CENTERED ON GOD

Dallas Willard (1935-2013) professor and author wrote:

“A key distinction of a child of light is found in the condition of their thought life. Therefore, it is essential that our initial investigation of our inner life centers on what we think about, or what is on our mind. Simply stated, children of light think about God. He is never out of their mind. They love to dwell upon God and upon his greatness and loveliness, as brought to light in Jesus Christ. They adore him in nature, in history, in his Son, and in his saints. One could even say they are “God-intoxicated” (Acts 2:13; Eph. 5:18), though no one has a stronger sense of reality and practicality than they do. Their mind is filled with biblical expressions of God’s nature, his actions, and his plans for them in his world. They do not dwell upon evil. It is not a big thing in their thoughts. They are sure of its defeat, but they still deal with it appropriately in specific situations.

Because their mind is centered upon God and oriented to all else with reference to him, all other good things are also welcome there. Again: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,” their mind ponders those things (Phil. 4:8). They are positive, realistically so, based upon the nature of God as they understand it. “I have set the Lord continually before me,” the Psalmist says. “Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (16:8).” (From Renewing the Christian Mind: Essays, Interviews, and Talks)

“Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” Jesus