Mind

Mind me....we as parents expect that of our children...to mind....our children expect that of their children ...to mind .....so why should our relationship with God our "Father" be any different. I suspect that he too expects us to mind him when he speaks as well. Think back on a time when you have been in a riff with someone....maybe you are in one now...think of how much time you have spent being sad, or frustrated, or hurt or disappointed becasue of words that were carelessly spit out, or deeds that were carelessly done or responses that were impatiently driven....or maybe just maybe it was not an intentional meanness, it was just taken wrong and misunderstood without true malicious intent.

It could have been something that both parties might have clearly disagreed on or just had a different. view on becasue each were basing their understanding from such different experiences One side found it hard to understand the other side and then emotions were thrown in and it all got tangled up in a huge unforgiving mess....It resulted in broken relationships or at least badly wounded ones and there they remained UNTIL someone decides to jumpstart the process of forgiveness.

The process often times begins with an apology...but it also could begin becasue finally one person decided to MIND God and do what God has asked and love the other in spite of differences. God speaks his MIND on us being obedient....but the word obedient just sounds so stayed and commanded. The word obedient is no different from us saying to our own children "mind me"....except when God says it...he is the ultimate boss. His ways do trump the ways of the world. Why do we as parents require children to mind us? Well, you can answer that...it is for a bunch of reasons..but one clear one that I think we will all agree on is protection, Our parents have been around the block a few more times than we have and they can see some of the upcoming pitfalls that we are not tall enough or big enough or mature enough to see. They are trying to keep us from getting hurt...physically as well as mentally. Another reason is because there is an order of authority children obey your parents...the lesser must obey the greater. And we as adults ...who have come to know God are called to obey his commands. This is biblical truth. And it is also our duty to help our children to know what it is that God expects through our own behavior as well as what we are teaching our children.

Mark 12:31
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."


Now what does "things will go well with you mean?" Well, for starters, if we mind God...the responsibility of our actions then land in His hands. If we don't we suffer the consequences of non minding. That "time out" deals pays out in relationships....and it might be for a lifetime if we are not willing to humble ourselves before God and others. God says we are to love our neighbor. That neighbor person is anyone who God has allowed ot cross our path....It could be family or friend or even the cashier at the grocery store.

For months, I have known what I was suppose to do about a broken relationship and I even verbally stated to a friend of mine that I know what I am suppose to do...but am just too stubborn and prideful to do it. Then an opportunity cam emy way and I had a choice...again....do I mind God or not...and quite frankly I was tired of carrying around the burden of not minding. So i asked God in faith to go with me and sure enough he show up in perfect timing and I was finally able to do and say what God had instructed me to do. Now this is not to say that the relationship was immediately healed...but God knew that I had minded him...finally...after his gentle and persistent nudging... and he honored my choice.

We all have a choice...to mind or not to mind...and we are never too old to get instruction and to learn to live according to God's way. And when we do it soes go better. I just look at my grandchildren and watch as they make the choices they make when their parents tell them to do something...it is a very simple concept...mind and you will not get in trouble...don't and you will. As adukts our consequence of not minding seems to reach pretty high levels of discomfort and stress...and we tent to internalize our mistakes and then even worse we rationalize them. God can see right thought all of our shenanigans...and he comes back to one solid and basic principle...LOVE ONE ANOTHER as HE LOVES US. Forgive one another as God has forgiven us.

Is it worth it to mind Him...well you try it and see....I have and as for me ...it is a much easier road to peace.

Dear Lord, Oh what a blessing we have in the commands that you give to us for our benefit. We have choices each day...do we hold on to a past grudge or do we act according to your ways and try to love our offender in spite of our hurts and disappointments...and do we too recognize that we are often the one who has caused regret and pain to others and help us ot be forgiven as well as forgiving. Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for His glory will shine through.