Living growing lives…

By John Townsend, Crystal Cathedral Guest Pastor

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, fix your minds on them.”
- Philippians 4:8

The growing mind deals with the reality that God meant for everybody to expand, to be better, to grow, to be the persons he wants to develop. You were built to grow. You were built to expand. Yet, some people never expand. They never grow.

The average lifespan of people in the world today is close to 70 and many live past 100. However, the number of years lived doesn’t necessarily indicate a growing life. It can actually indicate years of repetition of the same conflicts, the same stuck-ness, the same struggles, the same patterns.

That was never God’s intent for our lives. He wants us to live growing lives. And the growing life is just like regularly working out. Just like working out, if you don’t use your brain, you lose it. Just as you challenge your muscles in the gym, you have to challenge your brain. You have to push your brain to do things it now can’t do. Learning a new language is a way to do that. Or, taking a course, gaining some ability, or completing some training you’ve never had before. Or, you can play competitive mental game like chess.

We must get out of the patterns of the “same old, same old,” and challenge ourselves in a hobby, a course, something that pushes our brains, and our brains will respond to it. You can be doing this at 20, you can be doing this at 80, and it makes a difference in your growing brain.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me not to take my mind for granted. Like my entire body, help me to keep it healthy and strong. Amen.

Devotion: Of the brain-strengthening suggestions mentioned above, which one would best apply to you?