I woke up this morning with my mind… so objects passion

Have you ever heard that Italian song, the one that Pavarotti sang... well he sang a lot of song.  Its called La Donne e mobile.  I find that song really funny because most women would swoon if somebody sang it too them.  Unbeknownst to them, the title really mean "the woman is fickle." I'm reminded of that song today because, beknownst to me, I am also fickle.  

Isaiah observed of the Lord, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.”  Those who have had times when their mind was fixed on the Lord might echo this exclamation.  In those times we might say,  ‘“The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”  For me, those times are as calming as they are fleeting. 

So much of the Christian life is waiting.  In fact, one of the holy triad is Hope, accompanied by Faith and Love, and necessitates waiting.  Indeed, waiting also takes humility, and so it says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the might hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.”  At the proper time!… but what about now?! I don’t know about you, but these two give me a pretty good run for my money.   

Spiritual hope and other experiences seems to be internal experience.  Have you ever walked out of a church service or finished reading the Word and walked outside and realized that, despite your renewed mind, the world is the same.  The external world produces in us tension that goads our flesh for it rarely changes. It's pursuit of our affections is incessant. 

Then “How can a young man keep his way pure?” I ask.  Well, “By guarding it according to Your word” says the Word.  To be honest, this sounds exhausting to me right now.  I don’t do well with working towards something that doesn’t have a definite ending in the near future.  Somehow death and heaven seems to be such a long way off.  

Then I’m reminded, this one state of mind, too, and is only temporary.  Doesn’t man’s passions ebb and flow throughout days, weeks, and months.  Whether I experience joy or despond, the Lord remains constant for “he is not a man that he should change his mind.”  The truth is that I am fickle and need to be reminded constantly of his grace, hope, and love.  Praise be given to the Lord that he would steady my mind.