I’ll use Psalms 8:1, 16:2, and 31:1-4 for Temple worship today.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Luke 24. This morning, the Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse 25-26:

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luke 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

My thoughts were drawn to the Lord’s observation that unbelief is a “slow of heart” problem. This condition is correlated with foolishness: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe.” The word “fool” is from a Greek word meaning “without understanding,” “senseless,” or “unwise.” The word literally means “not thinking” or “without mindfulness.”  A fool is someone who is sensual, not mindful. It’s not about IQ; it’s not about intelligence. It’s about allowing our thoughts to be attached to sensual (not necessarily sexual) appetites and interests. A fool is someone whose mind is stuck in the flesh (Romans 8:5; Ephesians 2:3).*

Satan has many “devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Some are obvious, but many are disguised, and these are the most devious.

These were disciples of Christ Jesus. They were not aware of their “slow heart” condition. They would not likely have thought of themselves as fools.

Along the still waters, I reflected on these things. One of Satan’s most effective devices is to encourage believers to think the most dangerous sins are those that top the list in the Spirit’s assessment of the flesh: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness (impurity), lasciviousness (giving license to immorality), idolatry (which is coveteousness-Colossians 3:5), witchcraft, and murder (Galatians 5:19-21). Often, the more insidious sins of hatred (bitterness), variance (quarreling, contention), emulation (jealousy), and heresies (teaching and believing lies, deceiving and being deceived-2 Timothy 3:13), subtly draw our hearts away from the LORD. We are made vulnerable to all of this when we fail to exercise our minds in the use of the Scripture (Hebrews 5:4).

The companions failed to reason spiritually in Scripture (Luke 24:25). Instead, their musings were centered on the day’s events and news accounts of them, and superficially, for they could not discern the spiritual import of what they pondered. You can’t do that if you don’t study “all that the prophets have spoken” thoughtfully.

The Spirit reinforced my need to be in His word and to engage my thoughts with His thoughts (Isaiah 55:7-9). Otherwise, like all of us, my thoughts will sink into the flesh, and disconnected from His Mind, mine will go adrift, like a wave driven by the winds of this world and tossed about in the squalls of tumult. Like a leaking boat, my life will take on the waters of this world, which will sink me yet deeper into the grip of sin’s fleshholds.

I desire my heart to be quick to believe His word. Therefore, I must exercise my thoughts with His thoughts.

In the valley, Jesus spoke His daily challenge to my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At His table, I bowed my head to my Head as He anointed mine with His oil. I thought about Mary, who anointed His head with oil, and marveled to think He would condescend to anoint mine. He filled my cup for the day’s Cross bearing, and I vowed to drink it, for I know He always stirs into the day’s trouble His sustaining grace.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7b3dn4-shepherds-pasture.html

[* Ephesians 2:3 caught my attention because of verses 1-2:

Ephesians 2:1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Because we are “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit” (Romans 8:9), we are exhorted to keep our minds (thoughts and feelings) out of the flesh, and in the Spirit (Romans 8:9-11).  We must “mind the things of the Spirit,” and not “the things of the flesh” (Romans 8:4-5).]