A Mind More Like His

The lives of homeschool moms or moms in general can get pretty hectic. Driving here, there, and everywhere in congested traffic throughout the week, it seems there's little time to cultivate a step-by-step, moment-by-moment walk with God.

This particular day, I hurried to get to the last ballet lesson before recital. Waiting in the minivan at a red light, dark clouds rolled over the sky of blue. Rain drops sprinkled the dusty windshield leaving a dappled shadow on the dash.

I turned on my windshield wipers. In my periphery, an elderly man wearing a lemony-yellow polo shirt, shuffled along, shielding his head with a newspaper.

The light flashed green. I had to go. A sweet little Sunshine Girl has gotta make it to ballet and not a minute late. No time to think, let alone help.

Near our destination, compassion finally hit. But, too little, too late.

An onslaught of guilt, shame, and utter sickness settled in for the lone man in a yellow shirt, walking as fast as his aching bones could carry him to seek shelter before the downpour.

Why didn't I stop?

Why?

What was more important than helping someone in need?

Ballet could have waited.

But, I didn't stop and felt awful for it.

Still, I prayed and hoped someone else stopped to help.

The rain let up, but I didn't know if the man made it out of the rain without getting drenched.

This failure to love my neighbor was a wake up call.

A call to wake up from my slumber: 

.“Awake, O sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 

Ephesians 5:14-16

I was totally unprepared to take a detour from my plans to give someone a lift. It pained me because I know that little kindnesses matter.  

How can I change? How can I be prepared? To continually be ready? To have the mind of Christ?

These questions buzzed like bumblebees around my mind, needing answers, needing truth. But, I didn't have to wait long for the answer to come. Over and over again, a word here, a phrase there. All reminding me that love is kind (1 Corinthians 13:4). 

The Lord was discipling me. To be more like Himself. He loves me that much.

God gently reminds us of the truth when we aren't following His directions. 

He knows our hearts. And He knows exactly what we need to hear. (Romans 8:27)

And it is always aligned with His Word.

A few days later, I noticed this young guy, homeless, out of work, holding up a used paper plate with the word Hungry written on it.

I looked all over the car for something to give him and remembered this time, "Love is kind."

My heart spilled over with joy as I handed him dignity, blessing, and a granola bar. "It's all I've got. Hope you find something better soon. And may the Lord bless you."

This life may be hectic, but there is no better place to be then in the presence of Christ, wherever you are, filling your mind with His truth.

It's amazing how the Lord uses our mistakes to apply His Word to our hearts and change us from the inside out. Making us willing and useful servants for His Kingdom.

And He renews our mind with His holy, powerful, life-infusing Word (Romans 12:1,2).

It helps to know it. Really know it. Deep, deep in the long-term recesses of our minds. To practice until made perfect the presence of Christ, which is a life-time venture.

There are many ways to learn the Word.

Repetition.

Visualization.

And, by the grace of God,

Application.

"Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." Psalm 19:11, KJV

Each part of Scripture can produce fruit in your life and give you a mind more like Christ...for He is the One who makes all things new.