By Virginia Roth
At the beginning of the semester, we talked about the Lord’s concern for our mind. John Kyle led us in a “bathing of scripture” exercise where we read 13 or so verses of scripture regarding the mind and discussed our thoughts afterward. He prompted us to reflect with a question: “God cares about your mind. What does that mean to you and how does that change the way you think?” Over the past two months, I haven’t thought about this question much but recently it’s consistently been on my mind.
When life gets busy, our minds tend to bubble up with stress. We get anxious and overwhelmed and, at least for me, I can’t seem to turn off my brain. Stress and full schedules lead to general tiredness, leading to the weakening of my mental defenses. Here in the vulnerable moments, the enemy strikes. He capitalizes on our malleable minds and tells us that we are failures, dumb, alone, guilty, unworthy of grace, and so much more. But my assurance in the valley of the shadow of death is that I can fear no evil! Even when there are many lies of the devil, my hope in Christ is greater. Psalm 103 says, “For he knows my frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Though that may seem bleak it's incredibly hopeful! The Lord knows I am weak and susceptible to lies and has prepared to come after me to lead “me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23 ESV). Knowing that God is concerned with and ultimately ruling over my whole being including my mind gives me incredible assurance when I tend to lose sight of the truth.
I have been learning that when I am threatened by lies and anxiety, my mind and hope can be safely set upon Christ. Isaiah 26:3 (ESV), along with other Psalms, has been giving me immense peace in the busyness of this season: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock.” My foundation is secure when I am set on the truth of God's living word, considering it and meditating on it day and night. That’s the only thing that can free me from my wayward heart and mind.
A passage Dane Ortlund wrote in his morning devotional book through the Psalms, In the Lord I take Refuge, really stood out to me and I would like to leave you with his encouraging reflection on Psalm 103 (ESV):
“What is it, above all else, that weary sinners most need to know? What is oxygen to us in our distressed, pain-riddled lives? The radiant sun of divine favor, it cannot be lessened any more than a tiny, wispy, cloud can threaten the existence of the sun. The sun is still shining. It cannot stop. Be at peace.” (p284).
Virginia Roth is a member of the Capital Fellows class of 2024-25. She is from Boone, NC and is a graduate of Appalachian State University. This year, she is working as a communications associate at The Fellows Initiative.
Pictures From The Week
Dasha and her minion D-group girls on Sunday evening.
Post RTS Bartaco dinner.
Sarah, Curtis, and Beth at MPC Krop’s Crops CM event.
Libby and John Kyle matching at PRS.
Jack, Will, and Virginia apple picking!
Know a Potential Capital Fellow?
If you know a college senior or recent graduate who should consider joining the Capital Fellows program in 2025-26, please encourage them to get in touch with us. The easiest way to express interest in the program is through our Contact Us Form. You can learn more about the program, including application deadlines, by visiting the Capital Fellows website.
About Capital Fellows. Capital Fellows is an advanced leadership and discipleship program for recent college graduates. Through graduate courses, a paid internship, one-on-one mentoring, and many leadership and community service opportunities, fellows develop and apply their gifts in real-world situations while learning to integrate a Christian worldview into all areas of life. Capital Fellows is a unique opportunity to live and work in the Washington DC area and to be an active member of a supportive community that seeks to serve the city with the love of Christ. It is also a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in the workplace while deeply exploring God’s design for us as workers and contributors to human flourishing.
Pray for the Capital Fellows
Thank you for praying for the Capital Fellows each week!
The Capital Fellows are at the 18th TFI National Fellows Conference this weekend at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland. Please pray that the messages on vocation, justice, and mercy enable them to grow in their walk with the Lord and in their work as servant leaders. And please pray for safety for the Capital Fellows, as well as all the other Fellows from other programs, traveling throughout the D.M.V. area this weekend for the conference.
Want to learn more about Season 18? Click the button below to read through their bios!
About The Fellows Initiative
Capital Fellows is part of a network of similar programs across the country. This network is called The Fellows Initiative. There are 34 Fellows programs in TFI, roughly 3,200 alumni living around the world, and more Fellows programs on the way.
If you know a church in the US or Canada that would benefit from joining TFI by launching a new Fellows program. Please contact TFI by visiting their website.
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