As a Man Thinks

 

 

As a man thinks in his heart

So is he,

Eat and drink, he says,

But his heart is not with thee.

 

Whether of heart or mind

I will not here debate,

That they are both incorporeal

Is what matters at any rate.

 

My focus, however,

Will be on the human mind,

That innate, immaterial facility

We are using all the time.

  

It is always at work,

Some believe, even in our sleep,

The subconscious, some call it,

And that is pretty deep.

 

I am by no means an expert

In matters of the mind,

And so, I settle on Proverbs 23:7

And not what others opine.

 

As we think in our heart

That is who we are,

The mind is surely a better gauge

And in this, by far.

 

 

But who can know the mind?

There is only one I know

And I can step out boldly on this

Because Romans 8:27 says so.

 

And he that searches the heart

Knows the mind of the Spirit,

And so, he knows our mind also

And whatever we store in it.

 

You may have "five minds"

Re something you plan to do

But the truth is, you have only one,

And that one determines you.

 

As you think in your heart

So are you

And since it's the Bible says it,

You'd better considered it true.

 

What is more, it was Solomon,

The wisest that ever lived,

And the wisdom he demonstrated

Was not his wisdom to give.

 

 

God is wisdom’s source

And there is none besides,

James says it is heavenly wisdom

So, who are we to deny?

 

So, if you want to know me,

You must get into my mind

And I know that is impossible

Whatever you opine.

 

The devil cannot read it

As some people want to believe

And neither can a psychic,

Please do not be deceived!

 

The only one that can

Is the blessed Trinity:

God knows it, the Son showed it,

The Holy Spirit reveals.

 

What preoccupies one’s mind

Is who a person is

So, if you want to know yourself,

It is yourself you must quiz.

 

Do it with an open mind,

Be honest in answering yourself,

Self-talk is not insanity

And improves mental health.

 

And bear in mind, my friend,

You are what you think,

Your mind can determine today

Whether you rise or sink.

 

With so much at stake

I would therefore want to advise,

Let the mind of Jesus be in you

And let Jesus be your guide.

 

Stewart Russell © January 7, 2022

 

Be Wary of Sayings

 

 “Why worry

When you can pray?”

"Worry is unbelief"

I’ve heard Christians say.

 

“Too blessed to be stressed

I tell God my problems,”

“I don’t have to worry-

He can solve them.”

 

“Regarding any problem

God is infinitely bigger,

So, why don’t I worry?

Now you go figure.”

 

“Don’t tell God

How big your problem is,

Instead, tell your problem

How big God is.”

 

Here’s another saying:

“Talk is cheap”

And once you have a tongue

It is easy to speak.

 

I am pretty sure

That most Christians worry,

But self-talk, I have discovered

Really works for me.

 

After the initial upset

I seek out the consolations,

“It could be worse”

Is a primary consideration.

 

The next one is:

“Now, what can I do?”

I certainly cannot reverse it

And neither can you. 

 

What’s done is done

It is time for the lesson,

So, doing what I can do

Constitutes my next session.  

Ultimately, though,

God is always in control,

And He takes especial care

Of all in His fold.

 

Worrying is natural

But it is not all that you do,

Just remember as you worry

God is looking out for you.

 

Some believers advise

That you should P.U.S.H.

Pray Until Something Happens

Instead of just fuss.

But what is that something

Which ends your pray,

That Push Until Something Happens

Becomes the way?

 

P.U.S.H does sound good

As an acronym

But does it make sense

Or is it just a whim?

 

Trusting God always

Works much better for me

And I am learning to do that

Even when I worry.

 

Oft I don’t even know

How I should pray

But I trust the Holy Spirit,

He knows what to say.

 

Telling me not to worry

But instead to pray

Puts me in a real jam

If I do not know what to say.

 

 

Sometimes regarding prayer

We can’t even start

But that is no problem

God listens to our heart.

 

We hear our heartbeats

But God hears our cries

And those that come from the heart

He never denies.

 

He acts for our good

Although always for His Glory

So, trust Him in all circumstances

And even when you worry.

 

Stewart Russell © November 13, 2020

 

 

Feeling Down

 

Daily I am reflecting

On my present circumstance,

Rehearsing the actual event

Of my recent happenstance.

Repeatedly I ask myself,

“But why did I not walk?”

“How I wish!” and “What if?”

Feature in my self-talk.

No, I am not mad

I am just feeling down

And not particularly interested

In being a clown.

Let me recount the details

Of my recent misfortune

Which I deem the real cause

For my present gloom.

While expecting Dorian

I attended a church service,

It was in the open air

Which I simply could not miss.

It was held at Kings Park

And all was going well,

But what was about to happen

I doubt anyone could tell.

We were one in our praise

As we celebrated in worship,

My tenor strains were perking

My voice was particularly fit.

It was such a blessed moment

Nothing could disrupt

But Satan had a plan

And his plan was to interrupt.

Sensing the Holy Spirit

I felt I would be called to pray

So I prepared myself

To take the trek that way.

My wife had felt the same

She sensed it would be me

So it came as no surprise

When so it turned out to be.

After some leisurely steps

I started off a running

Unaware at that time

Satan was out for me gunning.

I skated on the platform

Friction momentarily denied,

Gravity took over control

And my shoes assisted the slide.

At first, it appeared to be funny

But that was not for long,

Thrice I tried to get up

But simply fell back down.

My left foot was like jelly

It wouldn’t hold my weight

That is now the setback

In this unsuspecting fate.

Presently, I am feeling low

I would like to get around,

If only I had walked back then

I would not have fallen down.

Thrown across the platform

In my eagerness to pray

It is still baffling to me

Such could happen that way.

Now feeling down is not me

I am usually quite upbeat,

But now, often on my back

Feeling down is my treat.

Having longed for some rest

This is how it came,

Maybe I should accept my lot

And give thanks in Jesus’ name.

Easier said than done

Especially when one is down,

How I wish right now

I could freely move around!

The simple task of walking

Now is one of discomfort

But thank God for a family

That renders much support.

Many are the consolations

Yet, I am feeling down,

I guess it is our human nature

When upon us life frowns.

One of my pastimes is riding

From that I am now barred,

And I’d love to see my mother,

That too is quite hard.

I am also missing church

Where I often meet my friends,

These and more I must say

Are driving me round the bend.

I like to be up and around

With a little rest, of course,

But I am really feeling down

Since my rest has been enforced.

Feeling down is where I am

Feeling down is where I’m at,

Feeling down, right now, right here,

But of rest, I have no lack.

When I think of friends

Currently suffering more than I,

I feel a little ungrateful

But my feeling down I can’t deny.

Feeling like I am feeling?

Feeling down I mean,

It happens every now and again

But Jesus is on the scene.

Stewart Russell © September 2019