I remember playing a game (the title of this article should give it away) where the whole point was to test the trivia knowledge in your head. Players are tested on a variety of topics (anything from politics and geography to history and entertainment), and the one who can answer questions correctly from each category wins. My whole life, I've felt I've been playing that game. My head is full of so much trivia, I feel like a jack of all trades when it comes to knowledge of certain things. It's amazing, though, all of the things I fill my head with. Sure, I can pull scriptures out of my head (as the Lord Leads), but some of the things I pursue seek to usurp the rightful place of the designer of my mind.
For example, last night, I was ready to shut my brain off; For me the work day never truly ends, calls, texts, and people who are needing someone to talk to (I ate a late lunch/early dinner at 3), then the kids get home and need attention, and everything adding up, I just felt overwhelmed. With all of this going on, I sought to empty my mind and spend a few hours on a game I had recently purchased with a gift card I got at Christmas. Before I knew it, a few hours had turned in to 6 hours; it was 12:55am and I needed to get up at 6. Whenever I closed my eyes, all I could see was images of the game, the little pieces moving to conquer other places on the board, and my frustrated efforts as I was out maneuvered. It was alarming! I prayed, and begged God for forgiveness for wasting so much time on something so trivial, and as I prayed, a thought came to my mind: imagine what my mind would be like if I spent half as much time pursuing God through His word.
Brothers and sisters, I'm not saying everything we do is a waste of time. I think even entertainment has a purpose and a place. What I am saying is that I think we give too much time and headspace to things that belong to God. If instead of trying to occupy or empty our minds to distract us from life, what if, instead, we were filled with His presence and knowledge? What if whenever we were stressed, or worried, or troubled, instead of seeking entertainment, exercise, or social media, we sought out God through His word? what would our minds look like if their soul occupant was Jesus? How would we love God and others if we were pursuing God through His word, and uttering it daily on our lips? Hobbies are wonderful, fitness is good stewardship, but pursuing God is eternally valuable. Everything other than Him is trivial.
Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
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