A Mind Stayed on God

When I was a child, I was in gymnastics for several years. After the floor, the balance beam was my favorite event. I was taught to keep my eyes focused on the end of the beam. This would help me stay centered; otherwise I would lose my balance and either wobble or fall off. It took intentionality to stay focused, and at times I would forget, especially when learning a new, challenging skill.

I find it is the same in life when it comes to trusting God. When we keep our eyes and minds fixed on Him, we are more centered, calm, and graced with stability. It takes intentionality to have a mind stayed on God, which results in being kept in His “perfect peace.”

It certainly can feel difficult to imagine perfect peace in our lives in the midst of juggling schedules, kids, work, relationships, and everything in between. And then with all the distractions that come in a day, it can be challenging to have a mind “stayed on” God. Yet Scripture tells us that’s the source of perfect peace. But what does it actually mean to have a mind stayed on God?

It means to set our gaze and fix our thoughts on Him, to look to Him continuously, to focus on His character and trustworthiness. It’s a mind stayed and resting on His glory, His beauty, His kingdom, His faithfulness. When our minds dwell on Him, He keeps us in His complete peace, a peace that weaves through the tapestry of life, that flows through the hills and the valleys.

With our minds, we think on His attributes, meditate on Scripture, and reflect on who God is. With our minds, we recognize and understand that God is in control, He is sovereign, He rules and reigns, and everything is in His hands. We set our minds on the truth, power, excellence, and loveliness of God.

To keep our minds on God, we pray throughout the day and spend time in His Word. We ask the Spirit to direct our thoughts to stay on God because our minds inevitably wander. We talk about God in our conversations, and we pray with one another. We gather in community to learn and worship together at church, and we encourage each other to keep looking to God, especially when challenges come. It’s also important we pay attention to the things that may be distracting us and drawing our eyes away from God.

Consider what might be a frequent source of distraction from focusing on God. Are there things that your mind is staying on more than God? What is one thing you can do to help your mind stay more on God? A heart at rest is a heart that trusts. We often long for rest, and that longing is satisfied when we trust God, because rest and trust are connected. We deeply rest when we deeply trust. I pray God would bless you with His perfect peace today and that He would help you rest your mind and heart upon Him, always and forever.

Prayer

God,

Your Word says that You keep those in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because they trust in You. Please show me the things my mind is staying on more than You. O Lord, help my mind stay fixed on You. This is my heart’s desire, and I need the help of Your Spirit to keep my thoughts set on You.

May I steady the gaze of my heart on Your holiness, goodness, and love. Guard me from dwelling on worries and lesser things that distract me from You, my perfect peace.

I walk through today depending on You with all my heart and with all my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.