Idle Time, Idle Minds

It's amazing how God can change your heart in such a short period of time!

I have been struggling with not having any ambition to really dive into things lately.  At church Sunday Pastor Beth said something that really struck me, "Idle time, idle minds."  While she was using this in reference to raising up teenagers; God spoke to me through the very statement.

I have been idle all summer.  I also have had goals to achieve things this summer, yet I remained idle.  My ambition to achieve things, whether it was exercise, spend time in God's word, praying, etc.  I lazily chose to stay idle.  What a waste!  The last couple weeks I have been so discouraged, I couldn't figure out why nothing seemed to be happening, why I didn't have a thoughtful thought process.  I wanted to feel "awake" and "alive" again.  I prayed to God, "Show me what I need to do, why do I feel this way?  What's wrong?"
He provided His answer to me Sunday.  While it may have not been the answer I wanted, it was very blunt and it was truth.

"Idle time, idle minds."

I have not been feeling anything because my mind has been idle.  My mind has been idle because I haven't been cultivating my time, nor my mind.

When you ask God for answers, He gets right to the point doesn't He?

After the service on Sunday, I joined a small group.  I decided it was time to truly cultivate my mind and my mind is where resistance begins.  I joined the group, Battlefield of the Mind.  We will be reading and discussing Joyce Meyer's book, "Battlefield of the Mind."

I have also made a personal commitment to start each and everyday with a daily devotion.  I have made this statement before and it has always fell to the wayside - but I'm getting rid of resistance in my life, so I have no excuse now. :)

Thirdly, I have decided that worrying and fretting about my fall schedule is just another tactic that Satan is trying to use to slow me down.  I know that God has amazing plans for my future and I'm not about to let fear and doubt get in the way of that. 

Last but not least, I will schedule gym time into my daily schedule; just like work and class.  I am tired of making excuses for not being able to live an active and healthy lifestyle.  Resistance again, but not anymore!  I'm feeling very confident and renewed by this realization. 

I have realized that if change is to take place, it has to begin in the mind.  If our minds are idle, we are not going to move forward.  Satan wants that - he wants us to be idle and resist what we know we should be spending our time on.  Idle time, idle minds is what Satan strives for in our lives.  God has bigger and better plans for our lives.  So I'm going to cultivate my mind and spend my time wisely.