Listening to Jesus: Shaping Our Spiritual Journey

to love god to want to follow god means that's the voice those are the thoughts that i want to have in my mind thoughts are such tremendously powerful things dallas willard in this book renovation of the heart writes about how very often we can believe that our thoughts alone can save us because they are so powerful there are certain religions that make enlightenment of thought into the power of salvation [00:01:16]

those who would understand and practice spiritual formation in the way of jesus should not deny the power of thought just because some people make a religion of it and would use it as a basis for helping and healing with no reference to christ breakfast is a good idea and i do not plan to give it up because hindus practice it [00:02:19]

how would you like to have jesus voice the primary voice in your mind have you made jesus your personal teacher in some traditions of christianity the question that often gets asked is have you made jesus your personal savior and sometimes that gets divorced from asking jesus to be my teacher [00:02:56]

the reality is is there have always been reasons to not want to follow the teachings of jesus way back to the very first century a friend of mine just sent me this online selective negative teaching evaluations of jesus christ you know when you take a class in school there'll be an evaluation process afterwards for the college level or so [00:04:21]

and this is simply true of us we will fill our minds with something we will follow somebody we will learn how to live from someone or a plethora of someone's we will do that whether on purpose or by accident for better or for worse who else would you suggest [00:06:09]

the most obvious thing we can do is to draw certain key portions of scripture into our minds and make them a part of the permanent fixtures of our thought this is the primary discipline for the thought life and i know some of you do not like that word discipline so substitute the word practice [00:06:58]

and a good way to do that is to memorize them and then constantly turn them over in our minds as we go through the events and circumstances of our life and then he cites joshua old testament book chapter 1 verse 8 where joshua says to the people keep the book this book that is god's book god's story god's instruction god's love [00:07:42]

so take a single thought from scripture today and carry it with you you might not like memorization you might think that you're bad at it it doesn't matter what matters is what happens in our minds as we seek to do this we're going to be thinking something why not think something noble and good something that moves me towards god [00:08:41]

we need to be in the presence of images both visual and auditory good sayings poetry and songs these can constantly direct and redirect our minds towards god jesus christ the spirit and the church the people of god icons have a millennial long track record with the people of god can be a powerful way of keeping entire stories and teachings effortlessly before the mind [00:09:16]

may the voice that you and i listen to today be the voice of jesus but he be our teacher [00:10:54]

dallas writes people in the united states commonly had edifying sayings on their walls i recall from my childhood one that said only one life will soon be passed only what's done for christ will last these and other good sayings were constantly before the minds of all of us who lived in the house they were powerfully effective because they came through mere habit and enduring presence in influence within the minds of those who constantly saw [00:09:55]

be strong and very courageous have i not commanded you do not be afraid do not be dismayed for the lord your god will be with you wherever you go so take a moment now or when you get the chance take a card piece of paper write the word with on it and put it someplace where you can see it [00:10:31]