OCTOBER 6, 2016

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” 
― Jalaluddin Rumi

ISAIAH 34-36

8And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness;

it will be for those who walk on that Way.

The unclean will not journey on it;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9No lion will be there,

nor any ravenous beast;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there,

10and those the Lord has rescued will return.

They will enter Zion with singing;

everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (35:8-10)

PHILIPPIANS 2

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

JOURNAL 

I really wish I could capture the mindset of this verse from Paul. The mindset of Christ. I get glimpses of it but then the chaos of the world floods my mind with fears and shame etc. It is interesting to me that paul frames it as a mindset. The mindset is that of a servant. Humility and service is our call...this is the path we are called to walk as Isaiah refers to...

Funny thing though is that when I do grasp this at times...I have such peace and joy. The mindset of humility and service really does bring the power of God over all the chaos and evil of the world. This idea of mindset is in harmony with mindfulness training. Being present, clear and aware of the here and now.

16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18