Loving God with My Mind

In James 1:22 I read, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV)

We’ve been looking at Mark 12:30: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (NLT). One way to restate this verse is love God with all your talk, all your feelings, all your thinking, and all your doing.

Although every person is called to do all of these things, God created each person to be stronger in one area. That means God has shaped you more naturally to be a talker (heart), feeler (soul), thinker (mind), or doer (strength).

Today let’s look at the thinkers, who most readily love God with their minds.

I can love God with my intellect. When I develop and strengthen my mind, it’s an act of worship.

One way you can recognize a thinker is by this: When thinkers become believers, they fall in love with the Bible.

Psalm 119:97 says, “How I love your law! I think about it all day long” (GNT).

There is no other book in the world like the Bible! It has the answers to life’s questions, including why God put you here on earth.

Thinkers are needed because the world needs consideration. Somebody has to be thinking through complex issues and the implications of what the rest of us are doing. We need people who think through tough problems and bring solutions to the table.

But thinkers need to be careful to also practice humility. The Bible says, “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom” (Proverbs 3:7 NLT). Why? Because God is God, and you’re not.

Humility is a choice. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord” (NIV). Humility is something I do to myself. And it’s not denying my strengths; it’s being honest about my weaknesses.

Thinkers also need to be careful to practice what they know. If you know it, then do it! James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (NIV).

My personality is unique and precious to God. When I use it to serve him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I bring him glory!

In summary, I shouldn’t just merely listen to the word, and so deceive myself. I need to do what it says. I am to love God with all my talk, all my feelings, all my thinking, and all my doing. God created each of us to be stronger in one of these areas. That means God has shaped me more naturally to be either a talker (heart), feeler (soul), thinker (mind), or doer (strength). If I’m a thinker, I can love God with my intellect. When I develop and strengthen my mind, it’s an act of worship. Thinkers are needed because the world needs consideration. Somebody has to be thinking through complex issues and the implications of what the rest of us are doing. We need people who think through tough problems and bring solutions to the table. But a thinker also needs to be careful to also practice humility, in other words, Not be impressed with my own wisdom.” Humility is a choice and is something I do to myself. And it’s not denying my strengths; it’s about being honest about my weaknesses. Lastly, thinkers also need to be careful to practice what they know. My personality is unique and precious to God. When I use it to serve him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, I bring him glory!

It is important to listen to what God's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and do what it says. I can measure the effectiveness of my quiet time by the effect it has on my behavior and attitude. Am I putting into action what I have studied?

Father, I need you. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can believe in, have faith and to trust you in everything including being the authority for my life, my self-worth and my future. You have my best interests in mind. Help me to embrace the way you’ve made, gifted and given me a passion for. I want to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. I ask you for wisdom and guidance in this and for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, my preparation for a future job role and for leading a small group. I pray these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen.