pdave.me

About Midnight, I was finally ready to go to sleep.

Then it happened. (dramatic pause)

An event that is all too familiar for parents. From the moment our children are born, an event takes place, frequently, that will interrupt sleep and delay your planned slumber for at least 20 minutes wondering if “the event” will happen again. It’s called: the bad dream.

Ethan came running into the room. It was apparent that he was not yet awake. He just kept saying, “Dad, help me…I’m gonna steal.” I’ll admit, I was a little confused. My reaction: I started laughing. He as babbling mostly unintelligible words and rubbing his eyes. I walked him back down to his room and laid him in his bed, yes, still mumbling about how he was going to steal. Some bad dream woke him up and sent him running to the safest place he knew. He has a definite fear of them. In fact, when we pray, he has me pray EVERY night for “no dreams.” I don’t know what’s on his mind that causes his dreams but he would rather not dream at all than, in his mind, risk a possible nightmare.

Cammi is a bit different. The battle in her mind takes place before she sleeps. For almost 13 years, she has been known to get out of bed before falling asleep complaining about “bad thoughts.” She is much like her dad. In the stillness of the night, her mind begins to ponder things lost in the business of the day. The mind gets consumed. The mind takes her places.

Both children prove an amazing point: The Mind is a powerful thing.

Proverbs 4:23 says “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) When I look at a parallel bible, every translation says “Guard your heart…” I looked up the meaning of this word and it says “inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding. To get some deeper understanding of the context, the Hebrew way of thinking says that the heart was not the seat of emotion. The seat of emotion was your intestines or in the KJV “bowels.” (That will make for weird Valentines cards.) It seems to me that this scripture is, more so, charging us to guard that part of us we carrying our will, fortitude, and understanding. We are to guard, protect, and watch over our minds. This is consistent with the translation of the word “repentance” when Paul uses it in Romans. Paul uses a word that we associate with our heart (giving our heart to Jesus, pouring out our heart to the Lord, etc). The word is really associated with our mind. It means, literally, to think differently afterwords. When we repent, we are asking for a change of, not our hearts, but our thinking. God knows that IF a person truly believes differently, then he will feel differently and then he will behave differently.

We are to protect that which, according to Proverbs 4:23, “determines the course of your life.”

For example:

My interpretation impacts my reaction – It’s not what happens to me that matters as much as how I choose to see it. That is tough for me. The way I react will determine whether the circumstance makes me better or bitter. I can view everything as an obstacle or an opportunity for growth. I can stay being a victim or a victor.

My beliefs impact my conduct – We always act according to our beliefs, even when those ideas are false. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you are operating on true information! Your convictions about yourself, about life, and about God influence your conduct.

My self-criticism influences my self-esteem – (This may be my biggest battle) We constantly talk to ourselves. Do you run yourself down with your self-talk? Or, in an effort to feel better about what you think, do you tear down others! Stop doing that: “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

I know what my kids watch, read, or listen to affect what they think AND what they dream. It will determine their course…and their sleep.

It’s time to wake up!!!

Guard your mind! Get control of it!!!

Get the Word inside of ya.

Get your minds on the Lord’s perspective.

Why? If you believe different, you will feel different, and you will behave different. And when do you that, you will “determine the course of your life.” If you find yourself confused…if you find yourself with bad thoughts…if you find yourself with no vision…if you find yourself with “bad dreams”…

Follow Ethan’s lead.

Run to the safest place you know. Proverbs 18:10

(In case you needed some inspiration for waking up…my new favorite band All Sons and Daughters)

That’s all I have for today.

Thanks for letting me ramble…