Our Thought Life

 

Do you ever have racing thoughts jumping from one concern to another? Thoughts of the past and uncertainties about the future. This is an area that I really struggle with. Many times, I wish I had a switch to just turn my thoughts off. Unfortunately, God did not make us with an “off switch,” but he did provide us with his Word to give us instructions on how to guide our thought life.

Whatever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy we should think on these things (Phil 4:8). When life is throwing us problems and concerns it's challenging to be positive and faith-filled. Thank God, he has given us the Holy Spirit to help us in our time of need. He can calm our minds and emotions and bring the word of God to our remembrance to “tear down the arguments,” in our minds. The word of God is more powerful than overthinking, worries, and concerns. To assist me with my thought life, I listed scripture-based affirmations to think upon in each category of Phil 4:8, which I have shared below. When it’s hard to settle the cares of the world in your mind reflect on these thoughts. Remember what you are experiencing now is temporary, but God’s word stands forever. “Heaven and earth will pass away but my Word will last forever.” Matt 24:35

 

Finally, brethren, 

 

whatsoever things are true, 

·       I am loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 

·       I am the righteousness of God

·       I am protected

·       I am cared for

·       I am complete through Christ Jesus

whatsoever things are honest,

·       God will never leave me alone

·       I am kept by Almighty God

·       I will never be forsaken

·       The Lord is my Shepherd

·       God has great plans for my life

·       I am destined for greatness

·       No weapon formed against me will prosper

·       God will turn everything evil in my life for good

whatsoever things are just, 

·       I am free from all sin by the blood of Jesus

·       I am completely healed & whole

·       I am free from guilt, fear & condemnation

·       I am saved from the pit of hell.

·       As Jesus is so am I

whatsoever things are pure,

·       God is love

·       Love went to the cross for me

·       Perfect love (God) cast out all fear

·       God’s love never fails

·       God handpicked me

·       I am the apple of God’s eye

whatsoever things are lovely,

·       Nothing will ever separate me from God’s love

·       I am sealed by the Holy Spirit

·       God sees me holy as he is holy

·       I am God’s beloved Child

·       Whatever I ask according to his purpose he will do

·       Love allows me to rest as the creator of all things work

whatsoever things are of good report, 

·       Sin no longer separates me from God

·       I am saved

·       I am free

·       Goodness & Mercy is chasing me down

·       God is not angry with me

·       The righteous will never be forsaken

·       God is faithful 

if there be any virtue, 

·       God sees & knows all things

·       God is concerned about every detail of my life

·       Since God watches over every sparrow, how much more will he watch over me

·       God is my exceeding great reward

·       His love is unfailing

·       It’s impossible for God to lie

·       God’s word is true it endures from generation to generation

and if there be any praise, 

·       Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

·       His Word is life unto my flesh 

·       The Lord’s Kingdom will never end

·       The Word of the Lord will never pass away

·       God’s love never fails

think on these things. Phil 4:8

 

We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 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

 When It Doesn’t Make Sense

 

Have you ever had an experience or tragedy so painful that your head couldn’t fully understand but your heart knew it to be true? A pain that could not be articulated only felt that no one else could fully grasp because it was your personal journey. The word of God tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but we really don’t get the full impact of that scripture until something happens in our lives unexpected, and unimaginable. As devasting as these circumstances may be we must remember that God is not the author of evil, he has no evil in him, he is love. I have heard many people say that God allows bad experiences to happen. That is true as it relates to Bible prophecy for his will to take place on this earth in preparation for his return. However, God does not give Satan permission to inflict evil on his children. That would mean that Satan would take his evil plans and run them by God to allow or approve them. God and Satan do not dwell or communicate together. We live in an evil world where unforeseen occurrences happen to us all. Many of these occurrences are manifested by the enemy to make us turn away from God. But God is not the orchestrator of evil. Sometimes terrible things happen, and we are not going to understand why. During those times many people blame God or express that God is teaching us a lesson. Do you know what that does to a person’s spirit who is already heartbroken and in pain? Look at the example of Jesus when he was on the earth did he once inflict pain or a bad experience on anyone to teach them a lesson? Absolutely not and nor is he doing it today. We may never understand “why” certain things happen but here is what we do know – God’s word says, “in the world, we will have tribulations and trials but take heart he has overcome the world,” “all things work for the good of them that love the Lord,” and “I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging for bread.” To get through difficult times, we must keep our focus on the truths in God’s word instead of trying to understand “why” something happened. Even if we understood the why, it would not reverse the situation or heal our hearts. Only God can heal our broken hearts and desperately seeks to do so.  As hard as it may be to trust, hope, and believe again we must look to the Lord for our help even if it’s with tears in our eyes, and disbelief and confusion in our minds. Seek God for the healing and full restoration that only he can give. Our hope is in Christ who will return soon for his Bride and will destroy the evil one from this earth and replace it with total peace, in the lavish of God’s love.  The enemy didn’t win, God always causes his children to triumph!

 

Prayer

Lord my heart is broken, and I don’t understand why these things are happening in my life, but you have said that you are the repairer of broken hearts so I seek you today and ask that you will give me peace and comfort that only comes from you. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Fear

 

I think one of the most devastating strongholds in my opinion is being gripped with fear. It was the first trick of the enemy. He placed fear into Adam and Eve by his deception of lies that God was withholding something good from them. The result of that fear causing them to disobey God came with a terrible price displayed in a sin-filled world. The enemy uses the same tactics today, he tries to grip our hearts with fear foremost to make us think God does not love us because of our sin. The word of God says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7 NLT). Fear is not from God, for He is Love. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (I John 4:18 NKJV). How do we become made perfect in love? By accepting it as a free gift, given to us through Christ Jesus. No works are needed there is nothing we can do to ever earn it. God is asking us to accept his love believing that it will cast out all fear, sickness, and torment. Believe in the Father’s love for you today, displayed perfectly in Him sacrificing his Son for YOU. He will take it from there. 

 

The light of God’s love shined within us when he sent his matchless Son into the world so that we might live through him. This is love:  He loved us long before we loved him. It was his love, not ours. He proved it by sending his Son to be the pleasing sacrificial offering to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 TPT

 

 

 

Jesus BLooD

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   EVERYTHING

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OH!! How He LOVES YOU

So many of us struggle with being fulfilled and feeling validated. The world dictates to us daily on all the things we must do in order to be happy and satisfied in this life. However, the more we strive after these things the less unfulfilled we feel. God’s word instructs us to do one thing. To “believe” in God’s deep, unconditional, irrevocable love for us in every area of our life. True fulfillment only comes by believing and being rooted and grounded in God’s love for us on an individual level. It is the only perfect love that satisfies in every area. God created us first and foremost to be in relationship with HIM, that only comes from our confidence in His love for us. God devised a specific plan and purpose in order to be in relationship with His children and to lavish his great love on us. How he longs to bless you and love on you intimately. I would suggest this is the love we are all seeking, and this is the one thing the enemy works hard to shield over our eyes. The enemy has deceived many into believing that we must work for God’s love and that he is untouchable and unreachable. The Word of God says we must do one thing “labor to believe,” in the love of God. It is the one truth that sets us free. We must labor daily in the Grace of truth that we are the righteousness of God through Christ and nothing or no one can come against that precious love. Receive God’s love in every situation and he will push back the weapons trying to come against you. His indescribable love is the force that defeated the enemy and demonstrated an unmatched love for mankind. Who is like our God? Absolutely no one. Oh, how he deeply cares for you! 

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Eph 1:4 NLT

 

Who Can I Trust?

 

All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

You who fear him, trust in the Lord—

he is their help and shield.

The Lord remembers us and will bless us:

He will bless his people Israel,

he will bless the house of Aaron,

he will bless those who fear the Lord—

small and great alike. Psalm 115:9-13 NIV

 

 

What if I told you I knew someone who could take care of all your problems and concerns, and the one thing needed from you is to simply believe. Would you accept the offer? Well, that person is Christ Jesus who died on the cross so that you would have life and have it in abundance. Jesus took your sin, judgment, and suffering so you would not have to. He bore mankind's sins so we could be made righteous in the Father's eyes. He has already given us the greatest gift, why would he withhold anything else. Whatever you are concerned about or struggling with trust in the love of God to make that situation right. The same love that brought the Son of God to this world to be made a living sacrifice is the same love and power that satisfies every need. The enemy’s weak efforts pale in comparison to the power of God. The created is never a match for the Creator. Jesus settled the sin issue 2,000 years ago and is returning soon to destroy the enemy once and for all. We are now experiencing the prophecy of the Lord’s return. We can take the posture of rest and confidence in every situation. Trust God in all things, he is searching for those whose heart is set on Him to show Himself strong. 2 Chron 16:19 NASB

 Be Who God Created You to Be

Many people in the world today are lost because they don’t know their identity. I am not talking about the family you were born into, title, zip code, or marital status. I am speaking of the way you are defined by God, your identity established by your heavenly Father. Many identify themselves by education, material possessions, or their financial status, but those things pale in comparison to who you really are through Christ Jesus. God identifies you this way: “You have made them to be a kingdom and priest to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Rev 5:10 NIV). Wow!!! That is powerful. See God did not shortchange us in any way. He created us to rule in declaring his Kingdom. He equips us with everything we need along with reassurance us of who we are, wonderfully made, more than a conqueror, the head and not the tail, loved, protected, completely forgiven, the apple of his eye, and much more. God did not mince words when it came to describing who we really are in his eyes. But It’s our job to believe with boldness and confidence in the word of God and we will shine for his glory and his glory alone. 

 

…you are made whole and holy by His love. Ephe 1:4 MSG

Happy Mother’s Day

Being a Mom requires mental and emotional energy that can sometimes feel like its completely depleted. Being a single Mom, or one without little or no support adds even more complexities. But I have learned that God and only God provides the Grace to endure those challenging times. But he doesn’t stop there he also restores 100 fold. I know that God loves all of his children but I strongly believe that God keeps a special eye on women meaning to protect them and keep them in all their ways. I believe what the angel Gabrielle said to Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28 Berean Study Bible) There is nowhere in the Bible where a brother is greeted in this manner. The word of God also says “He who finds a wife finds a good thing AND obtains favor from the Lord. (Prov 18:22 NASB). Ladies you are not only a “good thing” but you provide access for favor on your husband, children, and family. As women, we have been told so much of what we are not its time for us to believe the truth of who God says we are. Lavish in how unique and beautiful God has made you. “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” (Song of Solomon 4:7 ESV) See yourself “flawless” celebrate who God has made you to be. Believe in the word of God as it relates to your true identity and be for you not against you. Your best days are ahead, God has so many great things in store. Believe and rest in HIS individual and intimate love for YOU as you soar.