With All I’ve Got, Part 3
The Verse
And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
All My Mind
Before PCA, the idea of loving God with all my mind reminded me of Romans 12:2, which says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” In the same way that I aim to offer my heart and soul as-is to God for Him to mold, I grew up trying to offer my mind to God as-is for Him to transform. He does, I still do, and it is good. But PCA has taught me that there is more to it.
Soaking It Up
My mind is a sponge. I feed it by what I choose to expose it to. When I watch TV, read a book or a blog post, study Scripture, or even talk to a friend, the words and story and attitudes of that time go into my mind and mull around, directing my thoughts and traveling into my heart, which effects my feelings and moods. After some time, this can even penetrate into my soul, shaping my deepest longings and desires. When I find myself searching Zillow for hours on end, wondering if there’s a better house out there for me, chances are I’ve been lured into discontent by commercials or comparisons of those around me. This is not helpful or pleasing to anyone, especially God. This is when I realize I need to be more intentional with what I allow my mind to be exposed to, while also offering my mind to the Lord to be transformed and renewed, through prayer, meditation and Scripture.
Sharpening My Mind
PCA has taught me that the mind is a unique tool. I can’t tell my heart what to feel or convince my soul to deeply desire something. I can, however, teach my mind new things with great intentionality. If I’m going to love God with all my mind, then I would be smart to offer Him the best my mind can be. I can learn to think well. I can learn facts that will help me come to more logical conclusions. I can learn logic and debate and communication skills so that the desires He is impressing on my soul, His desires, can be communicated to others more effectively. I can learn Scripture, which is like drinking the very words of God into my mind, which then moves my heart and penetrates my soul. This is what classical education is all about. This is what PCA is all about. I love that my kids get to go to a school where they are learning to be the best they can be and then offer that to God as a pleasing aroma, and the process is so much fun for them!
In the next post, read about loving God with all I’ve got.