Stilling The Mind

Be still and know your mind

Be still and know your mind. What is it thinking? What is it saying to you? Does it encourage you or dishearten you? Does it challenge you or let you off the hook? Is it tender and loving or harsh and condemning? Does it speak words of life to you, inspiring you to arise and take on the world, or does it encourage you to lay low and hide in a dark cupboard somewhere?

The mind is the most powerful of instruments and weapons. It is a little like a sword. It can be used for good or it can be used for evil. But sometimes it drives us without us ever stopping and listening to what it is sharing with us....

The Mind as a Busy Railway Station

The mind is like a busy railway station, with thoughts and ideas coming along like trains every few seconds and minutes. There is constant activity and as the trains pull into the station, they unload many people, each separate and all going in different directions at different speeds. As we watch the trains come and go and watch the people embark and disembark there is not a moment left to be in the moment. We are caught up watching our thoughts as if we were watching the people coming and going and then have no time left to seek out and search for peace and calm.

We need to shut the station for a while and allow no trains and no people to enter. The signals need to be red for a while so that within the station there is only peace and calm......

as you think, so shall you be

In troubled times we have a choice about how we will respond and it is that choice which will determine if we continue living in light or walk further and further into darkness.

Most of our choices come forth from our minds and our thoughts. If our thoughts are positive, we see all surrounding us soaked in light. However, if some or all of our thoughts are negative, it’s as if someone has switched off the light.

So, we must firstly choose through troubled times how we think, “for as a man or woman thinketh, so shall he or she be.” Don’t believe that thinking negative thoughts leads to great light or meaning or wisdom, for sadly they do not. If we choose to want greater light in our lives through our troubles, we must begin to listen to the thoughts that are going through our head.........

Our Minds - The captain of our ship

Hope is a very bright light and as the world slips into darkness it is one of the greatest treasures that you can bring others, for when you’ve lost hope, you’ve lost the desire to keep on living. Yet there are so few who bring this precious gem to others.

Our minds are the captain of our ships. Our thoughts direct whether we sail into calm or choppy waters. So, we need to become aware of them, for if we do not, we may end up in those waters any way.

As your ship is sailing you have the rudder in your hand. Don’t give it to another to steer your ship. Take firm hold of the rudder and choose which waters you desire to head into. If it’s into turbulent waters, then keep allowing yourself to think negative foreboding thoughts, for they will definitely get you there. However, if you desire to be in calm waters during this time, you must learn to take any negative thoughts captive and turf them out of the home of your heart and mind.....

avoiding the rocks of the 'what ifs'

During this time, you may feel like a boat being tossed around on stormy seas. All you will be able to see will be the height of the waves all around you. You may be terrified of your boat being overwhelmed and broken open upon the rocks of time. However, although you might fear the waves, it is often the unseen rocks that you will fear the most.

Many will be able to cope with what they can see. It will be the hidden things that will keep them up late at night worrying. These hidden things, the submerged rocks, are the “what ifs” of life. “What if this happens, how will I cope? What if that happens, where will I go?..........

In troubled times we have a choice about how we will respond and it is that choice which will determine if we continue living in light or walk further and further into darkness.

So, we must firstly choose through troubled times how we think, “for as a man or woman thinketh, so shall he be.” Don’t believe that thinking negative thoughts leads to great light or meaning or wisdom, for sadly they do not. If we choose to want greater light in our lives through our troubles, we must begin to listen to the thoughts that are going through our head.

If we live in fear or dread or gloom or despondency or hopelessness, our thoughts will be as if another is coming along and blowing out our lit candles. If we try and find peace and solace and reassurance and positive messages and surround ourselves with those who see clearly and well, it is like adding another lit candle. It is our attitude in troubled times which is paramount.

But how can I be or think positively and look for the good work, when I am surrounded by so many things that speak of darkness like poor finances, family breakdowns, poor health, unhealthy relationships, unemployment and an uncertain future?

But to dwell on all the “what ifs” in life will lead you to the rocks where your ship will be broken up. Turning out lights will lead you into deeper darkness where you will lose the ability to see clearly and you’ll feel blind inside.

To choose to dwell on all the bad things is like being caught at the bottom of a deep dark pit. Each day your negative thoughts are like digging a little bit of the pit. At first, you can climb back out and continue as normal. But the day will come when you’ve dug down so far that you will no longer be able to climb out of it. And then as you continue to dig deeper and deeper, you will begin to feel trapped and contained and imprisoned. You may try to climb out but without help, that might prove to be impossible.

For those trapped at the bottom of the pit of desolation or self pity or depression or self harm or substance abuse or degraded living, there needs to be help and support and a ladder lowered into the pit so that they can be led out.

However, the wisest thing to do is to stop yourself from starting digging this pit. If you spend your time thinking and acting out negative thoughts and behaviours, you are digging your pit. When you can stay looking at the world that still contains beauty and kindness and truth and life in one form or another, these are days when you are laying down your spade.

Choose life. Choose truth. Choose light for they he will never lead you into the darkness of the pit. Be careful what you think, for it will set you on a trajectory into stormy waters and seas which might prove incredibly difficult to sail out of and come back from.

Learn to listen to your thought life. If it is negative, spend time surrounded by words that will bring you life and hope and meaning and purpose. Eat from life’s meals and throw death’s meals in the bin.

Do-not-let-your-hearts-be-troubled-1_edi

As we lie asleep in our boat of life, we must not be troubled. We may feel the boat tossing. We may hear the wind’s strength. Yet we need to remain untroubled, knowing that our heavenly father has all the days of our life in the care of his hands.

Know that there is nothing that will happen that you won’t be able to deal with, survive or endure. Know that you will never be pushed beyond the limits set out for you. Know that you are in safe hands, even when the world around you doesn’t feel or look safe. Know that toy can crawl into the sanctuary of God's being and find rest and solace and comfort there. Yes, you can still hear and feel the storms all around you, but this sanctuary is the place of calm within your very inner being.

But how does one find that place of calm within? Firstly, you need to still your mind. All your fears and worries come from your mind. Your mind is the boat rocking upon the stormy seas. It first has to come into a calm harbour, where it knows that it is safe. That harbour is God’s love. When we are resting in the waters of God’s love, there can be no fear, for our minds are at peace. So, when you are troubled, take your mind to that safe harbour. Still it for a few minutes, thinking of nothing but allowing yourself to be embraced by God’s love.

Your mind doesn’t want to be still as if feels it has to be in control. But you must realise as you see the ferociousness of the waves and the strength of the gale force winds surrounding you, that nothing your mind can do will save you. It is a false illusion. You can make as many plans and take as many precautions as you like, but you are as a gnat upon the waters of life. There is only one who can keep you safe. There is only one who can rescue you. There is only one who can give you the strength and the courage needed to take one day at a time.

And that is all you can do. Live today without worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself in the same way as yesterday did and the day before that did and the day before that. All your worrying didn’t change even one day of your past life and it certainly won’t change a day of your future one. The best and kindest thing you can do is to trust the one who created you and breathed life into your body to take care of you.

His ways are not our ways and what to our natural eye might seem unfamiliar, strange and fearful, may be the very thing that will liberate many from the tombs they are enclosed within. He is a faithful Father who only ever wants the very, very best for his children. Only he knows what he’s doing. Everything he does is to free you and others in order to become the very best you that you can be.

Many have locks on the doors of their hearts, minds, souls and spirits. For as long as they remain, they can never be free. God wants you free. He comes to release you from everything holding you back, blinding and containing you. He has come to set you free so that your boat can survive any storm or inclement weather. It is only one who truly trusts in God the Father who can ride out the storms whilst still remaining at peace.

Use these times not to fret and panic and be fearful. Learn to overcome your fears by stilling your heart, mind, soul and spirit and resting in your heavenly Father’s safe and loving arms. You are safe there. No harm can come to you there. Just rest there

and all will be well.