As a mom of adult sons, I am navigating a season of life that can be shrouded with fear. Honestly, isn’t any season of motherhood shrouded with potential fears? Or any season of life for that matter. There is no shortage of reasons to fear in our world and in this life.
When I used my TEND method through Mark 8:31-33 recently, I sensed God giving me an encouragement around this that I want to share with you. Now if you’re interested in more tools to help tend your soul or you want to get the plan I’m using through Mark, you can visit HERE.
For today, let’s begin by taking time to pray.
Lord, we thank you that you are the master gardener who tends our souls with the truths of your word. Reveal yourself to us today and help us to live in response to what you teach us. Amen.
Then we want to examine the Scripture. So let’s look at today’s verses from Mark 8:31-33. It says:
And he [JESUS] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
In considering the context here we see this is happening right after Peter has confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah of God. Yet now when Jesus proclaims to them what is going to happen to Him as he is sacrificed for them, Peter changes his tune.
The disciples knew and recognized the character of God in Jesus yet they were failing to trust Him for the resurrection. Peter seems stuck on the fearful part, which is certainly very fear inducing, especially when they have no frame of reference for what Jesus is saying to them here, that He would suffer, be rejected and killed and then rise after 3 days.
So as we move from examining the scriptures we want to notice the lessons. What is this teaching about God and what is being taught here to the original audience, which in this scene was the disciples.
We see from this scene that we do not see from God’s perspective. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
We also see in this scene the disciples are an example of how we often respond. They had in mind the things of man over the things of God. So as we consider how to respond to that in our own day and our own thinking, I know for me, I can easily prefer the not pain, not suffering route both for me and my loved ones. Peter was not wanted his beloved Jesus to suffer.
But as with Peter, sometimes we fail to trust God for what we do not understand because of our own fears. Focusing on the fear caused Peter to fail to trust Jesus for the miracle. He didn’t even seem to hear the miracle that would proceed the suffering. Jesus just told them He would be raised from the dead 3 days after His death. They focused on the death.
So as we consider doing what it says and respond to the lessons here, we might begin by considering, where is my focus? Am I more focused, mediating on, thinking about and taking in fears of man…on the news, in social media, from others. Or am I focused on God’s perspective and ways, trusting He is in control and working all things for the greater eternal glory?
How today can I refocus my thinking to meditate more on God’s truth than on the fearful things of man? For me this often means renewing my mind with Scripture.
A few years ago I memorized the book of Colossians little by little throughout the course of 18 months or so. I am currently memorizing Psalm 16 this spring and am looking forward to memorizing 2 Peter this summer.
Having a place to return my mind frequently throughout the day, helps me to better see from God’s perspective. Of course I can’t possibly understand His ways but renewing my mind with the verses I’m memorizing causes me to meditate on truth not fears and it helps remind me of the character and sovereignty of God who loves me.
What about for you, friend? Where can you return your mind today? How can you refocus on truth over the fears that inevitably creep in?
If you don’t know where to start, how about begin with Psalm 23? It’s familiar to many and yet as we intentionally memorize one verse at a time, the Holy Spirit will quicken our spirit and bring us the peace that comes only from God.
Memorizing scripture is such a valuable tending tool. If you want some guidance for a few more powerful tending tools and some of my favorite tips on Scripture memorization, you can download my free Tending Tools booklet at marieldavenport.com.
Also if you want to TEND through Philippians together this summer and be anchored in joy together each week on zoom, you can register HERE too.
Until next time, friend, keep tending your soul.
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