Joseph had his mind made up. He was not going to give in to the demands of Potiphar's wife. (Genesis 39) Mordecai had his mind made up. He was not going to bow before the the evil, slimy, Haman. (Esther 3) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had their mind made up. They would would not serve the gods of Nebuchadnezzar or worship the image of gold. (Daniel 3) Daniel had his mind made up. He opened his windows and bowed before His God to pray in defiance to the King's decree. (Daniel 6)
Day after day temptation knocked on the doorstep of their hearts, but they each stood firm.
As I thought about this today I was reminded of an old Southern Gospel song that a friend of my husbands loved to sing. The lyrics go like this:
I started out to win this race
To serve the Lord and to look upon His face.
But the ways been hard, and the ways been rough
But there's one thing for certain, I've got my mind made up.
Now Job was a man tempted in every way,
The devil took his family, he lay sick night and day.
His wife she came a sayin', "Curse God you've hade enough!"
He said, "You talk like a foolish woman, I've got my mind made up."
The devil he will tempt you and fill your way with strife,
He'll make you sick in body, even try to take your life.
Just put your trust in Jesus and say, "Lord I've had enough!"
The Lord will say, "Move over Satan, he's got his mind made up!"
Chorus
I've got my foot on the rock and my mind's made up.
Though I walk through the lonely valley,
Though I drink from a bitter cup.
When the devil comes a-knockin,
Showin' me an easier way.
I stand right square on my feet,
I throw my head in the air,
I look him straight in the eye
I say, "My foot's on the Rock and my mind's made up!"
In 1 Kings 18:21 the prophet Elijah goes before the people and asks, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.
How often do you and I falter or fail because we have tried to waver between two opinions? We have failed to take a stand.It is time that we, "Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things". We must be intentional and determined about "who we are in Christ Jesus" and what that truly means. How it affects our thought life, activites and actions. It's time that we become "set" in our ways - His way!
In the Esther study, Beth Moore encouraged us to pray this prayer for ourselves as she would pray it for us.
My beloved sister, may God be allowed to work such steadfastness of mind in you that "the bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days" (Deut. 33:25).
Today I'm praying this for you. Will pray it for me too? Let's join our hearts together and detemine to have our "minds made up"!
