Sometimes it’s very apparent when we have to “gird up the thoughts of our mind”. The thoughts have become so plentiful or negative, that we are tripping all over the place or we are truly “stuck” by them all and we are unable to move forward. We can thank the Holy Spirit for those “wake up call” times and for helping us recognize the danger we are in. We can dramatically “gird up” all the worries and cares and bitterness and negativity we have let fester and can have renewed, sharpened focus on Christ & His Word. But girding up the thoughts isn’t only a re-active action step when we’re already in danger. It is a pro-active one to too.

In our parenting, at some point we realize that children need to be told what to do perhaps even moreso than what not to do. So it makes sense that our perfect Heavenly Father would give us so many commands and encouragements in scripture of what to do. And one of the most important commands He gives to help us “gird up” our thoughts so we can have victories in the battlefield of the heart and mind is to remain.

In studying John 15, my sweet teen daughter came to me one morning and said, “Mommy this is what I think remain means: to remain in Christ is to Rest Every Moment Abiding IN His love.”

Amen. To remain is to rest. To rest is to be content.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly” John 10:10

The Lord wants us to have LIFE and ABUNDANT life. Meaning we can flourish and thrive and be full of LIFE. It does not mean we will have a life of ease and prosperity without sorrow or sickness or suffering … but it does mean we can have FULL-ness of life in mind, heart, and spirit, no matter what is happening externally. And this abundant life comes because Jesus is our Sabbath rest. And it takes effort to enter that rest. (Hebrews 4:9-11)

When thinking of this rest-filled life, the Psalm gives us so many great visuals. Psalm 23 type resting by the quiet waters where the Good Shepherd gives rest for mind, heart, body, and soul. Psalm 131 type resting of the weaned, quieted, stilled heart.

But I have noticed that for the Christian, rest is often stolen by thoughts of discontentment. And discontentment is often less about material possessions and more about how the Lord is using us or how fast slow He is working the way we want Him to. We are discontent with our lot in life yet spiritually aware enough to know it’s not about money. We want to be used mightily in His hands, have easy peaceful relationships, influence others, make a difference, have great victories, and live in the mountaintops. But more often than not, we are in training mode and daily life is a lot smaller than we thought it would be. Doing dishes. Folding laundry. Doing office work. Misunderstandings. Dealing with menial tasks and unappreciative people.

The “dying to self” looks a lot less dramatic than we thought it would and nobody really notices the self and how much we have been dying to it until it rears its ugly head. “Giving up our lives” can feel more like irresponsibility than it can a bold, courageous adventure. So we can easily get discontent in our thoughts…. yearning for more…. unsatisfied. But those places of yearning are the perfect training grounds for girding the thoughts and to practicing contentment. This is truly one of the most important disciplines in our training to maturity.

Are we willing to surrender our great, godly desires to the Lord and be content where He has us? Resting in His timing? More importantly… content in HIM. He will help us do this. And the more we practice contentment, the more we come to realize that Christ IS Life and we can find our satisfaction in Him. Not in how He uses us, not in other people, or any victories… but truly most content and satisfied in Him.

So gird up the thoughts – and keep them girded, by remaining.

Rest Every Moment Abiding IN His love.