The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Rom 8:6
What does it mean to have a mind controlled by the Spirit? Think about it...
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13
As we trust in Him, He fills us with His peace. How?
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal. Is 26:3-4
What does it mean to have a mind steadfast? Think about it...
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7
Key words: ANYTHING, EVERYTHING, THANKSGIVING - read that verse again. How does God transcends all understanding? How does He guard your hearts and minds? Think about it...
A heart that trusts God is a mind transformed into thinking God's thoughts... when our thoughts are transformed into God's thoughts the result is peace. It all comes down to obedience. Peace is about letting God rule over our hearts and minds. It's about being under the "umbrella" of God's authority. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Col 3:15 The Greek work for "rule" is brabeuo which means to be an umpire, be determine, be direct, be control. I love the word umpire - Are we letting the peace of God be the umpire of our hearts and minds? Think about it...
As we increase God's authority over our lives (our health, our job, our family, our finances etc.) we increase in peace. So, what keeps you up at night? What controls your anxious thoughts? Are you allowing God to transform your mind and are you claiming His authority over your life?
Think about it...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pure Joy...
Here is a bit of what God is teaching me right now... Can't take create - this one comes from Beth Moore. My internal thoughts but her words...
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Ps 71:20-21 " Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."
"One reason God allows us to experience troubles is because He desires to reveal His joy to us through restoration. Reread those difficult words: 'Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter.' A consistent theme running throughout God's Word is the believer's trial resulting from God's perfect will. I am not referring to God's permissive will when we choose to go astray. I am referring to His perfect choice for us to know hardship for kingdom gain... times when He ordains difficulty in our lives.
I've experienced trials that I finally was forced to acknowledge as the absolute will of God. My life has never been easy... and I have finally confronted the fact that it probably never will be. Yet, in the same breath, I can readily proclaim that my life has been good. Part of the still-limited maturity I have gained is the result of realizing that good does not equal easy. Rarely has God removed from my life circumstances or people that force me to my knees. Many of my trials must have been ordained by Him because of the results they rendered.
I am convinced we cannot begin to really know Christ until we learn to fellowship with Him in His sufferings."
I couldn't have said it any better!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Ps 71:20-21 " Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."
"One reason God allows us to experience troubles is because He desires to reveal His joy to us through restoration. Reread those difficult words: 'Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter.' A consistent theme running throughout God's Word is the believer's trial resulting from God's perfect will. I am not referring to God's permissive will when we choose to go astray. I am referring to His perfect choice for us to know hardship for kingdom gain... times when He ordains difficulty in our lives.
I've experienced trials that I finally was forced to acknowledge as the absolute will of God. My life has never been easy... and I have finally confronted the fact that it probably never will be. Yet, in the same breath, I can readily proclaim that my life has been good. Part of the still-limited maturity I have gained is the result of realizing that good does not equal easy. Rarely has God removed from my life circumstances or people that force me to my knees. Many of my trials must have been ordained by Him because of the results they rendered.
I am convinced we cannot begin to really know Christ until we learn to fellowship with Him in His sufferings."
I couldn't have said it any better!
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