An Algorithm for Abundant Life
(Related to Post: Self-Perfecting Mind)
Here is a driving equation of a mind being fashioned by God; thus one who is spiritually maturing and ascending …
An algorithm for abundant life:
HUMILITY >>TRUTH >> HARMONY >> GROWTH = abundant LIFE
TRUTH = is and consists of truthful data points, as well as the accurate connection and networking of those data points. The stringing together of data points creates understanding, which crafts our perceptions, which is light. If we perceive in truth, we have eyes of light. If we perceive in error, we have eyes of darkness. Matthew 6:22-23 Our perceptions drive our choices and actions, which shape our experience of reality.
This light by which we see is the morning star rising in our hearts. 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 2:28, 22:16 It’s the spirit that Christ held and reflected of the Divine, perfect wisdom, thus the spirit of Christ. Colossians 1:27, 2:2-3, 3:16 It’s His spirit, spirit of truth, that imparts the truthful data points and the connections between them to our minds. Thus, He is to be our source of wisdom, thus growth, thus abundant life. John 10:10
When we have truthful data points strung together in the correct way, which His spirit creates in us as we diligently seek to learn from Him, then harmony is created. If you hold the truth and so do I, we are of one spirit acting in supporting ways with one another thus in and creating harmony. When there is harmony between two or more entities then growth can occur. When we have harmony, then our relationship grows, deepens and expands. The growth is life, abundant life. When we grow in our relationship, we experience true and increasing kindness, love, honor, respect, peace, companionship, unity, support, all the elements of abundant life.
Like trees with the right balance of water, light and soil (data elements strung together in the right way and amounts) that create growth, which is life, when we abide in the truths that create growth, our actions produce abundant life.
Wisdom is having understanding in how to implement the truth (data points and their connections) in our lives. Foolishness is thinking we have this understanding when we don’t.
Humility Precedes Wisdom; Judgment (Arrogance) Precedes Foolishness
The beginning of wisdom is humility, which is constant submission to the wisdom of God, because His wisdom is perfect and superior to any other “wisdom”. Proverbs 1:7, 1 Corinthians 3:19 A key to having a humble mind is maintaining the mindset of a neophyte. Someone who is a novice has the humility that she doesn’t know all, and therefore is continually learning and growing.
Once we believe we are an “expert”, we switch from learning in a situation to judging it. A seemingly “expert” mind is one that assumes it knows, thus easily falls into a judgmental mindset instead of humble and teachable. Psalm 25:9 It assumes it knows, thus judges instead of learns from a situation, and as a consequence this mind is blocked from learning what it ought to in the present moment, for every situation can bring deeper understanding. Thus it’s bound to foolishness for it doesn’t know as it ought and isn’t seeking to learn. It doesn’t realize it lacks the correct or adequate data points or connections, thus foolish is its response. Yet, when we possess a humble mind our ability to learn is infinite.
A Humble Mind is a Spiritually Maturing Mind
Nowhere do we find a humble mind more so than in a spiritually maturing being. It’s a fundamental requirement to and aspect of spiritual maturation. The only way to mature is to be constantly submitting thus learning from the wisdom of God in our present moments. A spiritually maturing mind seeks the wisdom of God, which is always higher thus beyond that spirit’s current understanding no matter how mature it is. This mindset perpetuates that spirit’s growth thus maturity.
The wisdom of God comes out of the present moment. If we are growing, we are more knowledgeable than we were yesterday, thus God can take us into continually deeper layers of understanding than where we were yesterday. Understanding builds upon understanding. See how this works? This is why some less mature don’t understand the revelations spoken by more mature, thus can dismiss them if they’ve fallen into a judging mindset. They lack the required previous levels of knowledge to comprehend a higher level.
This means, like a beginner, we should always be asking questions. For example, we are always seeking what door to go through in our present moment that takes us to the next step along our personal path fulfilling our purpose. Assumptions and expectations based on what we know are fleeting to this mindset, while questions and seeking are the mainstay. If we are of a humble mind, a neophyte mind, we are consistently seeking and asking, thus learning and growing, thus spiritually maturing.
The wisdom of the divine integrated into our souls by the spirit of Christ is our compass. It’s His spirit interacting with ours in our inner person that guides, instructs and leads us down His cogent roads. It’s these roads that create a network of thinking and acting that produce an abundant life.
This algorithm works for every facet of our lives; marriage, relationships, business, health, and home life. For example, as my husband and I learn of data points (mercy, forgiveness, divine love), and learn how they interact within our marriage, they lead to choices and actions that are harmonious with one another, thus we experience growth in our marriage. This growth creates a marriage of increasing abundance (comfort, support, care, peace, beauty, divine love). As we remain humble in our minds, we continually grow in our understanding and thus expand in all those traits that greatly enhance our marriage. Thus the marriage is always getting better. We can apply this to every area of our life. When we do we start experiencing abundant life.
Our minds create our reality. A mind crafted by the wisdom of God is continually creating better present moments, thus life always gets better.
October 22, 2013 at 3:19 pm
While I concur with your article’s principles – it is the practical application wherein difficulty is sustained. Perhaps it is the “type” of individuals that I have contended with – in so much as, a man “claiming” to be a Christian condoning the actions of his married friend sexually harassing a single woman – demanding an intimate relationship from her. While the bible he claims to read identifies such conduct is not acceptable – this Christian attempts to argue the point on behalf of his married friend. This “Christian’s” conduct became hostile when I refuse to agree to his perception. Inner- actions of this nature contain too much strife – ergo, my preference is to turn and walk away.
October 28, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Hi, yes, there is much blindness and the most blind are the ones who think they have no blindness. The answer to these mindsets …
2 Timothy 2:24-25 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
October 24, 2013 at 9:44 pm
Thank you Rachel. How amazing that people in the same world can live experience such different realities. Living with a person or people who are not submitting to Christ makes life unpleasant and very difficult because there is a lack of harmony and peace. Selfishness abounds as well as pride and blindness. These things become heavy burdens to bear, especially in marriage. How beautiful to offer another person the gift of Christ formed within.
October 28, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Hi Cassie – Those carrying the most wounds, pain and brokenness can be the most hurtful … causing division, unrest, separation. But these also are the ones who need love the most. It is divine love that heals. So to give another, who is wounded, what can heal them, divine love, is a precious gift indeed, something that requires patience and compassion on part of the giver.