Day 8: A Wandering, Wondering Mind

    Have you ever read a paragraph in a book and at the end realize that you don't remember what you read? Joyce Meyer says in Battlefield of the Mind that this is due to a wandering mind and a lack of self-discipline over our thoughts. The battlefield is the mind, Joyce reminds us, and by our mind wandering we are unable to stay focused on the task at hand and therefore not learn what it is we need to learn. For example, you are in a class and are learning. All of sudden you realize your mind has wandered and you are now thinking about what you will cook for dinner. Your growth has now been hindered because you have not been listening to the valuable lesson in the class, therefore, gaining nothing. If this happens in a conversation, say with a loved one, instead of pretending to have heard what they said instead there is nothing wrong with saying, "Can you back up and repeat that? I let my mind wander off, and I did not hear a thing you said."

     I am completely guilty of doing this with Nate.  I have found that later in time the subject will come up that he was talking to me about earlier and I will begin to ask questions. He will say, "You haven't been listening have you?" Guilty! I appeared to be but my mind was wandering. This only hurts our relationship because Nate probably thinks I don't care to hear him. Which of course I do but I have let my mind wander. Plus, personally, it's sort of embarrassing that I don't recall a conversation even though I was pretending to listen but then later busted for having a wandering mind; something that I have complete control over.

     Another disadvantage of the mind is a wondering mind. Have you ever heard yourself say, “I wonder what the weather will be like.” Or “I wonder if Jane will be coming to the party this Friday.” Joyce says instead of wondering to trust in God that whatever the circumstances and whoever shows up that you will be able to deal with it because you can trust in God. Joyce says wondering is not good because, “wondering leaves a person in indecision, and indecision causes confusion.” So, when wondering what to wear, just decide. When wondering what to do next Sunday, just decide. If you need to change your plans later then fine but just wondering is indecisive and confusing. Joyce says that when one is confused it’s difficult for your prayers/askings to be answered because you are confused with what you are asking. Joyce points out that in Mark 11:23,24 Jesus did NOT say, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, wonder if you will get it. Instead, He said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it – and you will!”