Open My Mind

Open My Mind
Psalm 119:18

As we begin to be "for real" and committed in our walk with God a battle is intensified within. What battle you ask? The battle of control between the new nature and the old nature, the key to winning this battle is strengthening the new nature with new food and that food is God’s word. I don’t want to remain the same as I go through life minute by minute and day to day. There is a part of me that strives for excellence while there is another part that would much rather remain comfortable at the place I have arrived. Psalm 119 is a great Psalm for those of us who desire to live for God but just need the words of someone who understands the struggle.

In the 18th verse of Psalm 119 the Psalmist asks for a new perspective … a new way of thinking … a new way of seeing God’s word. He says,

"Open my mind and let me discover the wonders of your law."
(Contemporary English Version)

Many times when we decide that we are going to "straighten up" for God one of the first things we commit to doing is reading God’s word more. When put forth the effort to do so we aren’t successful for some reason and we eventually go back to living life according to the new nature. What is that? The intent is right but we fail to realize that we have to open our minds to receive what God has to say to us. This requires us to see a thing the way God sees it. When something is open the inside is exposed and can be changed simply by adding to or taking away. The Psalmist wants his mind to be opened so that the inside can be changed and we all know that when the inside transforms it manifests on the outside.

As we open our minds making ourselves vulnerable to God and everything that comes with living his way, something happens! We begin to see things differently. Now when we read the word of God we understand precepts and promises … we gain insight on what God really means when he says certain things, and the revelations of God and his word become more than just powerful sayings but life changing prophesies that when heeded will allow us to experience the fullness of a life of God.

Discovering the wonders of God’s law will cause you to want to live for God no matter what the cost. According to the dictionary, "wonder" means,

-awe, astonishment
- surprise or admiration
- marvelous
- inspiring, astounding

If you take time to delve into the word of God it will not only surprise you but it will inspire you to know more. When you read about people like Moses, who had a speech impediment, yet God called him to deliver his chosen people by going to tell Pharaoh that "I am that I am" had sent him and seeing how God delivered them in a mighty way … Jeremiah, called by God from birth, to tell a people to quit messing around on God or suffer destruction, only for him to get frustrated and tell God that he doesn’t want to speak for him anymore but it turns out that it’s not that easy because God’s word was so deep within him that he couldn’t just walk away from his assignment ….I can go on and on but I think you get where I’m going. Don’t let the familiarity of the stories keep you from discovering what God wants you to know, this is why the Psalmist says, "Open my mind." It is not until our minds are opened … made vulnerable to God, that we will experience in a new way and on a whole new level the things of God.

In our society today when you become vulnerable, others will take advantage of and sometimes hurt us, but one thing you never have to worry about is being hurt by God. We have to remind ourselves of what Jeremiah 29:11 says,

"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (The Message Bible)

Now with a promise like that how can we not lay into the arms of God and allow him to take us to places that will intensify our will, commitment and praise to him! Lord, open my mind and let me discover the wonders of your law!

© Copyright LaTrisha E. Milton March 28, 2008