Knee's Down, Chin Up!

I have been considering some verses in Proverbs today.  The phrase “wise in your own conceit” caught my eye in Chapter 26 verses 12 and 16.  They say:

12. “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit?  there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

16. “The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit that seven men can render a reason.”

I pulled out my good old “new” Webster’s Dictionary which had traveled to Florida to college with my son but now has returned for the summer.  The curled edges of the cover revealed that in reality it had been well used…oh joy!  Webster defined conceit as:  (1)a result of mental activity, (2) individual opinion.

Hmmm.  Wise in my own mental activity…wise in my own individual opinion?  Too close to home for me.  I wondered how many times I had been involved in my own mental activity and valued my own individual opinion.  Is it good to be known as a person who “speaks their mind.”  No. It is good to be known as a person who has the mind of Christ.  Is it valuable to be a person with “strong opinions?”   According to Proverbs, it is not….when that opinion is the result of one’s own individual mental activity.  In reality….who cares what I think?  We should care what Jesus thinks.  And what Jesus thinks is usually not what my mind is “thinking.”  Love my enemy?  Do good to those who despitefully use you?  Hmmm.  Let each esteem the other better than himself?   Arrgggh.

I was confronted today with truth.  Truth that I am “wise in my own conceits”.  I must choose to submit my opinions to the living word.  The final Word.  The mind of Christ.  Peace does not come when our mind is active with the supporting and reinforcement of my own opinion.  Peace comes (perfect peace) when my mind is stayed on Christ.

Isaiah 26:3  “Thou wilt keep Him (or Her …thank you Jesus!) in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed on thee.”   (KJV)

“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus” (vs. 5 of Philippians 2).  We read in verse 3 of the same chapter a cameo of what that will cause in our own mind.   ”Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves.”  It continues in verse 7 ….”but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant….”    (KJV)

Life does not always flow well with Scripture.  Usually that doubled edged sword cuts us across the grain …leaving frayed edges that show how our own flesh isn’t willing to give in easily.  But cut us it does.  It cuts self right out … if we let it.  Like cutting off a rotting section of meat so the rest can be preserved.

I’m so thankful for the Word of God that does not leave me to myself and my own conceited opinions. The  hymn “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” is my prayer today.

“May the mind of Christ, my Savior, Live in me from day to day, By His love and power controlling All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph Only through His power.

May the peace of God my Father Rule my life in everything, That I may be calm to comfort Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me As the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self abasing, This is victory.

May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe, Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me, As I seek the lost to win, And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.”

Life is so busy right now that I barely have time to catch my breath.  Gratitude is a choice that I’m making today.  Won’t you join me?

1037.  Aspirin when you have a headache.

1038.  The Internet.  (At 5:00 am looking for worksheets …it’s marvelous thing.)

1039.  Bird’s singing in the dark just before the dawn.  May it remind me of the real “dawning” of that day

when Jesus comes back.  This could be it … even so come Lord Jesus!

1040.  The sweetness of a friend’s counsel.

1041.  A phone call prayer prayed with enthusiasm and faith.

1042.  Safety of a friends life amid storm tragedy.

1043.  Did I mention the birds are singing in the dark?……I want to be like that.

1044.  Older ladies who inspire me with their seriousness about the gospel and their reading choices.

1045.  A short conversation on the salt covenant.

1046.  200 plus volunteers who give of their time and life so the gospel can go out in UPWARD basketball.

1047.  People who help an old mom find a young, quick three year old who loves adventure.

1048.  Watching people serve with great joy and little recognition in their local church.

1049.  Genuine kindness shown toward little children.  I was reminded of how it takes time to do this and relenquishing of self.  Could this be another meaning of “suffer” in the “suffer the little children to come unto Me…” that Jesus spoke?

1050.  Libraries.  (E-books haven’t completely taken over …yet….and I don’t want them to either….)

1051. The “so great a cloud of witnesses” who surround us….

1052.  Watching basketball games with my husband.

1053.  A reminder from an 8 year old to say “false” before the word “god” or “goddess” when reading aloud a book about Greek mythology.  He was so right.  “Give unto the Lord the honor due unto HIS name.”

1054.  The purple foxgloves, yellow daffodils, and tulip’s sprouting their way up through the dirt to herald the coming of Spring.

1055.  A turned over sock basket. Count it all joy.

1056.  Answer to prayer in the middle of Walmart.

1057.  A determined pursuit of the “D.Min.” by my husband.

1058.  An older pastor/wife who shared at our marriage conference.  So great to see faithful people who just keep doing what is right.

1059.  Putting out a fire in my microwave quickly ….(last time I did that I had to call the fire department).

1060.  Traveling family who stop in for a visit.

I’m moving to WordPress blogging due to privacy issues with Google’s blogger that make me uncomfortable.  I opted for a new name this time as well.  “Knee’s Down, Chin Up!” is a phrase that I use to conclude some letters and notes to friends.  Essentially it’s a reminder to keep your knee’s down in prayer and your chin up in attitude.  “Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.”   I hope that this blog will encourage the readers to keep praying and keep choosing joy each day of their journey.