the wandering mind

oh, how i have a tendency toward a wandering mind.  especially when i'm trying to concentrate on something specific. my thoughts seem to have a mind of their own! today, as i was reading the Word and trying so hard to maintain the direction of my brain,  i realized something: yes, for some of us it's not always easy to focus and concentrate...but as long as our minds are stayed on HIM it's ok. in other words, i want my brain to be so well trained, so full of good thoughts, lovely things, truth and purity that when my mind wanders it stays within the walls of righteousness.  

if, while i'm spending time alone with Jesus, my mind wanders to the beauty of creation outside... i want to stop and worship him for who he is, how capable he is to handle the details of my life when he can clearly design and manage the most intricate and complicated details of creation.

if, while i'm praying, i become aware of ALL that i have to do today... i want to take that moment to thank God for the gifts he's given me and the honor it is to serve him with them.  i pray all the more fervently for his strength and courage to do what he's called me to do.

if, while i'm reading the Bible, i start thinking about who's doing what when and why they might be doing it without me.... i want to surrender that to the Lord right then and there! thank him for my friends and family and ask him to fill me with his Spirit so i can be kind, patient and peaceable toward ALL i come in contact with today.

also...a practical and tangible way i've found to bring my mind back from wandering is to have a pen and paper nearby to write down things i remember to do.  i do not write them in my journal or notebook, but on a separate pad or notebook. that way i can refer back to them when i'm finished and add them to my {usually already lengthy} to do list and i don't clutter up my journal with lists upon lists.  even if i'm in the middle of praying... if my mind takes a sharp turn toward today's to-do's, i jot them down real quick and get back to business.

i want to use my wandering mind to draw me even deeper into the presence of the living God! my short attention span may seem like it controls me, but the truth is greater is HE that is in me, than he that is in the world.  and i have the mind of Christ. the enemy may seek to distract me, and use my weakness for failure, but God can...WILL... turn it around and use it for HIS good!

{Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:4, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Genesis 50:20}

here are some visuals of true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable things that my mind wanders to:

family, friends and food