Actualy Using Your Mind (excurses)

In reading this chapter I was reminded of the importance of thinking and analyzing why we do what we do (even when serving God). We need to use our mind to check if our heart is in the right place "you won't grow in obedience if you merely pile up duties." This chpt made me stop and check, why do I serve God; but more powerfully separate my mind from my heart and will and as a tool objectivly analyze myself in the light of God's expectations "duty... w/out affections is abominable to God."

By training your mind you can not only learn about yourself, but you can also detect the attempts your flesh makes against you "the minute you engage your mind to please the Lord, you'll find the flesh resisting every thought."

I think the most important part of separating your mind from yourself takes honesty. The first thing I realized was my weaknesses, and my first insticnt was to lie to myself. To be honest I think most people do this and the great tradgedy is i believe most people lie to themselves and they don't even know that they are doing it. It's in truly using your mind that you can separate it too see yourself. And you can even use it as a tool agaisnst your flesh "think about Gods sovereignty, the punishment of sin, the love of God, the blood of Christ, the indwelling holy spirit."

I hope to any reader this wasn't rambling, but an insight to using your mind as a spiritual tool. Since it was a revelation of the inner workings of my mind. Though my motivations were for you to be pleased and find insight; I long for God to inspire me to write to please him alone.....I had to be honest...are you???