Who wants a lifestyle of spiritual awareness?
LIVING ON PURPOSE
By Dr. Billy Holland
Have you noticed that when we are bombarded with negativity and told that the world is falling apart at the seams, it drains our joy and hope? Of course, we are concerned about our nation, the world, and the future of our family, but may we look beyond the veil of doom and gloom and realize the world is also filled with good news, whether we want to accept it or not. Like you, I scan information from newspapers, radio, television, the internet, including religious voices, and mostly what I gather are those obligated to relay how bad everything is. When someone relays a story, we should be aware they are relaying a view of what they personally believe or what they’ve been told. For example, when someone declares that no one can be trusted and that society is evolving into a mass of mindless zombies, we should realize this is a “glass half-empty” view. However, in reality, there are many kind-hearted and loving individuals are demonstrating what Jesus is saying.
Perspective is a key word to consider because we have an obligation to discern and think carefully about not only what we say, but what has been said. We were not created to be simple-minded souls who are gullible and easily deceived. Since God is all-wise and lives within His children, He wants us to manifest the highest intelligence and spiritual sensitivity as possible. First Corinthians 2:16: “For, who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him, but we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” It’s important to realize that all human communication is presented through an individual’s personal way of thinking, whether it be positive or negative. This is why spiritual discernment is so important, so that we can filter out the personal bias from the facts. Listening to anyone speak about something (including what you are reading now) is a personal responsibility (and a challenge) when we comprehend this principle.
Since we have the opportunity to express our free will to establish our own interpretations and opinions about everything, including our religious views, we are faced with the most serious point of our conversation. To what extent has the information we have learned been demonstrated as obedience unto God? What good would it be if a person listened to Biblical sermons for 50 years, and never allowed God’s word to change them into a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ? It’s as if many churchgoers have convinced their conscience that simply believing there is a God qualifies them for eternal life.
Change is a popular word when associated with personal transformation, but usually considered a necessity for others and not for ourselves. What we have decided to believe is indeed the hill we will die on, so to speak, which reminds us that we need to make sure our thoughts are correct. There is an old saying, “What is down in the well will come up in the bucket,” as our conversations are a direct extension of our thoughts and who we are. As the glass being half-full or half-empty can describe our positive or negative attitudes, we seldom examine which type of personality we are. Much of who we are is based on the complex nature of how we process what we hear, learn and accept. Within this conscience system of cognition, it encompasses various mental activities such as reasoning, understanding, problem-solving, and decision-making.
The truth is that everything in our world is NOT doom and gloom, and all is not lost. Just because we do not know a true follower of God or see their obedience does not mean they do not exist. It simply reveals that a pessimist bases their worldviews and judgments on their own opinions and what they have experienced. Each individual can choose to make as much difference in the world as they want, good or bad. In other words, we can become as positive minded as we want to be. Some pray to be a light of truth, while it seems that others enjoy spreading fear and darkness. Some will ask, “What does personal spiritual transformation include?” Now that is a good question. We’ve already mentioned how the mind must be renewed, which, by the way, is a very important aspect of spiritual warfare, and as we will talk more in the coming weeks, it will come down to whether we really have a passion to become totally committed to what Christ died for us to be.
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.