Topic: Understanding the mind and the function of analyzing.
Text: Psalms 73
Key verse: I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me. Verse 16
The mind can help you process information accurately or can also mislead you into drawing wrong conclusions. One of the functions of the mind is the desire and ability to analyze information. Our text today is a classic illustration of the effect of trying to analyze the issues of life from the ability of the human mind.
The soul of man consists of the mind that thinks, the Will determines our wants, and the emotions manifest our feelings. The psalmist in the text above decided to think through the problems he had and it was difficult for him. 
But I had nearly lost confidence;  my faith was almost gone because I was jealous of the pride when I saw that things go well for the wicked.
The mind receives information from the environment through the five senses of hearing, seeing, tasting, speaking, and feeling. Sometimes this information can come from other men, angels, the devil, or the Holy Spirit. The ability to accurately analyze information can lead the believer to grow in the faith or fall out of faith.
 The psalmist declared … “But I had nearly lost confidence; my faith was almost gone\”. 
The statement reveals the outcome of what he saw concerning the wicked, nonbelievers. He became jealous of the wicked because of his prosperity, and the more he made a mental comparison of his life with that of the wicked, the more he regretted his faith and devotion to God. 
Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin? O God, you have made me suffer all day long; every morning you have punished me. 
The mind is not equipped to think correctly about spiritual things *without the aid of the word of God*. Right from the Garden of Eden, the woman fell into the trap of trying to reason, ponder, and analyze life outside the Word and Will of God; the result was separation from God.  
 The woman *saw* how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and *she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise*. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it.  As soon as they had eaten it, they were given understanding and realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and covered themselves. Genesis 3:6-7
Take note, she set her gaze on the fruit rather than on the master. Who do you focus your gaze on when you analyze issues, Your family, society, culture, or feelings?
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God\’s throne. Hebrews 12:2
 It was what she thought about the outcome, reward, or benefit of eating the fruit that formed the basis of her decision. She did not think about the consequences of her action in the light of God’s word, as disobedience.
The psalmist almost fell into the same error until he went to God’s house and had a better perspective of life and the end of the wicked.
I tried to think this problem through, but it was too difficult for me *until I went into your Temple. Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.*
 You guide me with your instruction and in the end, you will receive me with honor.
He later realized that the counsel of the word of God is what he needed to analyze situations accurately. No wonder he said in another occasion in psalms 119; 
I keep your law in my heart so that I will not sin against you. I will repeat aloud all the laws you have given. I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth.

 In conclusion, for the mind to do a good job of analysis, we must equip and empower it with truth from God’s word.
 Bible study for the believer should not be a ritual but rather his channel to get life-transforming truth that empowers him/her to avoid an error. 
The winning mindset is the result of a foundation built on the word of God. Do you have a solid foundation in Christ? If your Bible is taken away from you for a year, who would you become?
“So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. Matthew 7:24-25
 I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. Psalm 119:15

Prayer
*Lord, help me to build my life, values, motivations, and character upon the foundation of truth from your word in Jesus’ name. Amen*
*Father, in any way I have slipped from the path of truth by trusting in my senses and not your word, forgive and deliver me now in Jesus’ name. Amen*
Blessings to you

Roses & Thorns