[From time to time, I'll share outtakes from sermons and other writings on this blog. Below is a dropped section from my sermon this past Sunday - Dec. 7. The italicized quotes are from the study guide to Soul Keeping. If you'd like to watch the entire sermon, go to firstpresgj.org and click on the button marked "Sunday's Sermon." The title for this sermon is "Thinking Like Jesus at Christmas," and it's the second sermon in our series on the soul.]
We
cannot distinguish between our feelings and our will. Even though, according to Ortberg, our minds
include our thoughts and feelings, when a mind is disconnected from God, we
launch after our feelings impulsively and without regard for consequences. Our feelings grab us by the throat and direct
our actions, which is not how we were meant to live. And I think you can appreciate this problem
whether you follow Jesus or not. But
look at the bullet point right across the chart in the right-hand column,
“Characteristics of the Integrated Mind:” We
know and accept the fact that our feelings do not have to be satisfied.
On the one hand, this feels like an
obvious statement, right? But actually
living into it presents tremendous challenges.
When I was looking at Black Friday ads, I could actually feel some adrenaline moving into my body
as I pondered the great deals and how much money I could save – buying things I
didn’t want or need, ironically.
Thinking like Jesus – which I’m not at all saying I have down pat –
means I’m able to say “no” to the direction my feelings want to lead me. I don’t reject
feelings as a whole, but I’m not led by them.
Someone wise once said, “Our feelings are a good servant, but they’re a
terrible master.” We can say “no” when
we feel like doing something we know to be unhealthy, destructive, or that
leads to further isolation in our sins.
A mentor of mine was telling me
this week that in more than 20 years of pastoral ministry, he sees more
conflict, pain, and confusion between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31 than any time of
year. Maybe it’s because so many of us
lack an integrated mind and simply act
instead of stepping back and taking every
thought captive for Christ. Not
easy, but I think it’s a goal worth pursuing.
Another suggestion: drop the word
“busy.” Simply overusing the word “busy”
during this season might be creating a barrier between us and the peaceful
minds God wants us to have. Try this
during these weeks before Christmas – take the word “busy” out with your trash,
and choose to use another word or a different approach throughout the rest of
the season. It’s life-giving, and it
focuses our minds on something other than ourselves. Set aside some time this week – when you’re
not “busy” – and read through the handout, asking God for help to move toward
an integrated mind.
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