As a part of the A&F team, we have been preparing for the WHOLE conference since early in the year. This concept of WHOLEness in Christ is what the team has been learning about so that we could be prepared for the September 11th conference and all of you as you came to participate with us. We have been focusing on the following verse:
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you complete, and may your WHOLE spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23
As we were preparing, the group went through two different Bible studies (the same two our team members are leading now) that took us through a variety of ways to think about our minds and how they are a direct impact to our overall WHOLEness in Christ. When starting these Bible studies, I thought I would learn a little bit about myself and how to become more WHOLE in Christ by looking at my mind, but I didn’t really think I was having much of an issue overall. I know I have had seasons in the past where this was a BIG problem, but nothing right now was too much of an issue. So, I was struggling to see what I could get out of these studies.
We went through the Jennie Allen Get Out of Your Head study and then transitioned into the Craig Groeschel’s Winning the War in Your Mind. The combination of these two studies has caused me to go into a real reflection period about my mind and how I think and interact with some of those around me due to the way they think.
First of all, I was reminded, that for me to be moving toward becoming WHOLE in Christ, I need to have all three--mind, body and spirit--in a good place that lines up with what Christ wants for me. If my mind is not in a good place and out of control, then I know that my body and spirit will be more out of control as well. I have to have all three in check with Christ to be able to show up WHOLE for everything that Christ has laid out for me to do: wife, mother, sister, daughter, niece, friend, employee, teacher, coach… These studies have kick started me into a journey of my mind that was needed, even if I didn’t think it was necessary. I have also restarted some things that will help me get the body and spirit moved back into the correct alignment with Christ’s purpose for me.
Second, both of these studies have been directly pointing me back to using scripture to identify when I am having thoughts that are not from Christ. Some of these thoughts are big obvious ones, that anyone can point out if they have half a conversation with me, but the more dangerous ones for me are the small little ones that are half-truths that don’t seem like a big deal. These studies helped me focus on digging to find scriptures that will flip the switch when I realize I am in one of those spirals of negative thoughts and lies from the enemy. This has been one of the biggest benefits for me. I now have God’s truths at the ready for a variety of situations I need to work on.
Finally, going through these studies has allowed me think about some of the ways that I don’t struggle with anymore, but others still do. My eyes are more open to other people’s struggles with their mind. This has been huge for me in better serving and supporting others around me. This point is important because, if we are really to be serving others the way that Christ has called us to do, then this is something that we all need to have an awareness of. He calls us to serve with love. Sometimes the best way we can serve someone is to help them point out the lies they have been believing and help them see how the enemy has continually put the lies in front of them. Just knowing these things won’t help unless we know the spiritual weapons and truths to use against those lies. To overcome the lies of the enemy, we must replace those lives with His truths.
For us to serve others in the fullness of Christ the way He wants to us to, we must continually work on our own journey to become WHOLE in Christ in mind, body and spirit. If you are interested in becoming more WHOLE in Christ through your mind, join one of the A&F Team Members in a Bible study through either of these studies.
Click the link below to sign up at one of the seven different days and times!
Mamie Kester has lived in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for most of her life. She has been a follower of Christ since early childhood. She has been married to Mitchell since 2007, they have two daughters. She is a Project Manager and Senior Technical Engineer at Procter and Gamble since 2007. Mamie and her husband have facilitated Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class ever since they went through the class themselves in 2012. They have recently starting traveling via motorhome to various parts of the country.
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