N O WO R R I ES?Each day, we struggle to pull our thoughts away from our worries, fears, frustrations, and desires. Mindscape builds a practical action plan for changing your mental landscape and your life.
A must-have, must-read, must-share book.SINCLAIR B. FERGUSON, Author; Professor of Systematic
Theology, Redeemer Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX
Tim Witmer gives us a tour of the truly beautiful mind, the biblical mind, that returns us to the sanity of my Fathers world.
PAUL E. MILLER, Director of seeJesus; author of A Praying Life and A Loving Life
Mindscape is a straightforward pastoral book, which addresses a very real need in the anxious times in which we live.
CARL R. TRUEMAN, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA
M I N D S C A P E
MIN
DS
CA
PE
What to Think About Instead of Worrying
TIMOTHY Z. WITMER
TIM
OT
HY
Z. W
ITM
ER
Cover Design: Faceout Studio
www.newgrowthpress.com
ISBN 978-1-939946-71-3
9 7 8 1 9 3 9 9 4 6 7 1 3
RELIGION / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
TIMOTHY Z. WITMER, MDiv, DMin, is Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary where he serves as Coordinator of the Practical Theology Department and Director of Mentored Ministry and Master of Divinity Programs. He has also served for thirty-five years in pastoral ministry and is the author of The Shepherd Leader and The Shepherd Leader at Home. He and his wife Barbara have three children, four grandchildren, and reside in Lancaster County, PA.
A must-have, must-read, must-share book. Dr. Tim Witmer, a seasoned soul-physician, calmly enters his consulting room. It is full of anxious people. Many have been dosing themselves on narcotic or toxic prescrip-tions or self-cures but continue to experience personal and relational meltdown. His diagnosis is superbly clear; his prescription is powerful. His prognosis is hon-est. Even his instructions are a pleasure to read. Plus, his medicine works. Try Mindscapea great book!
Sinclair B. Ferguson, Author; Professor of Systematic Theology, Redeemer Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX
Our culture breeds anxiety, anger, and escapism. Anx-ious about our relationships we are alone together. To counter this multi-headed hydra, Tim Witmer gives us a tour of the truly beautiful mind, the biblical mind, that returns us to the sanity of my Fathers world.
Paul E. Miller, Director of seeJesus; author of A Praying Life and A Loving Life
As colleagues, Tim Witmer and I probably spend a fair amount of time worrying about the same things. It is thus a pleasure to see that he has spent considerable time reflecting on this problem from a biblical and practical perspective. This book is both a work of demolition, as Tim dismantles the myths we tell about ourselves, and of construction, as he focuses the readers mind on the great biblical truths that give us both a foundation in, and perspective on, our place in the universe. This is a straightforward pastoral book, which addresses a very real need in the anxious times in which we live.
Carl R. Trueman, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
I worry. In fact, I worry a lot. Tim Witmers biblical and practical book is refreshing for someone like me. He reminds me of the truth and of the rest, joy, and life at the center of the truth. Ill probably still worry, but Im going to be a lot better because of this book and you will be too. Read it and be glad!
Steve Brown, Key Life radio broadcaster; professor (emeritus), Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando
Our culture thinks about human problems by focus-ing on the pathological extremes: panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and the like. But Mindscape, like Scripture, starts at the other end of the spectrum. It focuses on those normal pathologies that beset all of us who ever feel worried, fearful, or apprehensive. This book is full of good sense because it is full of God and his ways. Wherever you land on the anxiety spectrum, take Mind-scape to heart. You will become a wiser human being, guaranteed!
David Powlison, Executive Director, CCEF; author
Do you ever worry? If so, this book is for you. In an age of self-help manuals, theology-lite, and moralistic preaching, Mindscape is truly refreshing. Indeed, if care-fully read and inwardly digested, it is life-changing. Tim Witmer proclaims a fully sovereign, yet truly comfort-ing God who intervenes in the midst of very real afflic-tion from without and persistent sin from within. He brings the simplicity and depth of the seasoned pastor to the reader. And the gospel of grace is on every page.
William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics and Boyer Chair in Evangelism and Culture, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia
We worriers often see ourselves as victims of the unseen futures threatening possibilities. With pastoral wisdom and grace-grounded transparency, Tim Witmer summons us to resist anxiety proactively. Pauls famous directive to replace worry with thankful prayer (Philip-pians 4:67) is just the beginning of Gods agenda to free us from our fears (4:89). Christs Spirit can refurnish our mindscape, replacing preoccupation with what might go wrong with concentration on the Savior, who makes all things gloriously right.
Dennis E. Johnson, PhD, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary, California; author of Him We Proclaim; coauthor of Counsel from the Cross
To be human is to worry. Its something we all do. You cant avoid it. With that in mind, Tim Witmer intro-duces you to Paul while he is in jail in Philippi. Each chapter rivets the readers anxious mind on better things to think about. If you find yourself overwhelmed and filled with worry, read Tims book. It will give you some wonderful things to think about as well as a gracious Savior to talk to in the midst of it all.
Dr. Timothy S. Lane, President, Institute for Pastoral Care; coauthor of How People Change
Mindscape is a helpful guidebook for any of us who have ever thought wrongly about the issues of life. With pastoral warmth, Dr. Witmer shows us how we can change the way we think and apply the gospel. Mind-scape shows us that a new way of thinking can lead to a new way of living.
Scott Thomas, Associate National Director, C2C Network; coauthor of Gospel Coach
Mindscape
W H AT TO T H I N K A BOU T I NSTE A D OF WOR RY I NG
Timothy Z. Witmer
www.newgrowthpress.com
New Growth Press, Greensboro, NC 27404www.newgrowthpress.comCopyright 2014 by Timothy Z. Witmer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided by USA copyright law. Published 2014.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV.Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
Cover Design: Faceout Books, faceoutstudios.comInterior Typesetting & eBook: Lisa Parnell, lparnell.com
ISBN 978-1-939946-71-3 (Print)ISBN 978-1-939946-77-5 (eBook)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataWitmer, Timothy Z., 1953 Mindscape : what to think about instead of worrying / Timothy Z. Witmer. pages cm Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-939946-71-3 (pbk.) ISBN 978-1-939946-77-5 (ebook) 1. Thought and thinkingReligious aspectsChristianity. 2. WorryReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title. BV4598.4.W58 2014 248.4dc23
2014020476Printed in the United States of America
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 1 2 3 4 5
To my wife Barbara
who in my mindscape is an oasis in the desert of life, who brings me joy
every time I think of her.
Contents
Acknowledgments ix1. What Were You Thinking? 12. What? Me Worry? 143. Whatever Is True 284. Whatever Is Noble 505. Whatever Is Right 676. Whatever Is Pure 867. Whatever Is Lovely 1048. Whatever Is Admirable 1219. If Anything Is Excellent or Praiseworthy 14110. Think About These Things 160Endnotes 173
Acknowledgments
I would be remiss if I didnt include some important expressions of appreciation. I am thankful for the officers and congregation of Crossroads Community Church (PCA) who heard much of this material in a sermon series several years ago. My appreciation also goes out to Barbara Juliani at New Growth Press for seeing the value in this book and helping to sharpen its focus. Last but not least, my deep love and appre-ciation to my wife Barbara, to our children Sara and her husband Joel, Rebecca, Nathan, and grandchildren Mikayla, Katie, Emma, and Ben, who sometimes make me worry, but who always bring me joy.
1What Were You Thinking?
What were you thinking? This is a question commonly heard when people are called to give an account for their actions, or even their words. Disappointed or angry parents speak them to their children. Bosses use this question to express the dismay they have for an underperforming employee. It can also be heard in the hallways of our schools, as t
