My mind is one of my biggest struggles..The Bible is clear that what we think and how we perceive things is important. Have you ever thought about the fact that every crime ever committed began with a single thought? Every argument that ever took place began with a single thought..Every divorce that's ever happened began with a single thought. I had an aunt when I was young, who was my dad's sister. When their mother (my grandmother) died, they got into an argument over her funeral flowers, and never spoke again. They both lived another 35 years after their mom died, but they never spoke. Each one of them blamed the other for how they perceived that person to be. In truth, my grandmother would have been really hurt to know that this happened.
The Bible is telling us in this verse that there are two paths our thoughts can take. The first is the path of walking in the Spirit, seeing even difficult things and people through God's eyes. The second path is the path of the flesh..in other words, we see things through our human nature.
So, what are your thoughts focused on? Is your mind occupied with fear, strife, depression, poverty, or upset? If that is the case, unfortunately, you are walking in the flesh. This is where I have spent a good part of my time. When we are thinking about the Lord, the goodness of God, the good things in our life, we are walking after the Spirit. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST,, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT, think on these things. I believe that God knew that one of the greatest battles we would fight would be in our minds and with our thought lives. Numerous books have been written on this subject alone.
Let me give you an example of carnal thinking. If someone treats you badly and you mull it over again and again in your mind, you'll be depressed, hurt, and offended. That's what carnal mindedness produces. Meditating on the wrongs that are done to us actually empowers those wrongs that are done in our life.
Here's what I want to share with you today..if you are a child of God..first of all, and foremost YOU ARE FREE! There is nothing in you that would make you defeated. The devil wants you to think that you're defeated, but you aren't. He would love for you to spend your life depressed and incapable of handling anything that comes against you. He would love to render you useless. The Bible says that he comes to steal from us, destroy us, and even kill. I don't think that he can physically kill us, but he definitely can kill our hopes and dreams. Child of God, you need to remember today that Greater is He who lives in YOU..than he who is in the world. The Spirit of God who lives in you is full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and HOPE!
Every one of us have a choice to make every time something comes against us. Will we allow hurt, depression, rejection, or anger rule us? My husband recently heard someone preach about being right, vs. having a relationship. It has changed his life. So often, we have determined that we are right, and others should see it that way..but there are times when the need to be right has actually cost some a relationship. We often have to make a choice..is it worth losing a relationship in order to be right..will we remember who we are in Christ and let the Spirit of God IN us reign? Many of us may have never even realized that there IS a battle going on in our minds. Just beginning to see that is a step for some.
The things that come against us are real. The people who hurt us are real. The state of the economy is real...but how we choose to handle those things..and how we choose to let them affect us is up to us. It's a choice we have to make each and every time we are challenged. As I said earlier, this has been a huge area of struggle for me. I believe it is for many of us. Many people believe that the power of God in someone's life should keep them from any trials or difficulties that might arise. Unfortunately, that is just not the case...but what is true, is that it is the power of God that will bring you through every situation. It is the power of God that will give you hope, even when surrounded by challenges. It is the power of God that will help you to respond in a better way to every difficulty that you face. It is the power of God that will grow your faith. It is the power of God that will bring trust in God's ways instead of your own ways. Today, ask Christ to infiltrate every area of your mind, your will and your emotions. Ask for His divine help in every situation. Romans 12:2 says that we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Ask Him today to begin to replace the negative ways of thinking with transforming new ways. Ask Him to renew your thinking.
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