TEXT: Genesis 2:7-8; 15-17; 3:1-7 New Living Translation
FOCUS: 3:6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. The she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he at it, too.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste! This slogan was pivotal in the ad campaign launched in 1972 by the United Negro College Fund to encourage Americans to support the efforts of the UNCF at funding higher education for people of color. As our former President, Barack Obama continuously reminded us, education is the tool that irrefutably levels the playing field for humanity regardless of race, creed or color. Our increased knowledge relative to the word of God and the promises of God position us to level the playing field when dealing with negative forces of this world. Having a mind to succeed, having a mind to persevere, having to mind to see the possibilities rather than the problems is pivotal to being a conqueror and not conquered. We waste or lose our minds on the negative, on what we don’t have, what we can’t do, and how bad things are! God desires that we keep our minds on our blessings and on His presence in our lives. Don’t lose your mind on things, people, situations and circumstances that prevent you from walking into your destiny. Three ways that we lose our mind:
- The Conversation: Gen 3:1-4 Eve had a conversation with the serpent. Adam failed to have a conversation with Eve and both of them failed to remember the conversation that God had with them.
- The Consideration: Gen 3:6 Depending upon the conversation our minds immediately go to the consideration of options and opportunities. Then we have the internal battle: Do I or Don’t I? What will my actions cost me?
- The Contamination: 3:7 Depending upon consideration of our options, we contaminate our spirit with those things that are not of God and bring temporary pleasure and satisfaction but long term chaos and calamity. The good news is that we have an opportunity to GET MOVING in the right direction and refocus our minds on God and the things of God! God is able to decontaminate and give us a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) so that Holy Spirit can and will reside within us! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?