FaithVenture

Hello, fellow Followers of Christ!

Let me begin by asking: how have you changed lately?  Take a moment; reflect over this; and allow God to reveal Himself to you and how God has been working in your life over the past week(s).

I heard about Brother Lawrence while I was in graduate school at Nazarene Theological Seminary.  A friend of mine, Josh, was sitting next to me in class, and I took a glance at his computer and saw this phrase scroll across the screen:  Practice The Presence of God.   I didn’t know what it meant, so I asked Josh.  He proceeded to tell me about Brother Lawrence and his life-long endeavor to always and only think on the things of God.  Not to just be aware of God’s presence, but to focus his mind on the thoughts, word, and love of God.  This intrigued me, so while at a Renovare’ spiritual formation retreat, I purchased the book, Practicing His Presence which is a compilation of Brother Lawrence’s spiritual journal and that of Frank Laubach.

In these journal entries, these men share about their separate but similar journey to think always and only on the thoughts of God.  To “call Christ to mind at least one second of each minute . . . [to] invite Him to share everything you do or say or think” (p. 30)  To live and think in a way that every act, word, and thought is motivated solely by one’s love for God. To in each moment ask, “what is the will of God here and now.” To, as Brother Lawrence states, “have had no other care but to faithfully reject every other thought in order to perform all my actions for the love of God” (p. 51)

Wow!  What an awesome challenge!  But according to their journals, a challenge, an endeavor worth pursuing.  If we desire to see God work in our lives, our families, and our church; if we desire to see real change happen in how we live, think, and act; if we are going to be the holy children God has called us to be; if we are to be “transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2); then we, then I must radically pursue developing a mind which thinks only on the things of God.  Which intentionally focuses on God’s thoughts even in the doldrums of our daily routines.  Which intentionally stops not just every day, but each minute, each hour, each phase of the day, and asks, “what is your will here and now.  How would you, what would you want me to think on, Lord?”  As we do, we will experience a change, a transformation of our minds in ways we never imagined.

So I encourage you to take steps to prompt or interrupt your thinking as Josh did.  Change your screen saver so it pops up with a phrase that reminds you to refocus on God.  Set your watch or cell phone to ring/beep every hour, half hour or every fifteen minutes as a reminder.  Intentionally drive your car with the radio/CD player off so you can focus on God.  Whenever you catch yourself daydreaming, realize it and refocus on God.  Do something to prompt you to take captive your minutes so they can be used by God to form and transform you.

Being Changed by Christ!

Pastor Tony J.