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A Free Mind is a Hopeful Reality

A Free Mind is a Hopeful Reality

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This weekend I looked behind me, and it was a vast nothingness; the past wasn’t there.

This is a welcomed awareness. It was a vision that granted me a deeper understanding sending me into greater levels of enlightenment thus freedom.

Except for our memories, the past doesn’t exist. However, most of us act like it’s a living reality, thus make it one. We live by it, and from it create our present and future. Sometimes we try to hold onto it and live as a 20-year-old chasing what once was and thus are never satisfied with today. Other times, we live by its wounds, which taint our current health, relationships, jobs, etc. For example, we were hurt in a previous relationship in which someone betrayed us, and now we don’t or find it hard to trust others. We failed in a business venture, and now we don’t follow our desires but work in a job we don’t like. A parent called us a loser, and now we overeat to drown out that resounding voice echoing in our head. These are examples of living in and by the past, thus it creates our present moments and future. This projection of the past into the future is often at the core of those who struggle with depression, hopeless, and feeling trapped. This mentality can quench our hope because it prohibits our minds from growing and creating a present and future we do desire.

The fulfillment of hope, thus change, comes from allowing ourselves to learn from the past, but not live in the past. In learning from it yet not in it, our hope starts to become fulfilled, because we are open to learning and growing, which brings the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A learning and growing mind, a present mind, is receptive to new opportunities and better ways of being because it’s learning new ways of thinking. It enables alteration within our mind’s process thus real change in our choices, actions and behaviors.

What has this to do with our relationship with God? Everything.

The Spirit of God is in the present, for that is what exists and is real. As our internal teacher and counselor, He speaks to us right now with the purpose of transitioning our minds to operate by His truth and loving kindness. 1 Timothy 1:5 If our minds are bound to the past by functioning in and by mindsets like blame, bitterness, resentment, vengeance, covetousness, maliciousness, hatred, backbiting, unforgiveness, jealousy, self-pity, and so on we won’t hear His voice instructing us in a better way. When we give these mindsets control of our thoughts, they are loud and consuming. The thoughts God establishes in us are opposite of these, thus we have to be willing to turn away from these mindsets and learn to think in accordance to His wisdom, truth, righteousness and loving kindness. This is part of renewing our mind and a significant part of the repentance we’re called to. Romans 1:28-32, Romans 12:2

When we seek and follow His instruction, our minds transition to a present mindset where God guides us in new directions. He, and not our interpretation of the past, establishes our thoughts, thus our minds create fresh perspectives that translate into new actions, thus changes, and hopes fulfilled.

A part of moving out of our past and into the present is viewing our past with thanksgiving and honor. The upsets of the past can teach us important lessons of wisdom, truth and love that if we learn we won’t repeat the past hurts. All we went through and the people who were involved in those lessons teach us compassion and understanding. Once we learn from our situations, we are able to help others because we’ve learned the truth and practice the truth. Our past is cloaked with thanksgiving and honor when we see all the experiences and people they contained as part of our journey of growing in alignment with the divine wisdom of God. In this, the past, thus the present, translates into blessings instead of continual cursings because we’ve learned, grown, and can now help others. Some of our greatest hurts can teach us life-altering lessons that propel us forward to gaining a mind established on truth.

I’ve tasted a lot of different pains in my past. Once I started to seek after the truth, God has been using them to teach me and bring me to a deeper level of understanding and compassion I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It is truly God working all for good for those who love Him. Romans 8:28

This understanding of learning from our past but not living by it is deep and personal. We each have a myriad of experiences from our past, and if we allow the Spirit of Truth to teach us, we will learn from those experiences, grow, and begin to live in the present out by the wisdom they provided. This understanding sets our mind free, thus frees us.


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Being Present Minded

Being Present-Minded

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”

An important lesson we learn as the kingdom of heaven, God’s Spirit, grows within us is to be present-minded. Being present-minded is not living in the past that is done and gone or the unknown future of our imagination. It’s not holding onto the negative situations and people of the past and it isn’t worrying about those in the future. It’s a state of mind of being in the present moment and trusting ALL to God, the Faithful Shepherd. It’s knowing He is at perfect work in our lives performing ALL things for us. Psalm 57:2

With the past gone and the future unknown, the only part of our existence that is real is right now. If we let God work and embrace what He is doing NOW by not holding onto a dead past or dwelling in an unknown future, the fruit of the present will be of God’s power and presence.

This present-mindedness is what God calls us to. He tells us forget the past. It’s gone. He tells us not to worry about the future. It’s in His hands. He cares for us as the perfect Father. If we put our trust in Him, He will not let us down. If we are truly seeking His truth and will, we can trust His spirit is guiding us. Our circumstances may not work out as we expected, but they will work out for our best and the best for others. Even for the difficult seasons, hindsight reveals the perfection of God’s ways and timing. Our spirits are in His faithful care.

Importance of Trust and Rest

Our path to present-mindedness is one of rest and faithfully doing what He has called us to today. We are to trust in His power to work in and through us in ALL circumstances. This state of mind is a central aspect of resting in God as He calls us to; a rest that comes from trusting in God to be God in our lives. Hebrews 4:10-11

Once we are God’s, our lives are no longer our own. We belong to God. What better One to be in charge of our lives than God? 1 Corin 6:20 With God in control, we never know what the next minute will bring. His ways aren’t our ways. It’s a waste of energy and time trying to figure everything out and why our expectations failed – they were our plans and not God’s. They weren’t the best for us; we have to let them go. We can mistakenly misread our plans that didn’t work out as we expected to be God not working or not caring. Neither is true. He performs all things for us and cares more than we can understand – that is why life isn’t going as we want at the time. Therefore, each day we rely on His perfect care as He determines. Instead of trying to control and worry, we rest and trust. This is the obedience God calls us to. This state of peace is His desire for us.

Commit your ways to the Lord and He will establish your paths. When you understand your limitations to discern what is truly good and best, you will rejoice in not being in control and God determining your steps.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding

Psalm 34:4-5 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

How Do I Gain Present-Mindedness?

Have you tried to be present-minded? It sounds good letting go of the unknown future and our screws ups and pains of the past, but is it realistic?

Being present-minded requires trust. Trust comes from intimately knowing God. Psalm 9:10 This element is something we can affect because God wants us to know Him. Our knowing of God grows as we spend time in the Bible being taught by the Holy Spirit. As we seek God in our daily experiences; seeking His wisdom, instruction and counsel, our understanding grows. As we seek to know Him through His creation, our knowledge of His ways deepens. In time, we come to intimately know God as He desires us to. We come to know God as the perfect Father and thus become the trusting child.

As we continue the life long practice of each morning renewing our minds in THE Truth and spending time drawing near to God, trust and rest are the fruit and present-mindedness follows. In His presence, He frees us from our past, binds up our wounds and we carry only the lessons forward. We let go of trying to control as we realize it is an illusion that binds us and keeps His power from flowing through our lives.

Rely on God’s strength for what He has called you to do today, and leave tomorrow to itself. Have no confidence in the flesh; your abilities to accomplish all you desire. Hope in God’s mercy that reaches to the heavens. Psalm 57:10 Wait on Him. His timing and methods are perfect, you can trust them. Act faithfully as He leads, not second guessing, doubting and complaining – for it is only against God you complain. Feed on His faithfulness. Faithfully do what He has called you to do today and leave the results and expectations up to Him. Psalm 62:5