Is Your Thought Life a Problem?..... By Susan Thomas

 Is Your Thought Life a Problem?

By Susan Thomas

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2

Have you ever heard the statements, “you are what you think.” Or, “if you think you can’t, then you can’t!” These statements and many like them, reflect the observation that our thoughts are powerful. The things we think about can impact our lives in a significant and sometimes life-altering way.

Just the other day, one of my sweet daughters expressed her struggle with math. “Mommy, I CAN’T do it! I’ll never be able to do it! I don’t know my multiplication!” In a God-given moment of patience, I looked at her and in true, cheerleader-like fashion (motions and happy facial expressions included), I said “you may not know it now, but you WILL!” I began to chant this cheer until her look of distress gave way to giggles of delight. And she began to study her facts with renewed vigor.

It’s amazing how our thoughts can change things. Perspective matters. What we think about is HUGE. God talks about the importance of our thought life all throughout the scriptures. Our thoughts are undeniably important and God has a design for our thought life. (See Romans 12:2.)

But I believe sometimes we blame our thoughts when our problem goes deeper.

For example, as Christ-followers, we may look at 2 Corinthians 10:5 and assume that our final, great battleground resides in our thought-life.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV, emphasis mine)

Or, we look at the wonderful instruction found in Philippians 2:8 and assume that if we can simply control our thought life, all will be well.

…Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 2:8, NLT, emphasis mine)

So we tackle our struggle with lust and try to stop ourselves from thinking about the ungodly fantasies that fight for our minds’ eye. We try and try and wonder why we continue to fail! We find ourselves paralyzed with fear so we begin to chant the memorized scriptures our friend shared with us in hopes that distracting our thoughts will free us from fear. And then we become despondent when the pit inside of our stomachs continues to almost incapacitate us.

The battle for our thoughts is no doubt a reality and crucial to the victorious life of every individual. Taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to God is a vital practice in the life of every Christ-follower. But if we stop there, I believe we have missed THE ROOT of our struggle. You see, behind every errant thought, there is a heart problem.

Behind every errant thought, there is a heart problem.

Now I’m not talking necessarily about the errant thoughts that pop in your head and you instantly dismiss. I’m really not even talking about thoughts of temptation. I’m talking about the thoughts that linger. The thoughts that we entertain. The thoughts that can turn into beliefs. We must understand that something drives our thoughts! We have a nature, a heart condition that actively influences our thought life. The desires inside our hearts lure and entice us. Out of our hearts, thoughts flow! And because we have a heart condition that is either very, very sick or being healed by our Savior, we must take seriously the state of our hearts. Check it out!

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

For from the heart come evil thoughts… (Matthew 15:19)

Out of our hearts, come the thoughts that we think! Our hearts are full of all kinds of desires, and our desires are often expressed via our thoughts. While intricately connected, we must understand that the condition of our heart directly impacts the nature of our thought life. If we are dominated by our sinful nature and heart, then our thoughts will set out to destroy us and all God loves. If we are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, our thoughts will bring life and joy to our existence and even to the lives of those around us!

So what does this mean?

It means that no amount of effort or thought control will ever be enough when it comes to the problems I face in my life. Controlling our thought life is important. But we must get first things first. We must love God. When I love God, I will obey him. When I run to Jesus, my thought life will follow.

In John 15, Jesus says, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you.” He goes on to warn us that apart from him “we can do nothing.” It is only in intimate connection and relationship with Jesus that our hearts and lives can be transformed. Without daily intimacy with Jesus and running to him fresh every moment, our thought lives remain in a precarious and vulnerable position.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2, emphasis mine)

At the end of the day, it will be GOD that transforms us and changes the way we think. If knowledge and self-control could do the trick, we would have never needed a Savior. We must resist the urge to use God (even subconsciously) to get freedom from the thing that plagues us. Instead, we must surrender to the One who loves us most and run to him with our love, devotion and adoration. As we fight to keep him first in our hearts, we then trust him to heal us from the inside out. We don’t just need new thoughts.

We need a new heart. We need a new spirit.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Will you join me in running fresh to our Savior today?

God, thank you that Jesus did not come to this world to judge us but to save us! You know that my heart is sick and runs far from you. Thank you for your desire to give me a new heart and daily heal me from the inside out. Help me to follow you each moment of my life. And when my heart begins to wander, Lord I pray you would gently draw me back to you and that I would RUN into your loving arms. By your spirit’s power, help me take my thoughts captive and make them obedient to you. Your ways are life. YOU are my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen

God Promises His Compassion..... Denison Ministries

 God Promises His Compassion

Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

There is only one constant in this ever-changing world, and that’s the character of our heavenly Father. The very earth itself is undergoing changes constantly. What seems the most immovable now will one day be done away with. But God is unchanging. God is unwavering. He’s completely faithful and committed to seeing through the promises he’s made you. As we look this week at the promises of God may you ground yourself in his unchanging love. May God’s character become your source and refuge—your constant and unshakable foundation.

Scripture: “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

Devotional:    

Compassion is something seldom experienced in a world filled with indifference and cruelty. Most people don’t seem to possess the level of selflessness compassion requires. Our society makes it clear that our acceptance has everything to do with our success and little to do with the grace and compassion of others for us. How we are loved and respected is based on our accomplishments and abilities rather than the love and compassion of those around us. But our God is not of this world.

In Isaiah 54:10, God gives us his beautiful promise of compassion, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” The love of your heavenly Father is steadfast and immovable. His compassion for you is more sure than the very ground you walk on. And what’s more, your God’s compassion is tethered together with his grace. Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (NIV). God’s compassion is not the result of what you do, but instead the direct result of his boundless love for you.

God’s love is foundationally different than the love of others. In a world founded on the notion of works and rewards, cause and effect—God wants to build your foundation on his unconditional compassion. God longs to establish your relationship on the building blocks of his love and grace. It was God’s compassion for you that drove him to send Jesus to his death. It was God’s compassion for you that led him to search you out when sin had wedged a great chasm between you. And it’s God’s compassion that drives him even now to pour out his unfathomable love and affection over you.

Where in your life do you need to experience God’s promise of compassion? Where do you feel like you don’t measure up? Where do you feel unloved? Isaiah 30:18-19 says,

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

Cry out to your God today. You can place your trust in his compassion. His love will not fail you. Again, “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.” Rest in his promise of compassion. Let his love build you up in all of the areas where the world has torn you down. May the foundation of your life be built on the promise of God’s limitless grace and compassion.

Guided Prayer:         

1. Meditate on God’s promise of compassion.

“‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

2. Now reflect on your own life. Where do you need to experience the compassion of God? Where do you feel unloved?

3. Ask God to pour out his love on those areas of your life. Ask God to reveal his heart of compassion for you. Choose to see yourself as God does.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” Psalm 103:8 (NIV)

One of the most important things you can do to live out the abundant life God intends for you is to align your perspective with God’s. The world will always tell you that you aren’t good enough. Choosing to see yourself as you perceive those around you do will only set you up for heartache. You can choose to view yourself with the same grace and compassion that God does—today. He sees you perfectly. He sees you truthfully. And he sees you lovingly. Whenever you feel like you need God’s compassion, go back to the truth of what his word says. His promises are sure and unfailing. Live today in light of God’s love, and let compassion fill your heart with joy and steadfastness through any and every circumstance.

Extended Reading: Psalm 145

God Is Sovereign over Delays..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 God Is Sovereign over Delays

Dr. Charles Stanley

Proverbs 16:9

No one likes to wait, but have you ever wondered why? It's because delays show us that we are not in control. Someone or something else is calling the shots. Although we may be able to identify the immediate cause--like a traffic light or the long checkout line--ultimately the One who controls all our delays is the Lord. Since He is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth, even our time and schedules are in His hands.

This means that in every delay, we are actually waiting for God in one way or another. You might have thought that the expression "waiting upon the Lord" applies only to seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations.

In the Christian life, learning to wait is vitally important because until you do, you'll never be able to walk in obedience to God, have an effective prayer life, or experience the peace of resting in His loving sovereignty. We must learn to trust His judgment--about not just the big events in our lives, but also the trivial ones which cause us to become irritated, impatient, or even angry. If we're sensitive to His instruction, each delay has a lesson.

The next time you face an unexpected or unwanted wait, remember that it comes as no surprise to God. He wants to teach you patience and increase your faith. He's more interested in developing godly character than He is in making sure your schedule runs according to your plans.

Going Through the Motions..... ANITHA ABRAHAM

 Going Through the Motions

ANITHA ABRAHAM

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:9-11 (ESV)

Every year, my local church encourages us to fast in January. The purpose of this endeavor is for us as a church family to seek God for His plan for the new year, but the type of fast is up to the individual. Social media, meals, desserts and coffee have all been on my list, at some point. With much prayer, I planned out my fast — no meats, sweets or fried foods for this girl! I was full of hope and excitement … until it actually started.

My focus was so much on what I was depriving myself of that I failed to turn to the Lord for comfort. I soon realized I was consumed with WHAT I was giving up more than who I was giving it up FOR — the Lord. I completely missed the point.

I didn’t think it was possible, but I was just going through the motions of a fast.

God began to show me I was going through the motions in other areas of my life, too. In my personal life: as a wife, daughter and friend. As an employee at work and a servant in ministry. I was doing what I was supposed to do but had lost the heart behind my actions.

The church at Ephesus shared a similar struggle. In Revelation 2:2-3, the church was commended for all they were doing right: “I [Christ] know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (NIV).

But the compliment quickly turned into a rebuke: “Yet I [Christ] hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4, NIV).

It is easy to get into a rut when you have been doing the same thing for a while, even if that “thing” is good in and of itself.

Being on a fast can become more about the food than about the prayer. For me, it used to feel like a breakthrough was on its way when I fasted. But after fasting a few times, it just felt like a break — from things I didn’t really want a break from.

Being a wife can become more about living in the same house than being a companion to my husband. Back when I was single, if you would have told me that one day I would come home from work and be more engaged with my phone than my husband, I would not have believed you. Unfortunately, in reality, I’ve had plenty of evenings when scrolling won out over spending quality time together.

Being a leader can become more about finishing the task than serving the people.  What I once embraced as a God-given assignment began to feel like a burden. I found myself operating in my own strength instead of His.

If it’s my 10th time or my 100th, in every part of my life, I want to do the right “what” with the right “why.” If you can relate to my struggle, you may be wondering, as I was … How can we do more than just go through the motions?

Jesus, as always, has the answer: Abide.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:9-11)

What does it mean to “abide” in God? According to the original language of the New Testament, it simply means to remain, stay or wait. In a world that is constantly running on the wheel of busyness, this is challenging but worth it!

When Jesus talks about keeping the commandments, He invites us to do it from a place of love, not legalism. When we obey, the end result is joy! This isn’t just a fleeting happiness that comes and goes based on our emotions at the moment. It isn’t a joy based on doing all the right things or performing all the right actions. When our hearts are actively abiding, God gives us a fullness of joy that is eternal and complete.

The more we remain with Jesus, the more we become like Him. Our actions overflow from what God is doing in our hearts.

Less going through the motions. More love, more joy.

Less of me, more of Him.

Dear Father, please forgive me for all of the times I’ve done the right thing with the wrong attitude. Help me to abide in You so I can live my life in Your love and joy. May everything I think, say and do be pleasing in Your sight. And may it all give You glory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer to Surrender Our Desires to Christ..... By: Emily Rose Massey

 A Prayer to Surrender Our Desires to Christ

By: Emily Rose Massey

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” - Matthew 16:24-25, ESV.

Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I worked in a small medical office for four and a half years. That job was difficult for me because I encountered a lot of hurting people. And as we all know, “hurt people hurt people.” There were many days that I would drive home crying and collapse on my bed because of the exhausting day of what felt like being a human punching bag.

I constantly asked the Lord to get me out of there, but He had other plans for me. I longed for the day when I would be used in ministry, but what God was trying to get me to understand was that my ministry was right in front of me!

Every single patient who walked into our office was an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with. Once my eyes were opened to that truth, my experience in that office changed and the Lord, in turn, changed me. I would pray every single morning that God would bring someone across my path with whom I could pray or share truth. And guess what? God always provided! I was given countless opportunities to pray for people and share the truth. If I would have stayed in my selfishness, wanting to escape the uncomfortable, I would have missed out on real-life- that only comes from denying ourselves and following Christ’s ways over our own.

It is human nature to seek after what our hearts and flesh crave, but we do not have to give into that kind of nature for we have a new nature in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24). Jesus told his disciples a better way to live if we truly want to be a Christ-follower:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25, ESV).

Jesus died to bring us life, our life starts with our death. In dying to self, we feel pain and joy, as the light of God shows up in other peoples’ lives, so that He would receive Glory. His Resurrection life leads to our resurrection life and power; our resurrection life and power is an ongoing commitment to death to self. Although we have been given this command from our Lord, He does not leave us to our own strength to follow through. The Holy Spirit empowers us to set aside our selfishness and learn how to surrender our desires and be selfless like Jesus, preferring others above ourselves. We are then empowered to fully surrender and die to self. This lifestyle of surrendering our love for self helps us bear much fruit, and we will see others come to Christ as well.  How have your freedoms/prosperity made you comfortable? Have your freedoms and prosperity in life made you a comfort-seeking consumer? Is it a joy for you to die daily and come after Jesus? If this is a struggle for you, let us go boldly to the throne of grace and ask Him for help to surrender to dying to self and following Christ where true life is found.

 Father God,

I repent for trying to hold onto my life when you have asked your followers to deny themselves and take up their cross and follow you. I surrender my love of self and lean on Your grace to walk in Your ways, preferring others more than myself. I set aside my desire to be comfortable and avoid pain, and trust that you have joy for me in a life of selflessness and service. Help me have boldness to tell others about You and share Your love and truth with whoever comes my way.

Thank You for laying Your life down for me to find true life eternal.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Potholes..... by Anna Kuta

 Potholes

by Anna Kuta

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5b

I was driving home late the other night, rolling down the winding, two-lane country road I’ve been down so many thousands of times I could probably drive it in my sleep. I had the radio turned up and one hand on the wheel, and then — CLUNK! Before I knew what was happening, my front right tire thudded through a gigantic pothole that came out of nowhere. The whole car jolted and I just knew a noise like that had to have done some damage.

“Oh, please don’t let me have a flat tire,” I said out loud. Cringing, I pulled over at the next road and worked up the courage to get out and look … and to my surprise, my tire was still intact. I stared at it for a few minutes, waiting until I was sufficiently assured that it wasn’t going to deflate in front of my eyes, and then I breathed a sigh of relief and continued my drive, albeit a good bit slower and more cautious this time.

Isn’t life just like that? You’re going along smoothly, and all of a sudden something turns your world upside down. A loved one gets a cancer diagnosis. You lose your job. Your best friend moves halfway across the country. Someone dies too young. You’re making your way down the road just fine and then you crash into a pothole that almost derails you. We all know the feeling all too well.

I was having one of those weeks where every single thing seemed to be going wrong, and then I heard a sermon illustration that stuck with me. It was the story of a gravel lane leading to a farm and a huge pothole that appeared after a rainstorm. Before anyone had a chance to fill it in, though, a bird laid her eggs in the pothole. She hatched her chicks there and stayed with them until they left the nest. All the locals warned their families and friends to avoid the pothole, and everyone drove slowly by to see for themselves the little birds thriving in a place that no one would expect.

How often do we look at the potholes in our lives and curse them? Yet, from a rocky, ugly place, little birds sang and took flight.

God did not promise that our Christian walk would be easy, but he did promise he would never leave us. His presence, His love and His peace are the only things that can fill in the holes in our lives. He smoothes out the roughest of roads with His strength and comfort. And above all, He grants us grace sufficient to make it through whatever may come. The Lord will never leave our side.

If not for the pothole on that gravel farm lane, the travelers would never have been able to witness a small miracle taking place there. If not for the pothole on my drive home the other night, I probably wouldn’t have slowed down and I might have had an even worse encounter around the next bend – with a herd of deer in the middle of the road.

In the midst of a week where I thought my world might crash down, I cried out to God to help me through, and it was only when I had nothing left to rely on but Him that I felt His presence more clearly than I had in a long time – and it was exactly what my heart had been yearning for. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you,” as James 4:8 says. Only God can fill our potholes, and he fills them with Himself. May we never miss the little blessings hidden along a bumpy road.

Intersecting Faith and Life

When you hit a pothole, pray for God to give you strength and remind you of His presence. Seek a closer relationship with Him and remember that He is your refuge and strength.

Further Reading

Deuteronomy 31:5-6

Psalm 46:1

Psalm 55:22

Psalm 73:23-24

Isaiah 43:2