Changing Our Thought Patterns

From childhood, we are taught to take care of our self: dress, feed, play and make wise choices for our self. Therefore, learning to trust the Lord and His faithfulness takes a bit of getting used to (Ephesians 6:10). The process is called "renewing our mind." This is a continual progression of transformation, through which God's Spirit gives us the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 12:2).

By faith in Christ, we receive a new heart through the rebirthing of our spirit, which was formerly dead, due to the sin of the first Adam with Eve. The second Adam, Jesus Christ, became Emmanuel in order to guarantee salvation to whomever chooses to believe (John 3:16-18). God's Spirit teaches us to follow Jesus' example and to live as a new creation with sanctified priorities and goals in life (Philippians 2:5).

Jesus' emptied Himself of His heavenly glory and lived a life as a bondservant to our Father God (Luke 23:34; Matthew 20:28). He was even obedient to the point of suffering the horrendous torture and death at the hands of the Roman army (Matthew 26:39; John 5:30). God wants us to live in the power of His Spirit in order to do the works, which He created us to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 139:13).

God's Holy Spirit purges us of pride, selfishness, unforgiveness and all of the deeds and attitudes of the flesh, so that we can live by His direction and divine character (Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Peter 1:4-5). We aid in this process by renewing our mind with the Word of God. We begin focusing on eternal matters, ignoring the distractions provided by Satan and his minions and valuing eternal aspects rather than worldly gain (Ephesians 6:16).

Prayer:

Father God, we all experience the temptation to compromise our walk and to live a life of indulgence in the flesh. However, You gave us Jesus as our example. You also give us a way to avoid temptation and live a pure and holy life before You (1 Corinthians 10:13). Thank You for sending Jesus to pay the debt we owed for our sins, and for giving us Your Spirit to renew our mind with the mind of Christ, so that our thought patterns change from carnal ones to spiritual.

Thought for the Day:

Our Father God already gave us all the tools necessary to live a victorious life in Christ.- Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57; Ephesians 6:13

When Our Children Reject Us

 

When my daughter grew into a young woman, she distanced herself from me for sharing Jesus and Bible verses with her and some of her friends. She believed that I was trying to convert them and this offended her. She stopped contacting me and eventually told me to stop contacting her. People ask me all the time how I can possibly deal with my daughter’s rejection of me.

I remind these caring people that my trust and hope is in God. My spirit is Born Again and Christ in me helps my human soul. My soul – my thoughts, emotions and choices – misses fellowship with my only daughter. However, my spirit rejoices, because she realizes my strong commitment to Christ.

One day she will comprehend that I live my life according to all of the teachings of Christ, not just the popular ones. For the glory of God, I imparted to my children the wisdom of Biblical precepts and knowledge (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:6-9).  I know that one day they will all be encouraged and strengthened by these same convictions, which I cling to.

God has a plan for each of our children. God fills our quiver with them and then shows us in which direction to aim them as arrows into the future (Psalm 127:4-5; Proverbs 29:17). Paul commended Timothy because he shared the same faith as his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). My younger son already shares and lives by Biblical faith. I look forward to the day when my daughter and my older son come to faith in Christ as well (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

Prayer:

Father God, we surrender our children to Your care and Your purposes for their life. Teach our children by Your Spirit and impart Your wisdom and peace into their lives (Isaiah 54:13). We release them into Your care, protection, direction and provision (Psalm 127:3–5). Humble them until they exalt You in their life. Protect them in the palm of Your hand and draw them to Your bleeding heart by Your sacrificial love.

Thought for the Day:

Children are a gift from God; they are a reward from Him. – Psalm 127:3

Imitators of Christ

 

 

As authentic Believers in Jesus Christ, we lay our sinful, carnal, earthly life at Jesus’ feet and identify with His crucifixion and resurrection (Philippians 3:8). We find our righteousness by faith in Christ, rather than in self-effort (Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:1-3). Over the weeks and years of our walk with Him, we stop travailing over our sinful state and realize that we are already dead in Christ and raised to walk in newness of a life in Him (Romans 6:4).

 

We are united in mind, character, creativity and vision with our Father, just as Jesus is one with us and with our Father (Ephesians 3:19). We walk, talk, think and pursue a totally different lifestyle now. We are imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1), who is our life (Colossians 3:4). We exalt Him with our thoughts, words and deeds (Ephesians 4:1). Jesus gives us His power and authority over sin and the world, because He dwells within us with all the power of the triune God (1 John 4:15; Colossians 2:9).

 

In the current age of technology, sin is easier to access than ever before. If we have the slightest inclination toward sinfulness, we will certainly find a multitude of outlets for it. However, technology also gives us a wealth of Biblical resources at our fingertips. Out ability to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of God exponentially increases with technology. We also have the opportunity to fellowship with other Christians from around the world from the comfort of our own home, and to share our walk with Christ.

 

God removes the very presence of sin from our life, because we are His Temple. He cannot dwell in the presence of sin (Psalm 5:4; 1 John 5:18). We will reign with Him as priests of God during the Millennium (Revelations 20:6). Entertaining sin in our life or cowering in the corner of our house without using our talents for God will reap for us God’s displeasure (Matthew 25:14-30). God will take our talents and give them to those who are more faithful to His call on their life.

 

Prayer:

Father God, walking down the wrong path in life will affect our place in eternity. We may taste of the spiritual aspects of life, which You provide for us; and then walk away as if they have no value to us. We may sell our birthright as Your children in exchange for the lusts of the flesh. Then, we will walk as apostates for the rest of our life on earth. Hell holds a special place for those who turn their back on You. However, we desire to live only for You, because You live within us (John 14:19).

 

Thought for the Day:

Follow the wisdom from above, cling to that which is good, do not live in hypocrisy and cleanse your ways according to God’s Word (James 3:17; Psalm 199:9).

 

 

 

 

There is a River

"Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” - Revelation 22:1-2

Coming from the throne of God is this river of delights (Psalm 36:8). It comes from springs of life giving water (Revelation 7:17). The streams of this river provide for the inhabitants of the city of God, and it is situated in the holy place where the Most High dwells (Psalm 46:4). Water from this river will continue to flow on into the new world, when New Jerusalem descends from heaven (Revelation 21:2). Before the throne, there is also a sea as smooth as glass and crystal clear (Revelation 4:6).

God’s love also flows like a river from His throne, out into the nations. While our spirit was still dead in unholy living and sin, God loved us so much that He became man to pay the penalty of our sins on Calvary’s cross. He does not want anyone to perish in hell, but to live gloriously and eternally with Him instead. God’s mercy planned that Jesus’ death would restore our relationship with Him forever (Acts 15:11). We did nothing to earn this privilege (Ephesians 2: 8-9). It is a free gift (Romans 3:14; 6:23).

Yet, some people never repent of their sins. Therefore, they condemn themselves forever, because of their stubborn, insistent unbelief (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8). It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Out of our love for God, His Agape love flows out of us to the rest of the world. Jesus proved His love by His actions. We also carry on that witness by allowing God’s river of love to flow through our life as well. We go out into the world living the example of who Jesus is and what He did for us all.

We never judge a person by their conduct in the moment, because God is their judge (Romans 14:4). We do however, have discernment to know whether someone is living by the Spirit of God or not (1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:151 Thessalonians 5:1; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 John 1:7). We pray for our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors constantly. We are ready in a moment to give an accounting to them of our faith and the reasons behind our beliefs (1 Peter 3:15). 

Jesus example is the only life we should follow. Everyone else, even those in our church family, are merely sinners and not very good examples on which to base our life. However, Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors and church family with the same sacrificial love that He gave us when He laid down His life on Calvary’s cross (Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34). Some of us are better at this than others. Some people never even take the time to get to know their neighbor’s name. How can we win them for Christ unless we have a relationship with them?

God puts us in people’s lives to be able to help them in their time of need. If we care for a person’s physical and emotional needs, they will be more open to us when we tell them that Christ is the answer for their spiritual needs. Jesus also referred to this river as the moving of His Spirit (John 7:37-39). If we take time each day to drink of the living water of the Word and the Spirit, we will thirst no more and have the Spirit of God living within us, guiding and encouraging us throughout our life (Ephesians 5:26).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, whomever drinks of natural water will thirst again; but whomever drinks of the water or Your Spirit and Word will never thirst again. Remind us to read Your Word and to be led by Your Spirit; so that we will become in You a fountain of water springing up and flowing out into the world around us. Help us to drink of and to share Your living water with everyone You bring our way. (John 4:13).

Thought for the Day:

God’s love, His Word and His Spirit in us are all part of God’s river of life to the world.