“In your minds you must be the same as Jesus Christ: His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God” —Philippians 2:6, Jerusalem Bible
Recently as I meander along through a well-kept small fruit field in NC, as long as I kept my eyes focused on the field acre or so that was well kept and diligently showing beauty in its summer season I was energized with hope and joy. When I allowed my eyes to roam in the field adjacent to my walking path I saw an unkept field where weeds were almost my height and its friends seem to lurk in my mind. My mind said weeds in a field might bring mice, 🐀 snakes🐍 and pricks from bramble and briars. My steps slowed, heat from the day seemed unbearable and my body just wanted to run and hide.
I quickly gave my mind full permission to send my eyes back to the butterflies I saw often in the field where fruit, berries and blooms were frames and sustenance for butterflies and bees 🐝alike. The sights, sounds and smells were just to wonderful to tell. As I sheep-graze my eyes upon the butterfly and flower in our photo I am filled with the sweetness of honey singing from my heart; “O taste and see that the Lord is good to you… and See the Lord is Good…The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, …And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! “(Psalm 34:7-8 NASB)
When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint, we follow His path into the treasure- trove of a creative creator, displaying glorious sightings all around us. O Look and see and dare yourself to take a test taste. And, let us complete His joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, 💟 being in full accord and of one mind. 👨❤️👨Philippians 2:2 ESV
thedailylily.com 
Sara, your phrase….”as long as I kept my eyes on the diligently well-kept field hope and joy energized my heart”……but when you looked upon the ill-kept field you lost energy and inspiration so to speak. It seems that another poet/prophet spoke of a similar situation in Proverbs and a ”diagnosis” for the condition.”It says in Proverbs 24: 27-8….Do your planning and preparation of your fields before building your house. For when I passed by the field of one lacking in understanding, wisdom and knowledge, the pathways were overgrown with weeds and briers.”….and the fruit was immature and shriveled.
To apply the Word of God to the condition of the mind…it would seem that it is
to have a heart of godly wisdom is to have the mind of Christ which Paul writes that we have….i.e. the mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 2:16). That means that as we taste and see that the Word is Good and partake of it we begin to understand the divine and eternal intent of God’s original purpose for creating us ….the reason we live and move and have our being. The weeds of the field represent the world’s way of thinking and reasoning….coming from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but the well-kept, well trimmed and fertilized fruit trees of the manicured orchard represent our a mind governed by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit and bring forth much fruit in its season. That is, ”the Mind of Christ.”
MG, I don’t think I will ever look at weeds and wink again knowing that it is showing my mind thoughts as worldly ways of thinking! Gee, I just don’t want my focus on the weeds!
“When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint”…
As I read through and thought on this blog, it sure seemed to be food for the soul. If I am beginning to understand it correctly, I see several action choices to help me taste and ‘allow my mind’.
Sara wrote: “I kept my eyes focused… “; “I quickly gave my mind full permission to send my eyes back to the butterflies…”; “As I sheep-graze my eyes upon…”. These seem like helpful steps to fearing God and taking refuge in Him.
The butterfly in the lovely photo seems to have its viewpoint shaped by the nectar filled flowers of summer that will feed his soul.
Thank you, Sara, for the beauty of this blog.
Thank you Debi for reading and responding? Means a lot!
Sara,
Thank you for these thought provoking posts.
(Might you have meant to use the word adjacent?… in the field adjunct..)
Phil
Hi Phil, thank you for finding my error and letting me know. You are greatly appreciated! And, above all thanks for reading.
“In my mind I must be….” Careful to focus on what is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy …(Phil 4:8, NIV). Now, I just need to keep busy , like the butterfly in the photo , keeping my mind on the list above , not those nasty weeds!😁 (Beautiful photo of the flowers 🌺🌸🌷🌹and butterfly)
Tammy, you have quoted one of my very favorite instructions from God’s Word. “Careful to focus on what is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy …(Phil 4:8, NIV). Interestingly enough, it is a guide with not one negative but I for one all to often find myself in the Antonyms!
Example pure – spotless, unblemished, clean, lily-white etc. I sure know ONE that dwells within these characteristics. And, I’v been invited to dwell there with Him! Yet, my tongue, if not me actions, often find myself in the overgrown weed fields with the gossipers, back -biters, liars and decievers. ( corruptdirtyimmodestindecentobsceneunchastevulgar-contaminateddirtypollutedtainted) Within the Fruit of the Spirit dwells self-control and there the beauty of purity that resides within me has many opportunities to choose to turn my thoughts and actions back to the path of a field of dreams where flowers, birds, fruit, blue skies and turtle doves call my name. And, I become praise and give a song to a faithful friend.
Thanks, Tammy for joining in a chat that gives me a happy song. I just sang in listening ear to my three doggies; “Heavenly Father, I appreciate you….” Seemly, they didn’t mind as they slept right thru the off key…..👏👏👏
Sara, it is really refreshing to read, “And, I become praise…” It is so different and so much more than saying I praise or I praise the Lord. If I am understanding, that ‘beauty of purity’ you write about and self control must turn the blossom into a fruit so that “In your minds you must be the same as Jesus Christ”.
Debi, in your “thought provoking” (Phil’s post) moments if you think on the chorus some of us so often sing; “I am blessed xxx when I wake up in the morning and I lay my head to rest I am blessed” and, you sing I am Praise, when I make my bed I am praise. As I stroll the streets shopping for doggie treats I am praise…….What mind thoughts and emotional feelings vary in the two phrases. Now, try singing and tell us. 🎼🎤🎸
Sara, in response to what you wrote above, these are “What mind thoughts and emotional feelings vary in the two phrases” as I sang each over and over.
“I am blessed xxx when I wake up in the morning and I lay my head to rest I am blessed”. The mind thoughts I have: I think thankful thoughts to Him for the things He has done. The emotional feelings: a sense of gratitude and appreciation to Him.
“I am Praise, when I make my bed I am praise. As I stroll the streets shopping for doggie treats I am praise”. The mind thoughts: the ‘everyday things’ that I do are a praise to Him when I allow His mind to direct my steps. The emotional feelings: is an awareness that He is watching me, that He lives in me and that everything I do I should do ‘as unto the Lord’ and reflect Him. I have a feeling of responsibility towards Him.
Hey, Debi, I can just hear you strumming your guitar and singing and leading others into praise. A song is a great picker-upper! It’s better than Pepsi cola! I think in your exercise you have added another tool to your book bag.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
A plus you have become His Praise!
Thank you for your encouraging words and scripture verse, Sara, and for designing and posing an ‘exercise’ that I can understand and learn from. I think your ‘exercise’ illustrated, “When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint, we follow His path into the treasure- trove of a creative creator…”
Thinking more tonight on this thought you wrote in your blog, Sara, “When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint, we follow His path into the treasure- trove of a creative creator”.
As I thought about the different seasons of fall, winter, spring, summer, I can understand a need to make some changes for each one. To enter the newness of each one and to make sure I am following His path, I really do need Christ to ‘seasonally shape my viewpoint’. So this statement, “When we allow the mind of Christ to seasonally shape our viewpoint, we follow His path into the treasure- trove of a creative creator” has become my prayer.
I agree in prayer, Debi. I also think of seasons as cycles of life, born, schooling, relationships, health issues, war and peace among other life issues.