I’m excited.

With all the advances in medical science the miracle that I’m waiting for must be just around the corner.

Now surgeons can replace human heart valves with pig valves or calf valves and the only secondary effect is that when the patient burps he goes, “Mooo…” or “oink!” (Maybe not. The valve part is true, though).

We can replace hearts, kidneys and livers. My great hope is that soon we’ll be able to replace brains. For those of us who never had one, that’s a bit problematic but still, what a help that would be. Actually, I don’t want a replacement but a reserve brain, kind of like a second hard disk to back up the one I’ve got.

If I ever get so smart that I can’t contain all my wisdom in one brain, my second brain could catch the overflow.

Already?

Unfortunately many of us already have two brains.

Well, not two brains, but two minds. Max Lucado notes, “Worry comes from the Greek word that means ‘to divide the mind.’ Anxiety splits us right down the middle creating a double-minded thinker. Rather than take away tomorrow’s trouble, worry voids today’s strength. Perception is divided, distorting your vision. Strength is divided, wasting your energy.” (Max Lucado in his book, “Come Thirsty”)

Maybe worry doesn’t cause us to have two minds but just half a mind. We become spiritual “halfwits.”

What if we had a “faith mind” instead of a “worry mind”? How would that work?

First, we’d bring our worries to the Lord. We’d praise Him for all the things He’s done in the past. We’d constantly remind ourselves that God had never let us down. We’d love Him with our words and express our faith in Him.

Then, I think we might look into His Word, the Bible, and see what He had said about situations like ours. We could even remind ourselves that these promises weren’t only for old guys dead a long time ago. They are vibrant, alive and still in effect for us today.

After that I might just remind the Lord of what He said and if worry tried to sneak in, I could just remind the Lord again and again and again–Like our kids do when they need something. It’s not doubt when we pester Him. It’s the opposite. We’re sure if we keep it up He’s going to do it—if nothing else to get a little peace in heaven.

You know, I believe that with this faith mind I could even start thanking Him for the answer before I actually see it happen. When someone I trust tells me he’s going to do something for me that I really want to happen, I don’t wait until he does it to thank him. When the promise comes out of his mouth I start rejoicing and thanking him immediately, then I thank him some more when I actually have it in my hands, and I thank him some more when I see him the next time.

Here’s some advice that I pester you with quite often but I think it’s time for a new dose. “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Phil. 4:7-9 The Message)

You know, if I could really put that into practice, I don’t think I would need another brain. I believe this one would be more than strong enough to live an abundant life. And filling it would thoughts of faith and thoughts of the good in my life would be powerful brain food to make it stronger and stronger.

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Hmmm …

Gratitude is a conviction, a practice, and a discipline. It’s an essential nutrient, a kind of spiritual amino acid for human growth, creativity, and joy. Gratitude involves channeling you energy and attention toward what is present and working rather than toward what’s absent and ineffective. (Tommy Newberry in “40 Days to a Joy-Filled Life” page 87)

Smile

“I’m sorry I slapped you but you didn’t seem like you’d ever stop talking and I panicked.” Internet