Cultivate a beautiful mind

"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5

     The mind of Christ has inspired, intrigued and illuminated lovers of wisdom throughout history. The world is full of many beautiful minds, but his is universally respected and admired by both Christians and non-Christians alike. It matters not if you are Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Wiccan or from another belief system. The twelve words in today's scripture verse can transform your life and serve as an incredible catalyst for personal empowerment and good.

     It has long been recognized that we become what we think. The human brain is awesome in its capacity for power thinking. Rather than get bogged down in negative, pessimistic, self-defeating or arrogant and selfish thinking, I urge you to cultivate a beautiful mind based on the example of Christ.

     The mind of Christ is remarkable in compassion, wisdom, honesty, brilliance and the practical ability to discern good and evil. Study his mind through the Gospels and you will discover the secret of spiritual greatness. Your thoughts will become positive, healing, inspiring, redeeming, fair, friendly, frank and firm, teaches Dr. Robert Schuller, author of "Power Thoughts: Achieve Your True Potential Through Power Thinking."

     While it is impossible to know the exact thoughts of Christ, it is very possible to find insight into his beautiful mind through imitating the example of Christ. Of course we cannot humanely do everything he did, but the following three verses in Philippians give divine insight into basic principles for living and dying. Jesus lived a life of humble service for others in a fully human form. He was willing to renounce power, prestige and privilege in order to obey God.

     With the help of God, cultivate his beautiful mind with a view to helping others. Just begin by encouraging others with a like minded spirit of compassion, love and unified community whenever possible, and you will be amazed at how powerful and positive your thoughts, attitudes and actions become.

     "We spoke the same things, we thought the same things," was engraved on a married couple's tombstone. If you cultivate the beautiful mind of Christ, you will find this to be true in your personal relationship with God, recognizing your own personal insufficiency, while experiencing the all-powerful sufficiency of God.

     So have this mindset among you in your community of faith and love, and in your common life. Cultivate and share your beautiful mind with many others for Zimbabwe's sake.

     Prayer: Renew my mind and transform my attitudes, O God. May the mind of Christ inspire and illuminate all my thinking and actions today. Amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
October 28, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute this reflection throughout Zimbabwe.