Transform Me

I usually wind down in the evenings by checking my email, facebook, and playing spider solitaire.  Doing these often mindless tasks gives my mind the opportunity to "defrag" from the day's or week's events (not that this process always happens...).  Anyway, my mind wandered, as it often does, and I found myself dwelling on scenarios that would probably never happen.  I played out the scenes, with multiple endings, characters, etc.  In the midst of the mindless wanderings, it occurred to me how much time I spend worrying about these things, when I should be taking the opportunity to dwell on Christ.  I've been so caught up in what might be, or my fallable interpretations of my situation, or in what that person thinks that I've missed it--and have ended up in a bad place emotionally and spiritually.  I even had a good friend tell me last week that my emotions were getting in the way of my leadership in ministry.  For someone who would like to work vocationally in the ministry, this was a rude wake-up call--needed, but it kind of stung at the time.  Don't get me wrong, we are created to be emotional.  However, when we focus on the temporal rather than the eternal; on our truth instead of God's truth; on ourselves rather than on Him, we lose sight of what matters most. What guides your thoughts, your emotions?
Father, forgive me for being so short-sighted, for focusing on myself rather than on You.  Forgive me for allowing the enemy to control my mind the past few weeks.  I give control to You--transform me from the inside out, beginning with my mind, that I may see what is Your good, acceptable, and perfect will--not only for my own life, Lord, but, more importantly, for Your kingdom.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  (Romans 12:1,2 ESV)