Your mind is a great treasure. Masterful thieves want to steal it. Learn how to guard it in today's edition of FaithWalk: Courage for the Journey.
Focus or Fail
by Ron Susek
@Golden Quill Publications
. . . be transformed by the renewal of your mind . . ..
(Romans 12:2)
Two Northwest pilots caused panic in the sky on October 21, 2009, when they overshot their landing at Minneapolis airport by 150 miles. Fearing the worst, air traffic controllers asked them to execute certain maneuvers to prove that they were not hijackers.
The pilots, Captain Timothy Cheney and First Officer Richard Cote, had stellar records, but were "glued to their laptops, puzzling over a new flight scheduling system."
The FAA investigation concluded that the pilots' minds were trapped in "situational awareness." That is a big sounding diagnosis for failing to focus on what mattered - safely landing the plane that was filled with invaluable cargo - people!
An undisciplined mind swims from wave to wave on the surface of thought. The disciplined mind scuba dives into deep fathoms to know truth. God has placed you in charge of your mind (Proverbs 4:23; 1 Corinthians 10:5), YOU determine whether you splash on the surface or plunge to the depth.
The world strives to keep you in the shallows of perpetual suspense. For instance, news segments end with an apocalyptic tease to grip you until the commercials end. Then they lie by offering less important news, holding the sizzling "blockbuster" for the end. It, too, is often a firecracker, not a bomb shell.
They are actually stealing your time and focus for the sake of advertisers who pay them big bucks to hold your attention while they reach for your wallet.
Add to this Social Media. They connect you with family and friends. Soon you are drawn into a vortex of valueless information while people make billions of dollars marketing your personal information to advertisers.
The tragedy is that your mind is being programmed to splash, not dive. Thus, many pastors are forced into short, shallow sermons to accommodate undisciplined minds.
God will not play the game. He said, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). He adds, "Be still" - i.e. stop the frantic splashing in search of vain stimulation, and instead, meditate on God (Psalm 46:10).
To let one's mind bounce from wave to wave in search of mental stimulation is a sign of mental laziness, not brilliance. It is addictive. There are two reasons why you must go through the withdrawal and break the intoxication of shallow thinking: One is that there is no other way to deepen your walk with God and, the other is that some soon day you must answer to God for what you did with the mind He entrusted to you.
Two pilots allowed their minds to be distracted and missed their destination. The same will happen to you. This is not a rebuke, but a strong reminder of the battle for your mind. War against the thieves who want to steal your mind for worldly profit. Let no one steal the treasure of your mind. God is the owner. You are the guard.
Always remember, Immanuel: God is with you!
Your friend,
Ron
JESUS: THE UNCONQUERABLE
4/11/2019 3:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE BONDAGE OF AN OATH
4/4/2019 3:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
CO-CRUCIFIXION
3/28/2019 3:04:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE FAITH OF AN ASSYRIAN PATRIARCH
3/21/2019 9:40:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRUE HISTORY
3/14/2019 10:48:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DON'T TOUCH THE ARK
3/7/2019 10:39:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD'S MYSTERIOUS WAY
2/28/2019 10:23:00 AM by: Ron Susek
IS IT WORTH LOSING SLEEP?
2/21/2019 10:09:00 AM by: Ron Susek
WHAT MAKES PRAYER FEEBLE
2/14/2019 5:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WEAPONS FOR TODAY'S BATTLES
2/7/2019 5:39:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DANGER OF SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY
1/31/2019 5:29:00 PM by: Ron Susek
NEVER LOOK BACK
1/24/2019 5:20:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WINTER'S MESSAGE
1/17/2019 5:11:00 PM by: Ron Susek
MORE THAN CONQUERORS
1/10/2019 5:02:00 PM by: Ron Susek
HOW HUMAN ARE YOU?
1/3/2019 3:53:00 PM by: Ron Susek
MOMENTS AFTER THE WAR
12/27/2018 3:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE NIGHT OF HIS BIRTH
12/20/2018 3:09:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ONE BRIGHT DAY IN NAZARETH
12/13/2018 3:54:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHAT JESUS KNEW BEFORE HIS BIRTH
12/6/2018 3:25:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A TIME TO BOW DOWN
11/29/2018 3:09:00 PM by: Ron Susek
AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
11/22/2018 2:54:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ENEMIES OF THANKSGIVING
11/15/2018 2:35:00 PM by: Ron Susek
YOU ARE THE LIGHT
11/8/2018 1:58:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART SIX: EMPATHY)
11/1/2018 1:41:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FIVE: HEARTBREAK)
10/25/2018 1:22:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART FOUR: GRIEF)
10/18/2018 1:07:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART THREE: JOY)
10/11/2018 12:37:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART TWO: WRATH
10/4/2018 12:23:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE EMOTIONS OF GOD (PART ONE: INDIGNATION)
9/27/2018 12:10:00 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
BY INVITATION ONLY
9/20/2018 11:44:00 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
THE MYSTERY OF DIVINE ENCOUNTERS
9/13/2018 11:17:00 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
THE GOD OF PERFECT GIFTS
9/6/2018 8:20:00 AM by: Ron Susek
COMPROMISE? NEVER!
8/30/2018 3:49:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE TEST OF LORDSHIP
8/23/2018 2:59:00 PM by: Ron Susek
PERFECT FEAR
8/16/2018 2:46:00 PM by: Ron Susek
BYPASSED
8/9/2018 2:34:00 PM by: Ron Susek
GOD'S ACCURACY
8/2/2018 2:03:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FAITH AMID SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
7/26/2018 3:48:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FAITH'S NARROW RIDGE
7/19/2018 3:37:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE GREAT LEAP OF FAITH
7/12/2018 3:22:00 PM by: Ron Susek
QUOTABLE QUOTES
7/5/2018 6:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHEN ALL STRENGTH IS GONE
6/28/2018 6:13:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DEEPEST CALL ON EARTH
6/21/2018 5:48:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THINK BEFORE JUDGING GOD
6/14/2018 5:35:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DIVINE SEARCH
6/7/2018 3:30:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WATCH YOUR STEP!
5/31/2018 3:17:00 PM by: Ron Susek
EARTH'S BRIGHTEST LIGHT
5/24/2018 3:00:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE LAMP OF YOUR SPIRIT
5/17/2018 3:26:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FOCUS OR FAIL
5/10/2018 3:12:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE DIVINE PLOT
5/3/2018 9:19:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PERFECTING FAITH
4/26/2018 7:20:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD IS KNOWABLE
4/19/2018 5:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
INTERPRETING GOD
4/12/2018 3:51:00 PM by: Ron Susek
DEATH AND RESURRECTION
4/5/2018 9:30:00 AM by: Ron Susek
SEVEN LIFE-CHANGING WORDS
3/29/2018 11:41:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE KING PASSED BY IN SILENCE
3/22/2018 11:25:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE SILENCE OF GOD
3/15/2018 10:58:00 AM by: Ron Susek
UTTERLY BROKEN
3/8/2018 12:48:00 PM by: Ron Susek
ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE
3/1/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
BILLY'S GONE
2/22/2018 6:56:00 PM by: Ron Susek
WHEN IDEALS AND REALITY COLLIDE
2/15/2018 9:38:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE SHAMING OF GOD
2/8/2018 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE FIRE OF FAITH
2/1/2018 9:51:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE FULNESS OF FAITH
1/25/2018 8:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH
1/18/2018 6:52:00 PM by: Ron Susek
THE CONFLICT OF CONFORMITY
1/12/2018 2:00:00 PM by: Ron Susek
KING OF THE NATIONS
1/5/2018 12:16:00 PM by: Ron Susek
NEVER LEAVE YOUR POST
12/28/2017 8:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
12/21/2017 9:02:00 AM by: Ron Susek
WHEN GOD IS READY, IT HAPPENS!
12/7/2017 8:15:00 AM by: Ron Susek
THE ORDINARY vs. the SPECTACULAR
11/30/2017 6:55:00 AM by: Ron Susek
ThanksLiving
11/23/2017 9:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PRAYING FOR SURVIVORS OF A MASSACRE
11/16/2017 7:37:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FROM REVELATION TO ACTION
11/9/2017 7:15:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HEAVEN'S MEDAL of HONOR
11/2/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DISCERNING YOUR ROLE IN LIFE
10/26/2017 7:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
A SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTION
10/19/2017 11:49:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FAITH AMID THE UNPREDICTABLE
10/12/2017 10:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
FINGERPRINTS and FORGIVENESS
10/10/2017 5:58:00 PM by: Ron Susek
FREE TO BE A SLAVE
9/28/2017 3:08:00 PM by: Ron Susek
BLIND BY CHOICE
9/21/2017 9:13:00 AM by: Ron Susek
OF COURAGE AND CHARACTER
9/14/2017 5:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
PROBING THE SOUL
9/7/2017 9:13:00 AM by: Ron Susek
REJOICE OVER WHAT MATTERS
8/31/2017 7:18:00 AM by: Ron Susek
DECIDE THE RIVER'S FLOW
8/24/2017 12:26:00 PM by: Ron Susek
DEADLY DOUBT
8/17/2017 9:36:00 AM by: Ron Susek
GOD LEAVES NO FOOTPRINTS
8/15/2017 12:40:00 PM by: Ron Susek
KEEP SOWING
8/3/2017 6:00:00 AM by: Ron Susek
Focusing All Resources
7/27/2017 8:42:00 AM by: Ron Susek
Faith, Fight and Freedom
7/20/2017 7:32:00 AM by: Ron Susek
HANK'S HOME
7/13/2017 7:53:00 AM by: Ron Susek
AN UNEXPECTED TEST OF LOVE
7/6/2017 1:47:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Amanda : A Reason To Go
6/27/2017 2:11:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A Fisherman's Sad Saga
6/20/2017 2:28:00 PM by: Ron Susek
How You Will Be Judged
6/15/2017 8:31:00 PM by: Ron Susek
The Power of Two Small Words
6/13/2017 8:13:00 PM by: Ron Susek
A Different Kind of War
6/1/2017 6:19:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Savior of All Mankind
5/25/2017 7:02:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Inspiration vs. Vision
5/18/2017 7:18:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Gaining the Advantage
9/8/2016 5:39:00 PM by: Ron Susek
Living Water for Thirsty Souls
9/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
How We Indict God
8/14/2016 8:47:16 AM by: Ron Susek
Parable of Two Wells
8/8/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
Preview of Heaven
8/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Ron Susek
Keepers of Sacred Treasures
7/26/2016 2:32:36 PM by: Ron Susek
God Sees Your Sorrows
7/19/2016 12:17:51 PM by: Ron Susek
The River of Faith
7/8/2016 4:14:46 PM by: Ron Susek
Know Your Inalienable Rights
7/4/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Jesus Never Lost Focus
6/26/2016 4:27:05 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Assured Access to God
6/19/2016 9:17:05 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Seeking the Desires of God
6/13/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Broken Faith, Radical Repentance
5/31/2016 6:44:37 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Unfamiliar World of Holiness
5/31/2016 6:36:48 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Creation of a Clean Heart
5/23/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Against All Odds
5/13/2016 7:48:59 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Power Behind Jesus's Prayers
5/1/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Shut the Door
4/26/2016 12:53:34 PM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Breaking the Log Jam
4/14/2016 8:03:18 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
A Bad Time to Sleep
4/5/2016 9:47:57 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Some Mountains won't Move
4/4/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
The Power of Imagination and prayer
3/21/2016 6:51:22 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Faith of the Son of God
3/14/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Faith of a Mustard Seed
3/7/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Life is War
2/29/2016 7:04:16 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Lead Me To the Rock
2/22/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
All-Surpassing Power
2/15/2016 7:12:30 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Take No Thougth for Your Life
2/9/2016 6:51:12 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Divine Astonishment
2/1/2016 11:01:44 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek
Forked-Tongue Foes
1/25/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr Ron Susek
Prophet of the Weeping God
1/19/2016 12:00:01 AM by: Dr. Ron Susek