It’s All in Your Mind

commands. Then in Deuteronomy 28:65-67, God gave a formula or a result ofdisobedience. I believe that this formula can be practically applied and seen in our individual Christian lives, in our families, in our churches, and, yes, even in our nation. The formula and its results to Israel can be b"aced historically and should cause us to see the reason for problem areas in our lives and in our homes. God eKpects us to listen seriously to His Word and what He says is important in every jot and tittle. The key to the Christian life is obedience to the Word of God. God told Israet' that when they were scattered among the nations they would find no ease. Ease is a work word, an economic word. God said to a people who would not listen and obey His commands that they would have economic problems. God takes care of His obedient people when it comes to everyday living. A nation that will not follow righteousness in the area of God's moral law will have serious economic problems. Second, God reminded Israel that, "... IUiJJtn Jw1L IJu ""'1 tJ/, duJ, ln,ot ~ ,:uL" Here is the inability to relax. Life would be unrestful and even transient. Of course economic problems produce unrest Third, they would receive from God, "... a hnnM.intJ lun.,J,." Many believers today are as scared and fearful as sinners. Why? Because they will not be obedient and follow the Word ofGod that they know. Examine your life. If you are apprehensive, fearful, trembling, you will find that somewhere you have stepped out of obedience to God's Word. Your mind has decided to leave your first love. You have abandoned the Word of God so God's results for disobedience must come. Fourth, when scattered because of disobedience, the nation of Israel would have "'.../ml.i.,uJ o/ BJD-" Here is no vision. Faithfulness to Christ and His Word will give us a relaxness and a vision in our individual lives, in our families, and in our churches. In this study of the mind, we come to the emphasized phrase. God said that they would receive "... MJ.ffO.ID. o/. mind." This is the word for mental depression, discouragement, or negative thinking. Believers who have depressed and discouraged minds can see the cause. Certainly, life has discouragements, but a believer who loves Christ and His Word and is willingly obedient cannot stay discouraged. His mind will not let him. God only gives sorrow of mind because of continual disobedience to known truth and responsibility. We need to see this in our individual lives; we need to see this in our families and homes. The key to God's blessing is obedience. Without that obedience, God must touch our lives. But God gives us an even further description of His chosen people and the importance of their obedience. If they disobeyed and God scattered them, their lives would hang by a string; or at least that would be how they would feel. "olnd IJuJ, Iiµ, Jud.L lumg,. in dou/Ji /,q.ott llttt." What a phrase of doubt! What a phrase of feeling! What a commentary on the anxieties of many believers! God does not want His children hanging by a string. God has so much He wants to do for us. He has so much He wants us to know in 6 t 1 '- l l I r