Yes the world is crazy and is spinning out of control. I am witnessing so many lives coming apart around me. I can understand non-Christians because they do not have the hope within them, but I also see Christians just as well. This made me earnestly seek the Lord as to why. I heard His ‘Still Small Voice’ whisper, “Their Minds Are Too Busy.” I needed an explanation and the Lord was gracious enough to bring me to the materials I am about to share. We are not to have a mind that is empty nor are we to have a mind that is too busy or on overload. We were designed to have a mind that is at peace and rest so that we can use it to its full potential in our Christian endeavors.
It has been said that the problem with Christianity is that it is a day-to-day process:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)
How true it is that we can become more and more Christ-like every day. But now to where the real problem is —> many do not guard the renewing of their mind day-by-day.
Next January I will have been a Born Again Christian for 40 years. Thirty-six of those years being filled with the Holy Spirit with the Acts 2 experience. I have seen so many Christians go by the wayside during these years. What really scared me more than anything else was when my best Christian friend had a total nervous breakdown not long after I became a new Christian. I held him naked in my arms while he was weeping like a baby in the fetal position until the authorities came into our workplace and took him away. I realized that Satan desires nothing more than to infiltrate a Christian’s mind and destroy them. I make it a point to guard my mind from day-to-day and fill it with Scripture. I pray both in the Holy Spirit and with understanding everyday. We are not in a game, but we are on a battlefield. That is why I have included the following book in its entirety:
This book was written quite a few years ago, so no matter how you may feel about the author today, the book when it was written is very sound in the way it exposes the dangers a mind can face.
I have also extracted the key chapter from the book and added a sequel that explains ‘Praying in the Spirit’ as per 1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 6:18, and Jude 20:
Busy Minds That Never Rest.pdf
Two verses in the New Testament that are very precious to me are the following:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Notice the word ‘power’ in both verses. It is the same Greek word ‘dunamis’. We are promised the power of a sound mind and the power to be mighty Christian witnesses. It is a matter of choice of whether we utilize that power or not.
I would like to just touch upon a delicate subject in so many Christian circles which is ‘antidepressants’. For those Christians who battle with antidepressants, there is a 360 view on the subject that has already been read quite extensively on this website:
Christians and Antidepressants
The danger is not just antidepressants, but any substsnce that deadens or alters the mind or is ultimately harmful to the body. This does not just include alcohol and illegal drugs, but also prescription drugs and even foods. Christians are guilty of not only not wanting to feel any pain, but many want to be deadened and sedated from life’s demands. In a nutshell–>they strive for being in a free state of comfort.
Remember, we are not promised that we will not be hard pressed in our life. What we are promised is that we can overcome, not sedate it:
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:8-10 NKJV)
Now let’s look at the two most precious things (Prayer and the Word of God) that Christians are given to help them overcome. They are free and limitless. Biggest problem is that they are abandoned from the day-to-day life of so many Christians, setting them up for defeat. Just look at the life of Jesus on this earth. His life was a life of prayer and saying, “It is Written.”
If you notice in Ephesians 6:10-18 where the armor of the Christian is laid out, Prayer is mentioned as its own entity. It is something we are told to do without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Entire volumes of books have been written about prayer. Many people spend more time reading how to pray than actually praying. Prayer was never meant to be complicated. That is evident by the ‘Our Father’. No matter how you look at prayer, it simply consists of four main parts: The first part is confession / forgiveness. The second part is worship / praise / thanksgiving. The third part is petition / intercession. And the fourth part is listening / understanding / obeying. It is also recognized that at times fasting is added in. Then, after we get up from our knees, it is our job to go and do, and to do it with a mind that is at peace to meet the world head on.
Also notice in Ephesians 6:10-18 that the ‘Word of God’ is the only offensive weapon mentioned amongst the armor. This lets me know that I cannot go out each and everyday without my weapon being sharpened and ready to do battle. I need to absorb the Word of God anew everyday, otherwise I am unfit for service.
The shame of the American churches is that many have abandoned the emphasis of teaching the pure Word of God as their primary purpose of making disciples of all men. I can’t help but get sick when I glance at these pearly white toothed, so called, television ministers that make a mockery of rightly dividing the Word of God. They pedal their agenda of hype, which becomes a false hope to do battle in the dire days ahead. Lord help us to yearn for the pure Word!
Annointing 
Well written and thought provoking, especially the last paragraph. I think we need to take it one step further and say that the Mega-church Masters (NOT pastors) have not only abandoned the Word, they have abandoned the concept of discipleship. To Jesus. Certainly not to themselves as it appears that the search for a broader “fan-base” i.e. more “converts” to keep the coffers fat, is man’s attempt at making disciples for himself. They are masters at using (twisting) the Word for those selfish purposes. An interesting article (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/skye-jethani/bible-idol_b_922324.html) on that very subject.
We need to get back to basics. Christ and Him crucified. First-century style discipleship. To Jesus not personalities. Small (house, if need be) churches. Calling upon the Holy Spirit to work His works of wonder and awe, while we decrease, He increases. The “business” of modern day American Churchianity needs to go away.
Just some of my observations and (hopefully) humble opinion.
Amen, Don Coyote!