As I write these words, Pandora is tuned to my “Henry Mancini” channel, and I’m listening to The Cowboy Medley from “Highlights From a Portrait of America”. I am now in the mood to go outside, gaze at the landscape, and ride a horse into the sunset… (Oooh, there’s the theme from “The Lone Ranger”!)

A coworker of mine was recently on a high trying hard to get back in the swing of things. He and his family just returned from their first trip to Disney World, and he was completely taken by it all. Skeptical as he was going in, he admitted that he felt like they had been transported into a magical world.

Our mind is an amazing gift from God – it truly can put us in a different place. No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our surroundings, no matter what the weather, no matter what our mood… No. Matter. What.

The question is: Do we choose to cause our minds to dwell in a good place – or a bad place?

Can I just tell you, there is so much GOOD going on right now in my church community!! I am so encouraged by it all. Details would take too much real estate here, but let me mention just a couple: heart-warming comments, leadership development across multiple ministries, intense prayer requests, great conversations, new volunteers, “aha” light-bulb moments, people taking care of people, and more.

It has also been one of the toughest seasons I’ve had as a leader. I couldn’t get to sleep one night my heart was so heavy. Trust me, that was not normal for me. I can almost always set an issue aside and pick it up the next day. This one I could not. Yes, the bad stuff is out there, too.

If I allow my mind to dwell in the good place, I can be a productive blessing to those around me. I can even more effectively deal with the tough stuff when I approach from this mindset. But if I allow my mind to dwell in the bad place, I am crippled. Nothing gets done well, if at all, and people around me get irritated. Worse, God’s sovereignty is challenged because I’m not trusting that he is ultimately in control.

These words from Philippians 4 get to the heart of the matter:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

As we continue to press on toward fulfilling God’s will in our own lives, we should work hard to put these words into practice; cause our heart & mind to dwell on the GOOD God has placed all around us. We’ll deal with the other in time.

If we can do what Paul is saying here, there will be no room for the things that so often get in the way of us, as individuals or as a church, fulfilling our mission. Doing so will, by God’s grace and wisdom, free us up to reach our full redemptive potential.