Mind Over Matter or Heart Over Matter

Mind over matter.   We have all heard that before.  The implication of that saying is that if you put your mind to something you can accomplish that. While yes that may be true in many instances it does not always work that way.

As I have been home "resting" this week I was thinking about how I wanted to return to a bible study that I am involved with called Bible Study Fellowship.  But to their credit my two immediate bosses (my term of endearment for them) Becky our Teaching Leader and Tami our Children's Supervisor who I directly serve under, both encouraged me to stay home and "rest."  I do "rest" well after learning the hard way not to push myself when I am not feeling well but my flesh does not want to cooperate with me on that. 

Therefore, "rest" is what I am doing.     In my "resting" last night, I was thinking and hoping that I could return to BSF today.   It turns out that there are two Children's Leaders, who are out sick, and me.  The matter before me was that they are shorthanded and I need to be there to help and do the work God as called me to do.   After awakening this morning, I was more tired than when I went to bed and got up later than I normally would or should have on a BSF morning.  My mind was saying, "Go, you can do this" but in my heart I knew that I could not.  I just did not have the energy.   Which I believe is because of all the medication I was taking.  It was then that I realized I cannot act upon the words "mind over matter" but I must act on the words "heart over matter."   It is because of my love for the women and the children that I could not go and subject them to my coughing.   I realized that my wanting to go and serve was more for my ego, my self-centeredness and me.  There were quite a few "I's" in my thinking.  "I" can go and do what God has called me to do.  "I" can go so they will have one extra person and will not be so shorthanded.  "I" can go so "I" can keep the dinner plans we had tonight without feeling guilty that I was not able to go to Bible study but well enough to go dinner.  Dinner plans were to be with my precious eighty six year old neighbor who recently had to go on oxygen.  And, I wanted to go to dinner.  Imagine if I passed something on to her.  None of this is a pretty picture and not too wise either.   Have you ever done that?  We mean well but sometimes we act with our minds instead of our hearts that are overflowing in love for those around us and those that we serve. 

My heart won out and I stayed home to "rest."   God will provide for the needs of BSF, dinner plans can be changed.  Yes, I am so much better but not 100% yet.  Sometimes instead of stopping and smelling the roses, we have to stop and "rest."   Yep!   That is the way the Lord has made our bodies.  Now if we would only let go of always be on the go and trying to accomplish so much and pushing our bodies so much when not feeling well, then maybe we would heal much faster.   Resting is a good for the body and it may not always be an easy thing to do, but something that is necessary. 

I want to leave you with this verse as my prayer for you from 3 John 1:2 - Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Listen to your heart and let your heart rule over the matter at hand.