Submitted Mind

Last month I wrote that joy is a state of mind not an emotion or feeling. There are four mindsets (that work collectively) that we are to have if we are to live a life of joy in the mist of joyless circumstances that surround us. We are the only ones that can charge our mind, and God is the only who can change our heart. He will not change our mind and we can not change our heart...however, as we focus our mind on the things of God he will aline our hearts with His. From the single mind we now add the submitted mind:

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" -Philippians 2:5

Jesus, I believe, was a very joyful person even though his family didn't understand or fully accept him. Or the fact that his disciples didn't see the big picture of why he came. Even the religious system of his day didn't make space for him and his own countrymen turned on him over the years. Yet in spite of all of that I believe that his time of ministry in and around Galilee brought him great joy.

You see the attitude (or some translations say mind) that Jesus had, and we too can have, is one of utter and total submission to what God wants to do in and through us. Jesus spent a lot of his "free time" in prayer in order to stay open and available to how God wanted to use him; and actively seeking Him for his next ministry opportunity. What is amazing to me is that Jesus didn't have his own agenda. He daily put his own plans and desires aside. He also left behind his divine authority and power. So what does that mean? It means that all his teaching, healing, deliverance, and miscellaneous miracles came as directions from God and done by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus could have been discouraged and depressed during his ministry; needing a lot vacation time to help deal with his disciples and the crowds. Instead, He chose to stay focused and submitted to what God was doing; how he could be used by the Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Giving us direction and purpose in the mist of our own paralyzing circumstances, and being our example on how we are to live our lives as followers of Jesus. 

Paul includes another key that goes along with a joyful, submitted mind and that is "Do everything without complaining or arguing". How often do I complain to God and others around me that life is not what I thought it would be? That I am entitled to something more and that life simply isn't fair. Or I ague with God that His plans for my life aren't lining up with my plans for my life. Joy comes when we surrender our will, plans, and desires...and choose to take on His will, plans, and desires. When we stop trying to fix or do things by our own power and strength and begin to fix and do things by the power of His Spirit. It is only when we can say "You are the Lord and I will follow you wherever, because you are worthy"...that we will have joy.