC). God brought strong winds, falling rocks, an earthquake, and fire. I think that was the way Elijah expected God to appear—in the miraculous and powerful. But the writer tells us God wasn’t in those things.

This is really the spiritual principle of God at work. We can find the devil in the noise and the shouts. We can find the devil with big attractions to lead us astray. But God likes to speak in the still, small voice—the voice that not everyone will hear—the voice that only the committed will listen for.

As long as Elijah sought the dramatic, he wouldn’t hear God. But when he pulled back and listened for the inner voice, the soft, non-demanding voice of the Holy Spirit, Elijah could communicate with God.

What kind of voice from God are you listening for? Will you recognize the still, small voice when you hear it? Do you take time to be quiet and just listen? If not, there is no better time to begin than right now.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, like Elijah and many others, I often look for the loud, the exciting, and the showy. I know that You sometimes use healings and miracles, but I ask You to help me listen most of all in the soft stillness for the quiet ways in which You speak. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

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So they came to John and reported to him, Rabbi, the Man Who was with you on the other side of the Jordan . . . notice, here He is baptizing too, and everybody is flocking to Him!

John 3:26 (AMPC)

John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord. That was his purpose on earth and he knew it. But John’s disciples tried to incite him to jealousy over Jesus’ ministry! John replied, A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source (John 3:27 AMPC).

You have a unique role in the body of Christ. There is no point in being jealous of someone else’s spiritual gifts or ministry. God is the only source for gifts and His plan is perfect for each of us. If your gift is giving, then give with zeal. If your gift is helping, then help somebody! Rather than worrying about what others are doing, figure out what God wants and go do it!

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me celebrate the unique gifts You’ve given me. Remove jealousy from my heart and guide me to joyfully serve in the role You designed just for me, amen.

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My [inner] self [as well as my body] is also exceedingly disturbed and troubled. But You, O Lord, how long [until You return and speak peace to me]? Return [to my relief], O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love and mercy.

Psalm 6:3-4 (AMPC)

Avoid getting negative when you look at your circumstances. Actively wait on God to give you strength to walk in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). Wait with purpose, silently listening for Him to speak, eagerly watching for Him to act.

Tell Him, “Lord, I receive strength to be Your ambassador and witness. Your Word tells me to love people who mistreat me. Though it is hard to do in the natural, I receive strength from You to be loving today.”

Then watch for the opportunity to act godly as He gives you strength to do so.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, strengthen me as I wait on You. Help me respond with love, patience, and the fruit of the Spirit, even when circumstances are difficult. Use my life as Your witness today, amen.

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In the night my soul longs for You [O Lord], indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for [only] when Your judgments are experienced on the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Isaiah 26:9 (AMP)

Nothing can satisfy our longing for God except communion and fellowship with Him. Isaiah expressed well our own hunger for God when he wrote, In the night my soul longs for You [O Lord], indeed my spirit within me seeks You diligently…(Isaiah 26:9 AMP). Isaiah needed quiet times with God, and so do we.

Hearing from God is vital to enjoying His eternal plan for our lives. Listening to God is our decision; no one else can make it for us. God won’t force us to choose His will, but He will do everything He can to encourage us to say yes to His ways.

This means God wants to be involved in even the smallest details of our lives. His Word tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6). To acknowledge God is to care what He thinks and to ask for His opinion. If you do this on a daily basis, you’ll find His guidance and walk in a much closer relationship with Him.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me seek You daily and listen for Your voice. Teach me to acknowledge You in every decision and trust that You will guide my steps in wisdom, amen.

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

In this passage, the apostle Paul does not say, “Pray and worry.” Instead, he is saying “Pray and don’t worry.” Why are we to pray and not worry? Because prayer is an important way we cast our care upon the Lord. Prayer is what opens the door for God to work in our lives and the lives of other people.

When the devil tries to give us something to worry about, we can turn and give that care to God. If we pray about something and then keep on worrying about it, we are mixing a positive and a negative. The two cancel each other out so that we end up right back where we started—at zero.

Prayer is a positive force; worry is a negative force. The Lord has shown me the reason many people operate at zero power spiritually is that they cancel out their positive prayer power by giving in to the negative power of worry.

As long as we are worrying, we are not trusting God. It is only by trusting, by having faith and confidence in the Lord, that we are able to enter into His rest and enjoy the peace that transcends all understanding.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me replace worry with faith. Teach me to cast my cares on You, trust Your timing, and rest in the peace that only You can give, amen.

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Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.

Proverbs 2:2 (NLT)

Not everything God asks us to do is going to make sense in our minds. Learn how to go with what you sense inside your heart. If you don’t have peace about doing something, then don’t do it. If you have peace about something, don’t let your friends talk you out of it just because they don’t understand. Even if you are the only one responding your way, be bold enough to follow your heart.

Stop trying to figure things out; just do what God tells you and you will avoid a lot of confusion. Every time you get confused you can think, I don’t know what’s going on, and I am not going to try to figure it out. I just want to follow God. The apostle Paul was a very educated man, and even he came to the point where he said he was determined to know nothing but Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me trust the peace You place in my heart. Give me courage to follow Your direction, even when I don’t understand, and teach me to rest in faith, amen.

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But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMPC)

One of my favorite things to say is, “Where the mind goes, the man follows,” because the way you think determines the way you live.

If you think you’re going to be defeated, then you’re going to have an attitude that leads to defeat. But if you choose to think about God’s promises, you’re going to have a faith-filled, expectant attitude.

Yesterday, you may have let your mind focus on the negative— what you can’t do, how badly you’ve messed up, all the things that could go wrong—but today you can submit your mind to the Word of God. You can actually choose the thoughts you are going to dwell on. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can change your thoughts today. You can choose a better, more positive, more fulfilling life.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me fix my thoughts on Your promises. Teach me to reject negativity and live with faith, peace, and expectation—trusting that my life follows where my mind goes, amen.

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I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

John 15:5 (AMPC)

God wants to help us with the things that seem big to us and with the things that seem less significant. He wants to help us when we feel desperate and when we don’t. I figured out years ago that everything in life is over my head; it’s all too much for me to handle alone. I used to run to God only when I thought I was desperate, but then one day I finally realized I was desperate all the time; I just didn’t know it.

The same is true for you. You are desperate for God all the time, whether you realize it or not. In John 15:5 Jesus says, Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (ESV). As we abide in Him through faith, we can do everything, but apart from Him, we can do nothing that will have any real lasting value.

Our desperate need for God and His desire for us to abide in Him do not mean we have to sit around being “super spiritual” all the time. We do not need to feel obligated to read our Bibles or confine ourselves to a prayer closet for hours each day. It should be part of our lives, but we don’t need to feel as if we are being “spiritual” when we do it and “unspiritual” when we do other things. When we really love God and He is first in our lives, everything we do becomes spiritual in a way because we are doing it with Him, in Him, through Him, by Him, for Him, and to His glory.

Let me encourage you to invite God into every area of your life through faith. Jesus died so we could enjoy our lives—every part of them.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I need You in every moment. Teach me to depend on You—not just in crisis, but in everything I do. Help me live and work through Your strength, amen.

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He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:29 (AMPC)

Indecision wastes a lot of time, and time is too precious to waste. If you’ll become a confident, decisive person, you’ll accomplish a lot more with less effort.

No one learns how to hear from God without making mistakes. Don’t be overly concerned about errors. Don’t take yourself too seriously. You are a fallible, imperfect human being, but you can rejoice with thanksgiving because you serve an infallible, perfect God.

Learn from your mistakes, correct the ones you can, and trust God for His guidance and protection. If you feel that God is prompting you to give something away, help someone out, or make a change in your life, do it! Take some action and sow seeds of obedience. When you feel you have guidance from God, move in faith instead of stagnating in doubt and fear.

Prayer of the Day: I am grateful, Father, for Your blessings in my life. Please forgive me for the times I have taken Your goodness for granted. Today I choose to have a heart of gratitude for every blessing, no matter how small it may seem.

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The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

Psalm 11:4 (NIV)

The thought that God sees everything we do is sobering. Nothing is hidden from Him. He knows all our thoughts before we even think them, and He knows all the words we will speak before we say them. He knows all our needs, and He wants to meet them in the right way at the right time.

God’s Word tells us in Revelation 22:12 that each of us will be rewarded according to the works we have done during our earthly lives. Our salvation is not based on our works, but our rewards are. I found 46 Bible verses on the topic of the rewards of God. I am excited to see what surprises God has planned for us when our time on earth is over and we go to our heavenly home.

Also, in Revelation 22:12 (NIV), He says, Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I don’t want to miss any of my rewards, and I doubt that you do either, so keep in mind that nothing is hidden from God.

Children often behave better when they know a parent is watching them, and as children of God, we may tend to do the same. We should behave with excellence because we love God, and not merely to get a reward, but rewards are promised. Let’s live a righteous life so we can receive a righteous person’s reward.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I understand from Your Word that You have rewards prepared for Your children. I ask You to help me live in such a way that when I get to heaven, I will be able to receive the full reward You have for me.

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Making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.

Ephesians 5:16 (AMP)

Our time is very valuable. Once we use it for something, it is gone, and we cannot get it back. Investing our time in worthy pursuits—things we will be satisfied with later in life—is very important. Time is too valuable to waste! If you don’t feel that you are using your time in the best way possible, you are the only one who can change that. It helped me a lot when I realized that my time is a gift to me from God and if I don’t like what I am doing with it, I need to make changes.

Don’t complain about something that only you have the power to change. Never put off until tomorrow what needs to be changed today. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and take action.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I want to use wisdom with my time, and I ask You to help me make changes where they are needed. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . .

James 4:8 (ESV)

You can enjoy God’s presence anywhere, at any time. He’s not confined to church services, prayer times, or “spiritual” moments—He’s with you in the grocery store, during your commute, and in every ordinary part of life. God is never more than a thought away.

When you come to Him honestly, He’s always faithful to meet you right where you are—and ready to do something amazing in your life.

Start today by taking just a few quiet minutes to talk with God or spend time in His Word. Share your heart with Him, listen for His voice, and let His presence refresh you.

The more time you spend with God, the more you’ll want to. He is your source of joy, peace, strength, and contentment—and through time in His presence, you’ll continue to grow into everything His Word says you can be.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for being with me wherever I go. Help me stay aware of Your presence in every moment and find joy, peace, and strength through time spent with You, amen.

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And they discussed it and reasoned with one another, It is because we have no bread.

Mark 8:16 (AMPC)

Today’s scripture is part of a story in which Jesus’ disciples did not understand something He said. When the Bible says they “reasoned with one another,” it simply means they tried to figure out what He meant. To reason, in this sense, means to use natural, human effort to try to understand or figure out something. It steals our peace and keeps our minds and emotions in turmoil.

The disciples often became involved in reasoning when what they really needed was revelation from the Holy Spirit. He is able to give us the insight and understanding we need in any situation, no matter how confusing it may seem.

I was once addicted to reasoning. No matter what happened, I did not discipline my mind and spent too much time trying to figure it out. The Holy Spirit eventually helped me understand that as long as I was caught up in reasoning, I couldn’t walk in discernment.

Discernment starts in the heart and enlightens the mind. It’s spiritual, not natural. The Holy Spirit doesn’t help us reason, but He does help us discern.

When we need to understand something, God certainly wants us to use the good minds He’s given us and to employ common sense. But when our thoughts get tangled up and we lose our peace because we cannot figure something out, we have gone too far. At that point, we simply need to ask God for discernment, wait on Him to reveal what we need to know, and choose to be at peace.

Prayer of the Day: When I’m tempted to reason, Lord, help me stop, find peace and renew my faith in You.

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And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18 (AMPC)

It is important for you to know that you are instructed in God’s Word to “ever be filled” with the Spirit—that is, to be filled at all times.

To “ever be filled” with the Holy Spirit, it is necessary to give Him first place in our lives. Often this requires discipline, because many other things demand our time and attention. There are many things we want and need, but nothing is more important than God. Seeking God daily through His Word and spending time with Him is the key to staying filled with His presence. An attitude of gratitude is also very helpful, as is guarding our thoughts carefully.

The Holy Spirit never goes away; He always comes to remain and stay with us. He does not change addresses—once He takes up occupancy, He settles in and refuses to leave. But it is important that we keep ourselves stirred up in spiritual things. Anything that is hot can grow cold if the fire goes out.

I went through a six-month period of time when God forbade me to ask for anything except more of Him. It was a great discipline in drawing near to Him on a deeper level of intimacy than I had known before. I would start to say, “God, I need _____,” then I would stop myself as I remembered His instruction to me. I would finish my sentence with, “more of You.”

God gives us everything we need, and He knows what we need before we ask for it. If we delight ourselves in Him and hunger for Him, He will also give us our hearts’ desires. I encourage you, today and every day, to keep yourself filled with the Holy Spirit and to want more of God than anything else in this world. He’ll take care of the rest.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, fill me again today. Teach me to seek You first, stay stirred up in faith, and hunger for Your presence more than anything else in this world, amen.

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For I will set My eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.

Jeremiah 24:6 (NIV)

Everything God has planned for you is good, even if you are not seeing all of it right now. It is important for us to believe in God’s goodness. When we go through difficult times, the devil wants us to believe that God doesn’t love us and that He is not good. But hold firm to your faith in the goodness of God.

God is a master builder, and He is building us up and planting us where He wants us. All of God’s plans for us are good, and He intends to give us blessings and favor. Psalm 145:9 (AMP) says, The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].

Many of the tests and trials we encounter are intended to help build our faith. Faith only grows as we use it, just as a muscle does. The more we use it, the stronger it gets. If you are facing a difficulty at this time in your life, keep declaring that the Lord is good and has a good plan for you. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and if God is leading you to do or not to do something, be quick to obey Him. Anything He asks of us is always for our good. Why? Because He is good.

Prayer of the Day: God, even when I don’t see Your plan, I trust Your goodness. Strengthen my faith, help me obey quickly, and remind me that everything You do is for my good, amen.

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The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”

Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

In the early years of my adult life, I was a very unhappy person. I was controlled by mood swings and wrong thinking. Although I was a Christian, my mind, emotions, and behavior were all over the place. My moods went up and down, and no one I lived with ever quite knew what to expect.

The good news is that through the power of the Holy Spirit, I learned to think right, to talk right, and to not let those moods and attitudes control me. And you can, too!

Jesus, our unshakeable Rock, epitomizes stability, steadfastness, unwavering love, positivity, and constant joy. If you want to be an example to the people in your life, you can remain stable and happy by knowing who you are in Christ.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, grant me the serenity to remain calm in times of adversity. Guide me in the journey of living, thinking, and speaking in alignment with Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

Psalm 34:4–5 (ESV)

When a woman has been wounded in her soul, sometimes hurt and pain are not the only things that result. Sometimes, depending on the type of wound, she can end up in shame—ashamed of what has happened to her and even ashamed of who she is. She may think what happened to her is her fault or took place because of something flawed in her.

Shame makes a person feel dirty, unattractive, awkward, devalued, and unlovable. Often shame causes us to feel we are unworthy of having hopes and dreams, and it causes us to lose confidence doing things we would otherwise feel strong and comfortable about doing. It can poison our thoughts, feelings, and decisions to the point that we become withdrawn and hopeless. If I had to summarize briefly what shame does, I would say that it makes us feel like something is wrong with us, though we may not be able to pinpoint exactly what it is.

The things that wound our souls can leave a complicated set of consequences in our lives, and shame is often added to them. Especially in situations of sexual abuse, shame is only one of many results of being violated. I know this from personal experience, and I also know that it is possible to break free from shame completely. It is so important that we learn to do this, because if we don’t, we will not be able to fully enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

Our own thoughts and feelings can easily keep us trapped in shame, but God’s Word sets us free. Jesus promises in John 8:32 that we will know the truth and the truth will make us free. This means we can be free from everything that holds us captive, including shame.

I want to remind you of two more of God’s promises today as a way of encouraging you to be confident that you do not have to live in shame any longer. God says through Isaiah, Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth… (Isaiah 54:4 ESV). In case you’re wondering, the word confounded means ashamed, defeated, confused, or overthrown. It also means damned or doomed to punishment. That’s not a good way to feel, but when we are ashamed of who we are, we can easily feel doomed and defeated. God does not want us to feel that way! And in the short Book of Zephaniah, He says, Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth (3:19 ESV).

God wants you to live a shame-free life, full of faith, confidence, peace, and joy. Stay in His Word and fill your mind with God’s promises, and He will help you leave your shame behind you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You for Your truth that sets me free. Heal every place of shame in my heart and help me walk boldly in the confidence of Your love, amen.

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Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones).

Ephesians 1:16-18 (AMPC)

This section in Ephesians is difficult for many of us to understand. What does Paul mean by the eyes of your heart flooded with light (Ephesians 1:18 AMPC)? I believe he is referring to the mind, because that’s what needs enlightenment. It is with the mind that we grasp God’s truths and hold to them.

Too many of us have difficulty being “flooded with light” because we are distracted with too many other things. The apostle prays for us to have what I call a normal mind—a mind that’s open to the Holy Spirit’s work—so that we may follow God’s plan and live enriched lives.

One way to think about the idea of a normal mind is to look at two of Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha. Most people know the story of the sisters and the visit Jesus made to their home in Bethany. Martha scurried around, making certain that everything in their home was exactly right, while Mary sat down to listen to Jesus. Luke says Martha was distracted with much serving (Luke 10:40 AMPC), and she complained to Jesus that she needed her sister’s help.

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things (Luke 10:41 AMPC), Jesus told her, and then He commended Mary for having chosen the “good portion.”

As I thought about that incident, I realized it was more than Martha being distracted. I’m sure her mind jumped around, making certain that everything was exactly right. The implication is that even if there had been nothing more to do, Martha wouldn’t have stopped to sit at Jesus’ feet. She was so caught up in busyness that her mind would have searched for something else to do.

The Marthas seem to be in control of our world, don’t they? They are the ones who get things done. When they’re not accomplishing their own goals, they seem to be telling others what they should do. In today’s world of “multitasking,” the Marthas seem to get the awards and the accolades. Some people are busy all the time. They wear their busyness like a badge, as if that makes them more important.

Their busyness can easily distract them from developing a solid relationship with God. They’re the ones who often lack depth of peace and rarely know spiritual contentment. That is, they don’t have what God considers a normal mind. It is not in the condition He would like it to be in.

People who are excessively busy cannot even sleep when they lie down at night. They are either mentally going over the day’s activities or making mental lists of the tasks for the next day.

This isn’t the lifestyle Jesus calls us to. As believers, we are spiritual beings, but we’re also natural. The natural doesn’t understand the spiritual and constantly fights that part of our nature. The Bible makes it clear that the mind and the spirit work together. That’s the principle I call “the mind aiding the spirit.”

For the mind to aid the spirit, we must learn to pull back from all the distractions around us. There will always be demands on our time and energy, and we can always find plenty to do. But if we want to live with the mind of Christ—the one that should be normal for Christians—it means we must learn to imitate Mary. Despite all the clamor and activities going on around her, she was able to sit, relax, and listen to the voice of the Master. That’s how the mind is supposed to work: it should be quiet and under the control of the Spirit. However, we often find that our minds are so set in a wrong direction that they actually hinder the Spirit from helping us, as they should be free to do.

If you realize from this devotion that your mind has been behaving abnormally, ask God to forgive you and teach you what a normal mind is in His kingdom.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, distractions constantly come at me. When I try to pause and focus on You, my mind seems to be filled with dozens of things I need to do. I realize that I truly need only one thing—to focus on You. Please help me push away every distraction and noise so I can hear only Your voice that says, “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest,” amen.

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