My Mind: Shaped by Scripture

Written by Scott Primeau

I love reading the Bible together with friends at Central on my Bible App!  I like the ability to see who in my group is on track, and who needs a little nudge.  I find I receive encouragement when I need it as well.  I particularly like the comments section and hearing what God was saying to others, and sharing my thoughts as well.  There have been seasons in my life where I have fallen out of this daily practice, and what I can tell you from my experience is that it doesn't take very long before I begin to notice that I start loving "other things" more than I should.  Not necessarily bad things, many good, but they begin to occupy my thoughts and affections more then Jesus.   This is why daily Bible reading and meditation is so important because it shapes our minds and thoughts.

This weeks reading has taken me through one of my favorite chapters in all of scripture, Romans 8.  Verses 5-6 say "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."  What we set our minds on shapes our lives, and our beliefs determine our behaviors.  And this verse is talking about more then just thinking about good things from time to time.  It is talking about totally occupying your mind and completely capturing your imagination, and it tells us that it can either be on what the flesh desires or what the Spirit desires. 

So what is your mind predominately focused on? What are you really living for? There are many things that help me set my mind on what the Spirit desires - worship songs, sermons, podcasts, scripture memorization - but the greatest practice for me is to get up early, and spend some time with Jesus reading His word and meditating on it.  Thanks to the "Let's Read the Bible Together" plan, I now get to do this in community with my brothers as well.