Ever been trapped in a mind spin? The brain whirls and tries to process what happened or what might happen. Synapses fire like crazy trying to process what someone did, or said, or what we did or said. We wind up mind spinning on our problems, or someone else’s problems, or the world’s problems, until our minds are stuck in a downward spiral of futility.

Ack! Sigh…

Processing anything without God is pointless. Whereas, processing with God, points to God and His might and power.

In the Bible, David with great honesty would analyze his situations and circumstances. However, he always took whatever difficulties he faced back to God. Even when David didn’t understand, he trusted God would do what was right.

When I sit and try to analyze something without my thoughts rooted in God, I’m just spinning brain cells. The Bible calls it leaning on our own understanding. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” ~ Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)

I know all too well leaning on my own understanding does not lead to pretty results.

When we moved to the Chicago area we purchased a new home. Winter had not yet left and our yard didn’t have grass, trees, shrubs, or a patio, or anything other than a concrete step leading to cold mud.

Spring finally came and we were able to plant a few things, but we still only had those steps leading to the back yard. I could visualize a nice patio where we could enjoy sitting in the evening together as a family.

My sweet husband advised getting quotes from professionals. But my hubby traveled, and I was rather impatient. How hard could it be to build a patio? I bought a few books and half-studied the process. With the plan firmly partially half-set in my brain, I purchased the materials.

To prepare the ground, I decided a tiller would be needed. So I rented an industrial-sized tiller. A BIG tiller. A massive tiller.

A male neighbor provided the muscle to wrestle the thing out of our mini-van. I thanked him kindly and sent him on his way.

I love working on projects, and this one was no different. Okay, it was bigger than most of my projects. But how hard could it be?

I maneuvered the tiller into position and cranked up the engine. The mighty machine roared to life, and I released the hand-brake. When that thing moved, it moved. I mean really moved. Blades spun at full-speed and the monster tiller clawed, tore, mutilated the ground and drug me like a rag-doll. Unable to stop, I rode that thing like a bucking bronco.

Finally, I was able to plant my feet. The behemoth ripped into the ground, sending seismic shocks waves through the neighborhood. I wrestled with that massive beast trying to stop it from digging to the earth’s core.

A few miles from China, I finally succeeded in turning off the massive machine.

Collapsing on the ground, I surveyed the chunks, trenches, potholes, and canyons now mauling our yard.

Oh dear. My lack of understanding on how to work a tiller and how to build a patio were very obvious.

The only thing I successfully completed with that project was to entertain the neighbors. Years later they still chuckle about the tiller-riding Buffaloe.

But I digress…

Anything we try to analyze without factoring the truth of God’s sufficiency, might, power, love, and greatness, the less we will understand. Leaning on our own understanding is just mind spinning.

Whatever is troubling you, whatever you need to analyze, filter it through God’s truth, for the truth is found, answers are found, by searching in The truth with The One who is and has all the answers.

Turn off the mind-spinning and turn on the understanding with God’s truth!

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.” ~ James 1:5 (AMP)

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” ~ Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

From The Unnamed Devotional by Lisa Buffaloe https://amzn.to/2Ui0kP0