Valetudinarianism or, Jesus wore no ‘crap-hat’ Proverbs 23:7: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ..... A controlled way, a chosen way, a secured way, a furrowed way, a settled way of thinking about oneself or ones circumstance can be attributed to a particular state of mind, indeed, Valetudinarianism is just that: ‘a state of mind’. In particular, this state of mind of the Valetudinarian is usually perceived as being toward the morbid, toward the infirm, toward the sickliness of self. Valetudinarianism is in fact a big step beyond hypochondria because it focuses totally on self rather than sickness, and yes indeed, such a state of mind is totally self-defeating, yes, it is like living with a miserable saboteur of both happiness and health. States of mind, you see, are very important. The heart is connected to the mind and visa-versa of course. This connection is indeed a two way street, and therefore what effects the heart effects how we think, how we think effects the heart, how we feel, how strong and confident and assured we are, or not! I see the heart and mind as willing dance partners, but the lead man in it all, is not the mind, but rather is the heart. However, and go figure this, it is never the less the mind that educates the heart, and to such an extent that we think with our heart! The unseen force that the spirit of a man has on his heart and mind is an intriguing subject, but not for today. Suffice to say though, that of course, the spirit of a man sustains and empowers the whole of the man, though the spirit being in the position of the conduit of sustenance, or of light and life, if you will, does not negate the fact that the spirit is also strengthened by the mind and the heart. We are so connected! For today then, I simply want to concentrate on the connected nature heart and the mind, and especially the mind, and how such conditioning of the mind can lead to a settled state of victory and life , or defeat and death. The beginning of the 21st century saw a thinning of standing armies in the United Kingdom but an increase in the need and use of special and elite forces. Special forces will undoubtedly will be the future soldiers, special and specialized fighting knights, who are armor plated, part robotic, Wi-Fi connected and satellite linked and tooled up beyond belief. Such Elite soldiers will and have always been marked by the Commando spirit of courage, determination, unselfishness and cheerfulness, but especially as the recruiting adverts across media platforms keep telling us, such elite soldier will be more especially marked by ‘A state of mind’, and a state of mind which will allow the solider to reach his limits and then leave them behind as he presses on with his mission. Old and New Testaments both depict the believer as a soldier, and the successful Biblical solder is one that has a very particular ‘state of mind.’ I put it to you that a Valetudinarian is a deep and settled way of thinking in which you come to habitually reside, which in turn dictates your responses to both internal and external forces. It is a fixed way of thinking, it is character on wheels. I have come to learn that God the Holy Spirit is a great Color Sergeant Major and is intent on training troops to have them achieve the right kind of Valetudinarian mind. He will have us respond rightly and consistently on the battlefield to any and all situations. Another word for this is called sanctification or Christ likeness. Yes indeed, Jesus never did wear ‘crap- hat.’ He is special Forces through and though and so much all His soldiers be: ‘Elite’ such as He. Any Special Forces Commander might be wary of having his forces labelled as ‘Elite’ because it assumes a settled-ness of achievement, when the truth is, as one Royal Marine Commander put it: “The truth is that you have to keep on keeping yourself excellent, professionally proficient day after day, year in and year out. Therefore there is a constant striving for professionalism and competence, a state of mind that is confident in that competence but not complacent in it. Demas had a state of mind. His failure to count the cost of following Christ led to a furrowed tiredness, a flowering cowardice, and a desertion of his brothers for the love of this world. This did not happen overnight, but the file do his heart was furrowed by bad thoughts of his mind. Caleb, old an Caleb, was in contrast still full of vitality, continuance and a desire to conquer! How could this be a such a great age? Simple really. It is called sanctification, it is recognizing the daily training of the Holy Spirit in every and all circumstances of life, it is an act of never being complacent about building your future victories on past achievements, and never being bogged down by past failures, either of ourselves or of others. Such a man can do nothing else but cry, “ Give me this mountain.” Why? Well my friends, because it is a ‘State of mind.’ The recruitment for Royal Marines Commandos clearly indicates the toughness of the course and the search for that state of mind. Indeed, so much so that they quite openly say 99.99% need not apply. I am afraid, that the state of mind which says “whether by life or by death, I will overcome and fulfill the will of the Lord for my life” is not found in 99.99% of the modern church. IF God the Holy Spirit has got you to such a settled state of mind regarding His sovereign will and power and your expendability as a soldier, then you are the 01% we are looking for. Please step up! https://youtube/watch?v=4ebto4fUYis
Posted on: Sun, 21 Sep 2014 17:15:40 +0000
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