How could living well be a state of mind? Read on for this Thyme4faith message and SHARE with those in need.
Living Well: a State of Mind
What does living well really mean? Is it being wealthy, having good health, a great job, or a special someone? Most people probably think so. But these things can and will change over the course of your life. A great example was Mike’s ability to enjoy fishing at the lake last summer. This year, that’s just not possible.
One of the few things that does remain throughout your life however is your state of mind. This will dictate what you spend your time thinking about, how you feel about yourself and what you think about others. Whether you know it or not, your state of mind is actually tied to your spiritual state. Essentially, how closely aligned you are to God’s spirit as you encounter all that life brings. Does your spirit struggle to stay on even ground? Here are just a few examples of where people can struggle:
Worry – Do you run through scenarios in your mind trying to determine what could go wrong and masterminding solutions in your own strength? That shoe fits my foot quite nicely, I confess.
The Need to Be Right – Are you frequently striving to show others that you know what you’re talking about? Are you most comfortable when you feel you’re better than others?
In both of these scenarios, your spiritual state is not in a good place. But how do you change that?
Living Well is Discipline & Art
The words of Sarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling, offers some insight for us:
Living well is both a discipline and an art. Concentrate on staying close to God, the divine Artist. Discipline your thoughts to trust in Him as He works His ways in your life.Sarah Young in Jesus Calling
Pray about everything; then, leave outcomes up to God. Do not fear His will, for through it He accomplishes what is best for you.
James 1:5 – But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
If you discipline yourself to communicate with God daily, opening all areas of your life to Him, he will move your focus away from your anxiety and worries. By trusting in God’s divine provision and His loving faithfulness, you can operate in a state of mind which is much more at peace. You will also come to realize that being right is not as important as what you once thought. What is important is our Father’s righteousness and that is He sovereign over all the evil in the world.
We can also train ourselves to see the beauty that God, the Artist, is creating. It’s easy to see His goodness in the natural world, but have you ever thought about how God is also creating beauty in your life? Like someone weaving a tapestry, He is connecting the people and circumstance in your your life. His purpose in doing this, is to mature you and transform your heart to become more like Jesus.
One Last Thought on Worry
If you ever find yourself worrying over past failures, turn to the profound truth I saw displayed on a T-shirt in the Hosanna parking lot. Spoiler alert – things do not go well for satan in the end! But they will go well for you if you trust in God’s provision and open yourself to God’s guidance on a daily basis.
If you found this Thyme4Faith message helpful, remember to SHARE it with others as well.
That is a great message Sis. I love the picture even though it’s sad also.
I am so glad you enjoyed this message. All credit to God on the content. He downloads the thoughts and I just write them down. It is hard every time Mike loses the ability to do something. I am thankful however for all he still has at the 3 year mark and trust God will continue to care for us each step of the way.
Great message mom. I love that shirt!
I am always so tickled when God puts signs in my path to support these Thyme4Faith messages. He uses everything, including T-shirts! 👍✝️
He does use everything, whether we like it or not. I am grateful He uses you Cathy to share His good news. We sometimes have to think about what we are thinking about to stay in that blessed frame of mind. We can choose to let the spirit guide are thoughts, but it is a choice.Life has so much more joy and peace in it when we make that choice, That shirt rocks,love it. Love you guys too!
So glad you had the chance to read this Thyme4faith post. I love that shirt too. I felt a little strange walking up to the guy to ask him if I could take a picture of it, but at the same time felt totally driven by the Spirit to do it. Now that shirt has been seen by a bunch of additional people so I guess I was meant to follow through. 😉