A New Creation

It is healthy for us to take an inventory of our thoughts and feelings every day (John 7:24). This prevents negative thoughts and emotions from piling up in our soul and exploding at the least provocation.

Satan's lies, our own insecurities plus neurosis from our past, and the world's judgment on us keep us enslaved to negative thinking. Yet, God's Word admonishes us to take our thoughts captive in Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

We tend to dwell on this temporal earth, embroiled by human reasoning and trapped by the hour glass of time - still eating from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and attempting to save our self (Genesis 2:17, 3:5).

These negative constraints affect our thoughts and emotions. We attempt to improve our self, but whatever is conceived by the flesh can be aborted by the flesh. We live on a hamster's wheel - always running, but getting nowhere fast. However, there is hope for us in God (Psalm 63:2:5; Romans 15:13).

God chose us and loved us while we were still sinners (John 15:16; 1 John 4:10; Romans 5:8). At salvation, He makes us His Children and co-heirs with Jesus (Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:2; Romans 8:17). His Spirit is building us into His house (Hebrews 3:6).

We cannot craft any lasting changes to our character in order to earn His love. He makes us clean - not by our good deeds and intentions, but by the blood of Christ (John 15:3; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Psalm 127:1).

Jesus makes us wise, righteous, redeemed and a new creation; so that we glory in the Lord rather than to take the credit (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Christ in us continually draws us into a more intimate union with Himself and our Father (Colossians 1:20). We simply obey (John 14:15).

Prayer:

Father God, Your love frees us from doubt and condemnation, which are fed to us by our own insecurities, the world's condemnation and Satan's lies. Please draw our loved ones away from the seduction of this world, deliver them from the lies of the devil, and allow them to feel Your love and conviction cascading over them like a waterfall.

In You there is no shame for our failings and idiosyncrasies, only love and acceptance just the way we are (Romans 5:8). Your Spirit perfects us through a lifetime of sanctifying exercises (1 Thessalonians 5:23). You make us one with You and Jesus Christ through His residing presence and Your Spirit's sanctifying work in us until You become our whole life (Colossians 3:3-4).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus is one with us in spirit and in truth; and He brings us into His rest in His perfect peace and love as we keep our soul focused on Christ in us. - Colossians 1:27; Isaiah 26:3

Greater Value

Speaking or thinking negative thoughts about our self has no place in the Christian mind. God created the lily and clothed her in all of her glory; so too He created His children to bloom with our unique colors and shape.

As we cast our burdens on God, we bloom vibrantly where He plants us (1 Peter 5:7). Satan will plant weeds in our lives. They are particular people, activities and materialism, which thwart our progress toward our heavenly goals.

When the heat of trials bear down on us, God gives us a core of strength through His Holy Spirit. We will not droop, under our load of cares, into depression and defeat, because God gives us shade under His wings (Psalm 17:8).

As my fiance, my husband reacted with surprise to discover that I do not like to shop. I find no fulfillment in material possessions. I love to have pretty belongings around me, but I prefer to treasure hunt for them in a thrift store.

I find greater value in belonging to God’s Kingdom, than in participating in mundane, worldly activities. I treasure God’s presence much more than any presents the world has to offer.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for sanctifying our soul and giving us Your spiritual mind. You help us to care more for Your Kingdom than for building our own little kingdom on this earth. As we cast our burdens on You, we bloom vibrantly where You plant us!

Thank You for Your deep peace and joy, which exceeds all human comprehension (Philippians 4:7).  As we dwell in You and You abide in us, we live in tranquility (John 15:4-5). Those whom You lead to come to walk in life by our side will enjoy Your fragrance from within us.

Thought for the Day:

What we sow into life will determine what we reap from life.

Deepening Stages of Maturity

Our thoughts affect both our emotions and our physical health. We can make our self depressed and stressed by feeling guilty over the past or worry about the future. We give our self ulcers, headaches and numerous other physical maladies just by thinking negative thoughts. We are not alone in this habit. Many Bible characters entertained negative thoughts that affected their physical and spiritual welfare (Lamentations 3:1-11). Some, like Cain, never recovered.

Other Biblical characters like Solomon give us an example of what happens in a life when we focus on the positive aspects of God’s will for our life (Lamentations 3:21-23). As we remember that God’s mercies are new every morning, we live in hope and shrug off the shroud of despair that the devil often drapes over us when we least expect it. We also focus on God’s wonderful works on our behalf (Psalm 139:14). When we see our circumstances with the eyes of the Spirit, we realize that God is using them to shape us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Our knowledge of God is worth more than all the riches in the world (Philippians 3:7-8). God’s Spirit changes us until we reflect the glory of the Lord in deepening stages of maturity (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are dead, and our life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). As children of God, we place our trust in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. We know without a doubt that He intervened in our life more times than we even realize and definitely more often than we can ever remember.

God molds us by the fruit of His Spirit. They are imbedded into our new character. When people see a mature Christian, they see Jesus instead of our old carnal, fleshly character. We follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness (1 Timothy 6:5-11). We learn to live in contentment with the blessings of God on our life. We do not even have to taste the second death, because our last breath on earth is followed immediately by our next breath in Heaven (Revelation 20:6).

Prayer:

Father God, help us to refrain from daydreaming or thinking of the worse case scenario and believing that we are lost because You abandoned us. That is such a lie from the pit of hell. We are risen with Christ. Remind us to seek the spiritual aspects of life, and to set our affections on heavenly rewards rather than on earthly gains (Colossians 3:1-2). We look forward to living in eternal glory forevermore, and to serving and reigning with You in glory.

Thought for the Day:

When Christ, who is our life, appears, then we too shall appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trouble with Thoughts

The first negative thought that enters our mind is usually from Satan. He inserts his two cents worth into our mind before we can even hear from God. We often focus on some person causing us issues, when it is really Satan’s intrusion (Ephesians 6:12-18). If we react to his temptation or believe his lies as truth, he has us crippled. He can manipulate us any way he wishes. According to Jesus’ example, we combat Satan’s interference by standing on the truth in God’s Word. 

Many people are confused by their emotions; however, negative emotions are actually little roadmaps to idols in our life, which God wants to remove. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and stand on the truth of God’s promises, we walk in the victory of the joy of the Lord, through whatever life brings our way (James 1:2-4). As we fulfill God’s calling for our day, He works all things out for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:33). 

Taking a daily inventory of our thoughts allows us to keep watch over our soul – our mind, will and emotions. What we think in our mind also affects our feelings and decisions. So, if we journal our thoughts and feelings every day, it will help us to diffuse them and to prevent them from building up and exploding all over everyone else. This will also avert anxiety, paranoia and aggravation from feeding on our thoughts and exacerbating them.

God promises that there is a seed of joy hidden within every trail and temptation, and He will reveal it to us if we wait on Him (James 1:2). He also uses trouble to mature our faith, so we have everything we need to live a Godly life (James 1:4). We overcome each temptation with the power of God’s Spirit, because He always provides us with a way to resist (1 Corinthians 13:10). Trials stop bothering us after a while too. We learn from experience that God has a purpose for each one. 

People, places and things often irritate us and cause us to take our eyes off Jesus. If negative emotions influence our decisions, we make mistakes and live to regret them. We tend to take life into our own hands rather than to walk in obedience to God’s Spirit. As we surrender control over our life to Christ in us, we experience God’s victory. If we avail our self of His constant presence in our life (Hebrews 13:5), His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that our attitude about the issues in this life will often influence our thoughts, which influence our emotions and actions. We can slip into a downward spiral from which it may take days to break free. We cannot change anyone else, but we can change our focus about our times of trouble and count it all joy. We need to remember that nothing is too difficult for You (Jeremiah 32:17). Christ in us provides us with Your abundance as we abide in You (Colossians 1:27).

Thought for the Day:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

True Hope in Time of Grief

Sometimes our grief over the loss of a loved one, a profitable job, a cherished home, etc is so strong that we can actually taste it. We have unexplained aches and pains, difficulty sleeping, poor appetite or overeating the wrong foods, uncontrollable shaking and trembling, listlessness, disorientation, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, uncontrollable crying, numbness or tingling, shortness of breath and exhaustion. Thankfully, these symptoms will pass as we work through our grief. If you find any symptom to be overwhelming or unbearable, contact a professional immediately.

Clinical depression can be a very real problem. Times of grief mangle our emotions. We bounce from unbearable depression, to rage, to a euphoric high or to debilitating hopelessness. Coping with the routine of our day is exhausting because our mind is full of confusion and grief. We lose the most basic skills for organization. The simplest chore is overwhelming to the point of depleting all of our energy. All we want to do is sleep. Once loved activities are no longer appealing. God uses this lethargy to protect us from the overwhelming emotions caused by our loss. In the darkest times of our lives, it never fails that our faith grows stronger and our personal relationship with the God of Hope deepens.

Equilibrium will be restored, but it will take time. It may also take action on our part. Our mind is Satan's playground in times of loss. Refuse to allow him entry with his negative emotions and thoughts. When you realize you are thinking negative thoughts, remember Philippians 4:8 and take your thoughts captive, "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." We are blessed when our help comes from the Lord our God in whom we place our hope (Psalm 146:5).

Your future is in God's hands. He wants you to live it one moment at a time. If you are doing well in this moment, rejoice in it. If not, then give the issue to God in prayer and praise Him through it. It is amazing what praising will do. You are limiting God by asking for Him to replace your loss right away. He may have other plans for you. He wants what is best for you. He will provide for your needs as you heal and are ready for them to be met. Therfore, concentrate on healing and leave your future to God. You will be able to function normally again, but it takes time with the Lord to fully recover.   The Biblical principles of hope can make your grief more bearable. God exists and He has a future and a hope for you that are for your good (Jeremiah 29:11). Cling to this certainty, as you experience your sorrow. God is all that He says He is. Tell Him your doubts and confusion. Jesus Christ is your only hope for a secure life, as well as your life after death. Praising His name and seeking Him each moment of the day will bring you more fulfillment than you ever experienced before in your life. If we forget God in our recovery, we will perish as those without God (Job 8:13).   Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are certain to the depths of our being that You are the Living Lord. Everything will turn out for our good, as we trust in You. Even if we are truly alone in this world, we can place our hope in You and pray in Your name night and day, asking You for Your help moment by moment (1 Timothy 5:5). The prayer that never fails is, "Lord, Your will be done." Once we come to that place of complete, total surrender to Your will, no matter what it is, then we set You free to bless us. It is hard to give up control of our life, but we will experience so much more freedom once we totally surrender and live in Your joy as our peace and strength. Thought for the Day: When we develop the mindset that we ultimately need nothing and no one but God for our future and our joy, we are truly free.