“Luke, You Got To Get Your Mind Right”

Originally Posted June 5, 2020

Boy, I really have to guard my mind these days. It’s so easy to go down a path that focuses on all the desperate things that are happening in the world…the Corona Virus, the riots in cities across the country, the “usual cast of characters” that have been around for too long.. abortion, sex trafficking, same sex philosophies, wars and rumors of wars…. did I forget anything? If I go down this path, discouragement is waiting for me and hope leaves the room.

As the warden in  the movie Cool Hand Luke  said “ Luke….you got to get your mind right…… you got to get your mind right.” 

Well, what can I do to get my mind right ? St. Paul tells us we need to “think right”.

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

I need to spend more time thinking about the wonderful things of God than about the latest tragedy. 

• I need to think about what is true…the eternal truth of God’s word,,, his love and mercy and faithfulness and promises of victory and heaven. 
• I need to think of the honorable men and women…the saints of yesterday and today who lay down their lives for us all…in our family, in our city, in our church. 
• We need to think of how Christ will balance the scales of justice… some of it here on earth and ultimately at final judgement. 
• We need to think of what is “pure, lovely, gracious, and excellent”…many examples over the years and today. 

Part of thinking right is to know that 2020 is not unique with its trials and misfortunes, and tribulation. Is our time different from other times of plagues and wars and earthquakes and famines and “man’s inhumanity to man” ? We long for peace. We long for heaven when every tear will be wiped away and the ageless battle of the devil against God will be over. In our hearts we long for that peace.

But for now, we need to do our part. 

We need to pray quickly and often for the different trials that pop up and to pray for those in leadership that need to resolve them. We must remember that this is fundamentally a spiritual battle. 

We need to be at work, doing the things he has called us to do… being a good father or mother or grandparent, a good worker, a good priest, a good doctor or nurse, a good policeman, a good student, a good son or daughter, a good friend. We need to do our job, however big or small, in the power of the Holy Spirit…doing it in love. When he comes again, he wants to find us at work. (Mt. 24:44-46)

Let us remember the truth that this is not our home. We are here for a few short years, brief in light of eternity. Our home is in heaven

And if we do think right, we will be transformed by the renewal of our mind.

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2)