I don’t know about you, but out of curiosity and whim, I’ve tried a number of times to “stop thinking” and park my brain and leave the “engine idling” there for a while, and I just can’t do it. Maybe if you’re a Zen master it’s possible, but not for me. Within seconds my internal feedback loop is ping-ponging all over the place, or I start having weird bits of stuff float around in my mind like I’m in a dream (or worse, hallucinating).

It seems to me that rather than try to stop thinking at all, we must find a place to park where we are actually dwelling on something and our thoughts are focused on something meaningful. This sort of calm meditation is advocated by many spiritual traditions and creeds, but I believe there’s only one place in which to dwell where we can receive renewed life and transformation of self, and that place is at the feet of Jesus Christ. Simply dwelling on Jesus, His person, His love, His sacrifice, His gift of salvific redemption, His Word, His healing power, His mindblowing creativity — that is worth more than a billion dollars, all the books you can buy on character development and leadership, all the sermons in the world, all the expositions of the most learned scholars, and all the platitudes of well-meaning friends.

Where does your mind park? Where do you dwell when your brain is idling? In a place of power? In a place of ambition? Sex? Fun? Grand causes and elaborate schemes? Maybe you should consider that the mind was created for something better — far, far better. Spend an hour, or two or three, with Jesus. Park your mind and meditate on His beautiful continence. I guarantee you that nothing in life will ever look the same way again after you’ve been in His glorious presence!