Stayed on the Lord

Stayed On The Lord-I am basing this blog on Isaiah 26:3. Particularly the
last part of verse that refers to being stayed on the Lord. Being stayed
means remaining firm. So my thoughts need to remain firm in Him. I also read
other translations of the same verse to see what other words that are used
to connote the same meaning as stayed.

One word that is used is "steadfast". Steadfastness is certainly something I
need to complete this "journey" that I am on. Another translation mentions
depending on God. Depending on God is not a big problem for me. Not when I
can't do anything on my own and, most times, there is no other person around
to depend on. However, the translations that most caught my attention are
the ones that mention focusing or fixing our thoughts on God. Keeping my
thoughts fixed on God has always been a challenge for me. Because of all the
long hours that I have to fill up every single day. Having said that,
though, in another way, I think it is easier than for other people. I don't
have so many other distractions that pull my attention away from God. Even
good things like family, job, etc.

In this blog, I thought that I would share the things that I am doing to
keep my thoughts fixed on God. To start each day, I have what I call my
"quiet time" for about 15 minutes. Before I get up and before I have music
playing. I imagine I am a peaceful place like a forest with birds chirping
and a bubbling brook. To keep my mind from wandering, I pray quietly in
tongues.

Once I am up and using my computer, the very first thing I do is read the
Bible. I read it the Bible a lot. The best way that I know to keep my
thoughts focused on God is by reading what He has to say in the Bible. I do
the main part of my Bible reading before I even check my e-mail. However, I
also usually do a bit of reading in the evening. I like to watch sporting
events on tv in the evenings. I have gotten in the habit of, during
intermissions, reading some scriptures on various topiss. From time to time, I read
scripture simply because that is what I feel like doing.

Prayer also helps to keep my thoughts on God. It is pretty rude to not be
thinking about the One you are talking to! Still, I sometimes catch my mind
wandering and I have to jerk it back to where it should be. I find that it
is, or could be, even more of a problem when I am praying in tongues. It is
too easy to babble on and on while my mind is a million miles away. I find that
the best time to keep my thoughts focused on God in prayer is when I am just
talking to Him like I would to a human friend.

Worship is a good way to keep my thoughts fixed on God where they should be.
At church,it is pretty easy to worship God when everyone else is doing the
same thing. Although it can be frustrating to listen others singing freely
and raising their hands to our great God while all I can do is sit there and
let out grunts and groans. But I know that that is enough for God so I close
my eyes and offer worship to Him the best that I can. However I know that
worshiping God is even more important when I am in Long-term Care and the
atmosphere is anything but worshipful. I readily admit that, right now, I
often don't have the energy to emit audible grunts and groans. But that
doesn't stop me from singing worship songs to the Lord in my mind. Which, in
turn, helps to keep my mind focused on Him.

I know I talk about my music a lot but it really does help to keep God
foremost in my thoughts. Especially in the afternoons when I rest in bed and
can't use my computer. After a morning of using it, I am tired. So, in the
afternoons, I like to lie in bed with my eyes closed and listen to the
lyrics of music. Because almost all of it is Christian and glorifies God, it
is a good way for me to keep my thoughts fixed on God. Admittedly, from
time to time, I catch my thoughts wandering. Then it is up to me to get them
back on my music.

An important thing in keeping my thoughts fixed on God is the writing of
these blogs. To a greater or lesser extent, ALL  of my blogs talk about God,
Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit. And writing these blogs takes up a
considerable length of time so each blog is a significant period of time
that I don't have to struggle to keep my thoughts focused on God. They are
centered on Him anyway. I did not initially want to write these blogs but
I am finding that writing them is beneficial to me in several ways. Not the
least of which is keeping my thoughts set on God and not flying
helter-skelter all over.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 26:3. The verse basically says that God will give us peace if we keep our minds "stayed" on Him. By experience, I have found that to be true. As long as my thoughts are focused on God, I feel calm and relaxed. However, times when I start to feel agitated and restless, if I check my thoughts, they are not fixed on God like they should be.