Some people take their fun to extremes. Perhaps that’s why someone invented bungee jumping, deep sea fishing, whitewater rafting, hang-gliding, parasailing, and roller coasters. But we humans have an innate desire for one-ups-manship. For every diehard para-sailor, there is another person who wants to do something crazy like walk across the Grand Canyon on a 2-inch-thick steel cable suspended 1,500 feet above the ground.
On Sunday, June 23, 2013, Nik Wallenda did just that.
Without a harness, “The King of the High Wire” completed the 1,400-foot trip across the Grand Canyon in 22 minutes. Twice, 30 mph winds forced Nik to his knees and caused the cable to shake eerily in front of him. As video cameras trained upon him, the professional high-wire artist could be heard praying, “Thank You, Lord. Thank You for calming that cable, God.”
Nik had performed similar stunts before. In fact, a year ago he walked over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. While professionals like Nik make their stunts look easy, if they are honest they will confess there is more to their work than meets the eye. Before his recent stunt, Nik admitted, “Mentally it’s a lot more draining than physically. I’ve done it my entire life and the physical part comes fairly naturally. The mental part is always something that I have to work on.”
Successful Christians Are Thinking Christians
A professional stuntman cannot perform without thinking. Neither can a Christian. Being in the right frame of mind is one of the keys to spiritual stability. In 1 Peter 1:13, the Apostle Peter (who learned from his frequent instability in the years he spent following Jesus) wrote, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
I have heard a pastor compare “girding up the loins of your mind” to an ancient runner who had to tuck in the folds of his long, flowing tunic as he prepared for a race. The runner would do this so he was free to concentrate on his running. Christians are wise to follow suit. We must be careful to gird up our minds on a daily basis so that our thoughts do not hinder us in the race of life.
Change Your Act by Changing This
Girding up our minds would not be possible without Philippians 4:8. God graciously provided this verse because He knew we would need it. It says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Before we can change the way we act, we have to change the way we think. In the 43 words of this verse, we have the key to initiating that change and experiencing stability in any setting or circumstance. (I would encourage you to look up each of the traits described in this verse in your dictionary as a part of your daily devotions.)
My prayer is that you will never get so caught up in the physical rigors of the Christian life that you neglect to prepare mentally. How do you know if you have been neglecting the mental side of the coin? You’ll know it if you find yourself losing your delicate balance of joy and peace over things which are not true, honorable, fair, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy. That is to say, mind what you meditate upon.
Spiritual balance is possible for every Christian; but it will take all of your mental and physical effort. Are you willing to give it a try today?
By Cameron Edwards
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