Just Like Herding Cats

Just Like Herding Cats

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In Philippians Paul tells us that we can have peace; peace in our hearts and minds not necessarily in our surroundings. We can be in the midst of chaos or challenges and have peace inside, deep in the inner part of who we are. When we have this kind of peace we respond differently to our circumstances than when we are in great turmoil inside.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 NIV

When our minds are functioning in a “triple type A” personality version, going a hundred miles an hour in twenty directions, that is a problem. Just trying to gather our thoughts some days can be difficult.

Often, we have so many different types of stimulus coming at us we hit overload and just short out. We need something to bring those thoughts into their appropriate place.

There are days we feel like we are herding cats in the open range with only our hope as the approach. On those days we need to stop, take a deep breath, and quiet our mind. We need to have something like a herding dog constantly patrolling our thoughts or the borders of our mind.

Peace ~ Guarding Hearts And Minds. I like this plan!

Then there is our part, as Paul continues:

“And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 TLB

In order to have the “peace of God” guarding our hearts, we need to think on the things He says will bring us peace. Peace must be actively pursued it doesn’t just fall like a blanket when we ask.

I remember years ago we had a full house of foster kids, which meant ten plus ours. My daughter and I had just finished a 10k race and I was sore and achy. I was soaking my aches away and my daughter knocks on the door and says, “What are you doing?”

“Reading,” I responded.

“What are you reading?”

“PURSUING PEACE!” I shouted back.

“Oh, good,” her reply.

I was tired, achy, a lot going on and I just knew I needed to get aside and refocus my thoughts.

We need to guard what we put into our minds. Our thoughts will be determined by what focus we choose. All of the different types of stimulus from TV, Internet, Music affect our thoughts. Where we go for entertainment, who we do life with; how we do life with them affect our thoughts.

When we had a full house of foster boys, all of whom were in trouble with the law, I did an experiment. They wanted to listen to hard rock, heavy metal, head banging music and we had a lite rock limit. This particular day I started with the lite rock, the boys were in good moods, good attitudes working together; a good start for the day; I slowly changed the music to harder rock. The boys were getting more into the music and moods were fine but attitudes started to get a little edgy. By the end of the day, the music became heavy metal and the moods were erratic, attitudes were downright aggressive and belligerent, arguments between themselves were happening and there were those who were just looking for a fight.

The music was turned off and we had a “family meeting”. We talked about the results of the experiment. What you put in absolutely determines what you put out. They were surprised.

Let not just pick on music, let’s move on to TV and the Internet. When you watch shows that promote affairs it sets seeds in your own life. We can see someone on TV look awesome, act and sound romantic, sensitive, exciting, thrilling for an hour. They are actors, it is not real life but how often do we watch those shows and they become dissatisfied with our own lives?

There is the whole sexual explosion on TV and the Internet. We have an explosion in human trafficking all around the world. The appetite can never be satisfied when we are constantly feeding it. It starts lite and then progressively gets darker. There is no peace in this place.

We have the “Freedom To Choose” with that freedom comes responsibility and consequences. There is no separating them. They go together.

THINK ON THESE THINGS….. Paul tells us if we want peace we must pursue it by our own will choosing what we think about. He says:

“Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 CEV

We can change ourselves; we have control over what we do. When we look at those around us, those we meet each day we can choose how we respond positively or negatively by what we allow our thoughts to dwell on. There are so many distractions so many things to pull our attention that we need to choose wisely what we consider, what we ponder, what we think about.

Even Jesus went aside to a quiet place to be alone. He spent time in prayer, He spent time listening to His Father. We need to follow His lead. We need to step aside, get to a quiet place, gather our thoughts and choose what thoughts get to stay and what thoughts need to be eliminated. I know sometimes it is like herding cats, but when we chose to go through the work of deciding what we will think on, what influences we will allow in our lives we then truly have the “Freedom to Choose.” Then peace really will guard our hearts and minds.

Conversely, if we are unwilling to become disciplined about monitoring our thoughts, then our thoughts gain control, and that is our choice as well.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

Are you willing to consider what influences you allow in your life? Are you willing to choose to do the hard work of eliminating the things that have a negative sway in your life? Are you willing to ask God about His thoughts and His ways as you pursue peace?