I have never sailed a boat nor have I ever had an interest in it. If you engaged me in a conversation about sailing you would find that conversation turning into mindless chatter very quickly. This would simply be because I wouldn’t know what the heck I was talking about much less keep you sane. Now, don’t get me wrong I like going on boats and cruises as a passenger but not much else. Yet even though I have never sailed a boat, never took a course on it, never assisted anyone in that task, I am confident of one thing. There is one vital piece of information that even I know is crucial from the novice to the seasoned sailor and that is that without charting a course before departure and constantly monitoring it, the chances of you arriving at your destination will be arduous if you arrive at all. I would find it very hard to believe that a sailor can set sail without first making sure that he has reviewed his chart. Not doing so would quite easily present a sailing experience of utter confusion, frustration, and no sense of direction. Naturally, the joy of sailing, whether a short or long expedition would be lost. My experiences dictate that such is the case in the daily sail of our minds. Similarly, much can be said about the setting of the daily sail in our minds and thought life. As Christians, we too are called to chart the course for our daily walk with God. A believer who sets his day in motion without first charting the course of his mind may find that his day can be filled with confusion, frustration, and no sense of direction.

The mind has a mind of its own. It tends to take walks in the most inopportune time. It has an agenda of its own which can conflict with the focus that we are trying to subject it to. It has the capacity to turn a fleeting thought into a full length feature film. It is an unleashed beast on its best days. When we read in the third chapter of the Book of James how the tongue is a corrupting agent of the body (vs. 6) and how it can be problematic unless tamed (vs. 8) it becomes quite evident that it’s counterpart, the mind, also needs such drastic actions for subordination to occur. The mind left to its own device is but a synoptic firing of random, chaotic, and often, irrelevant thoughts. This is exactly why the Bible is littered with practical instructions to help us chart our mind and thought life. In fact, in 2 Corinthian 10:5, the Bible clearly advocates that we are to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” as a necessary directive for fruitful living. In yet another Scriptural encouragement we are instructed to chart our thoughts to “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things“ (Phil 4:8). In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he also reminds us that there must be a “renewing of the mind” (2:2) so as not conform to the patterns of worldly thinking or behaviors. Well, this renewing process has to be nurtured and catered to on a daily basis because it is daily that our though life, mind, beliefs, and spirit are subject to a relentless barrage of worldly exposure. I acknowledge that there are many excellent articles and books written on this topic but my exhortation is one that is based on my personal experiences. I know that there are many (like me) that can find themselves setting the daily sail without charting the course of their mind...without getting mindfully, prayerfully, and spiritually charted on Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Not doing so can lead anyone to be tossed about by every wind of temptation, frustration, doubt, and disappointment. How can anyone have daily peace and enjoy the expedition when such nuances abound?

I have heard it said that if you try to tell your mind to think about just one thing for 30 seconds that you will fail. Go ahead. Give it a try…My guess is that you just failed. Well, consider trying to keep your mind and thoughts focused and centered on your Christ-influenced day without first making Him a part of your thought life. The world presents enough troubles, distractions, and distortions to your journey that setting sail without a Holy Spirit-inspired compass guarantees you‘ll wash up ashore far from your desired destination. It would be impossible to live a Christ-centered life unless you chart that course before your daily departure and then take time to monitor the progress and review the check points along the way. Adhering to this daily discipline will not eliminate the rough seas and storms in our daily sails, but it will give us peace and enjoyment throughout because we know that inevitably we’ll arrive out our desired and appointed journey’s end.

As the beginning of a new school year approaches, it elicits eager anticipation from students of all ages and academia. The start of a new school year for many means new friends, teachers, schedules and, of course, workloads and assignments. It is all part of the process. As my recently graduated 11 year old son enters not only a new school year but a new school, he also is very excited but equally concerned. Oh, his concerns are not whether he will make new friends or find his way around or get lost in a much larger school. In fact, he is looking forward to that aspect of a new academic and social adventure. No, his concerns are not of that nature. His concerns stem from the understanding that with a significant step up in grade (from elementary to middle school) comes more homework, assignments, and of course…tests. He has heard for months now that teachers in middle school administer more tests than what he has been used to. So, naturally, as any self respecting 11 year old boy would ask, my son asks me with some annoyance…”why do they have to give more tests?!” Then he begins to rationalize that it is better to give one or two tests with everything combined in them so that it can be over and done with. His simple and innocent proposal stems from (I suspect) the inherited genome human code that resides in all of us, which when fully matured in an early age says, “I do not like tests nor to be tested beyond reasonable measure”. I submit that many of you have that gene. True? I know that I do. My answer to my son, you ask? Well, I informed him that only through tests and testing can the teachers truly know if you have learned the lesson, grown in your academics, understood what is being taught, and have been well equipped to apply in what you learned in future opportunities and events, while maturing in the process. It is the only way that they can determine if your learning is genuine. Therefore, tests are necessary. I trust that by now you are starting to see where I am going with this. In our own personal academia of Christian living, our great Teacher constantly provides (or allows) situations, circumstances, and tests in our lives in order to produce genuine faith.

Throughout the Scriptures, it is not very difficult to find many incidences where God wanted to display how genuine faith is what He seeks and admires in His people the most. Early in the Scriptures, we find ourselves reading about the incredible test that Abraham took when God asked him to build Him an altar and then sacrifice his son there. As the account unfolds, we see that Abraham’s faith was found to be authentic and durable and as a result God spared Abraham’s son and made a promise to him that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars (Gen 22:1-19). This test allowed God to see what Abraham’s faith was made of. Similarly, the tests that we go through will challenge our faith, but that fire-testing of our faith produces something of great value to God. Peter, in his letter to a group of battered and suffering Christian Jews, encourages them saying that the challenges that they are enduring are but mere tests designed to produce genuine faith that will glorify God (1 Peter 1:7). We find that James exhorted the same encouragement to a different group of people when he said to “consider it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (James 1:2-4 MSG).

As my son will soon find out in the post-test season of his life, the tests did serve to strengthen him and provide personal confidence that he has achieved another higher level of learning and growth. Inasmuch as he (and just about every student) comes to this realization, so do we come to understand that those challenges that we experienced only served to solidify and embolden our faith in God. Those difficult moments created the perfect scenario where our reliance on someone else other than ourselves becomes the pinnacle purpose. How else, otherwise, can the durability and genuineness of one’s faith be truly expressed if not by tests?

Often times it is uncomfortable to make sacrifices because of what we perceive that we are giving up. These sacrifices can come in many different forms but all require the same thing… a removal or replacement (whether temporary or permanent) of a familiar situation, setting, or item. Just ask anyone who has had to make the tough decision to give something up for the sake of another. Or, the individual who decides to forgo a vacation because there is a friend who asks for help. Consider the teacher who stays after school to help that one failing student when she needs to get home herself to tend to her own family. What about the person who sacrifices the foods that she really wants to eat so that she may develop a healthier lifestyle? Even the employee who rescinds the more lucrative (and much needed) job offer because it would keep him away from his family more? The examples are endless. Additionally, what makes a sacrifice so difficult to make is the concern that it may go unnoticed, unrecognized, and therefore unappreciated. So, while there is a level of discomfort and uncertainty that comes along with the decision to sacrifice, the greater underlying and unspoken question is what causes the most distress: will my effort be worthwhile and what kind of return can I expect to receive, if any at all? For the life of the believer, sacrifice is called upon many times. Anyone who has been a follower of Jesus Christ and involved in the ministry of spreading the Gospel, which is all of us, in one form or another has made sacrificial decisions for the sake of the Gospel many times. The ultimate comfort, however, lies in the promise that Jesus shared with His disciples during a moment when He sensed the concerns that they had. The same concerns that Christians today feel. His address to them is as valid today as it was over two thousand years ago; You have nothing to lose.

For a better understanding, let’s examine the following scripture verses: Luke 18:29-30, Mark 10:10-29, 31 and Matthew 19:28-30. In all three passages, we see that Jesus is addressing a serious concern raised by all of His disciples but voiced by Peter. To clarify even further the significance of the issue at hand, we need to first review what had just happened moments earlier. Jesus had just had an exchange with a wealthy young man of power and influence (see Luke 18:18-28, Mark 10:17-28, and Matthew 19:16-27) who was asking what else he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus instructed him to give up his possessions and follow Him. At hearing this, the inquiring ruler left sorrowful because he had many possessions. What ensued next is what began to create the dilemma among the disciples. Jesus told His disciples how hard it would be for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. This was probably the most shocking and disturbing statement that His disciples had heard up to this point in their walk with Jesus. It rocked them to the core! You ever hear or see something so astonishing that it stops you dead in your tracks? It shakes the very pillars of your beliefs? It creates an immediate and life-altering paradigm shift in the way you think? Well, evidently, this is exactly what was happening to them at that moment. Take a look at their question which reflected panic, fear, doubt and worry: “Who then can be saved?” It’s necessary for us to fully comprehend why their question is so important by examining the common belief at that time about rich, powerful, and influential people in authority. It was customarily believed by the Israelites that if you possessed riches you were blessed by God and therefore had entrance into the Kingdom of God, no questions asked. In their minds, people of that stature were already saved (pretty much) and had eternal life and the visible sign of that guarantee was their wealth. So to hear Jesus say that this young man of obvious inherited wealth, power, authority, and influence (not to mention, who apparently upheld the Commandments) had less chances than a camel going through the eye of a needle in entering the Kingdom of God was flabbergasting! You can almost sense the concern and anxiety when Peter says, (paraphrase)… “Hold on here, Lord, what about us? We left everything to follow you and now we don’t have anything. If this rich guy is not guaranteed eternal life then what shot do we have? We’re busted broke! We’ve made a major sacrifice to follow you all this time and now what are we going to have to show for it?!” I’m convinced that you and I both have had those moments. Moments when you wonder whether your sacrifice for the Lord is being recorded and whether there will be one day recompense.

The answer that Jesus gives His disciples next is as encouraging to them at that time as it is for us today. Notice that in all three Gospels He begins with, “Assuredly…” In other words, Jesus is saying, (paraphrase) “I understand. I see your efforts. I’ve got your back. I will remember the works of your hands. Your sacrifice is not in vain. What you give up for Me, I will return a hundredfold. You can count on that.” Hallelujah, people! Take comfort in knowing that our God declares “that He is not man that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19), and if He assures us that we’ve got nothing to lose when we sacrifice for Him, yet everything to gain, then no greater words of promise could be given. I submit to you that there is no sacrifice too big or small that God does not record and takes note of.

Well known Gospel singer and musician Phil Driscoll records a song on one of his albums that wonderfully addresses this point that I have made about the rewards that God promises to those who have made (and continue to make) sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel. If I may, I’d like to close this article with those lyrics:

“We give ourselves for Your cause,
Dedicate our lives to reach the lost,
We don’t know all whose lives we have touched for love.

For we may never know all the people we have touched,
For we may never know all the lives we have reached,
But we know that our record You do keep,
And when the end finally begins,
we will receive a great reward for all we’ve done.”