07
Take Time For "Think Time"
Jon Burgess1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3
It doesn't happen automatically. It takes work to think differently. The Apostle Paul encourages the church to take time for think time. It's a processing of life's stresses, pressures, and fears through the filter of Christ! It's a re-training of the mind to focus on things of heaven and not of earth. Many have spent their entire lives thinking earthly thoughts and earthly solutions so this is our natural default. But, now that they have been resurrected through Christ they are called to supernatural solutions which requires a different default. Instead of just rushing into the day with our natural inclinations we need to take time to hide ourselves in Christ!
This is my favorite time of year, but it's also the busiest time of year for many, especially for pastors. It's only the beginning of December and I've already run out of time. It was Martin Luther who famously said,“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer" in contrast to his one hour of prayer. The response of one who takes time for think time in Christ. If I have more to do this time of year then the solution is not less time with Jesus, but more! If I have more on my calendar then I have more that I need to think through with Christ so I get His Heavenly perspective on it rather then my earth bound one! This morning I got up early for another busy day and realized I had a night of stressful dreams. No doubt my subconscious trying to work through what I hadn't processed from the day before! I needed to get going, but instead I got still before God. I got out to watch the sunrise and soak in the masterpiece of The Master. As I watched God paint the sky over Diamond Head I realized it had been way too long since I had done this. With effortless beauty God started a brand new and called me back to a brand new place of joy and freedom in Him. As I took time for think time I processed through all that was on my mind so I could get the mind of Christ! The stress lifted off with the darkness of the night and in its place was heavenly thinking that I could take into my day.
It doesn't happen automatically. To hide myself in You Lord, is to take time to find my safety, security, and identity in you rather then in the things I do. Making time for "think time" takes me to a place of joy in who I am in You rather then what I'm doing for you. Most everyone missed it when you arrived as a child on that night in Bethlehem because they were thinking they had the Messiah all figured out. I pray that I would not make the same mistake this December.
