“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; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Our field of thought is like the Garden of Eden. There is so much good fruit to enjoy, and yet we feel compelled toward the forbidden. One of the reasons God destroyed the world by flood is because man’s imagination ran rampant with evil. God said of men before He flooded the earth, “...every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5).
God calls us to fix our minds on the good, pure, and praiseworthy, but we dwell on failures, offences, inconsistencies, inappropriate desires, and the things I don’t have and wish I did. The yield of these fields satisfies our temporary hunger, but who do we become after the feast? You are, after all, what you eat. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” says the proverb (Proverbs 23:7). Our conversation always gives it away. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Listen to yourself and you will know what you are thinking.
Ask the Lord to reveal any strongholds in your thought life. Seek His grace to tear down old thought patterns and build new ones that will be pleasing to Him. Praise Him for His intervention and reordering your innermost thinking.
Consider: Matthew 12:34; Luke 6:45
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Corinthians II 10, 3-5 is power packed in this area of thoughts. We cast them down and bring them into the obedience of Christ or God's Word. Jesus is this Word.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3
I spent some time looking back at notes I had taken relating to the steadfast mind. Here are a few quotes and scriptures from Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" study that have been enlightening and encouraging to me:
"When we offer a trusting heart, and an honest, open mind to God, renewal is on its way. God will never send us into the valley and ask us to bow to His authority there without sooner or later bringing a harvest from the ground watered by our sweat and tears."
"A stronghold is anything we hold onto that ends up holding us. Every stronghold is related to something we have exalted to a higher position than God in our lives."
"Captivating thoughts are casual thoughts that we dwell on. Simply put, captivating thoughts are controlling thoughts - things you find yourself meditating on too often. Focusing thoughts."
"We can either tear down our strongholds with the mighty power of God, or they will eventually tear us down. Deception is the glue that holds a stronghold together. By the time a stronghold exists, our minds are covered with lies."
"Before we can get any controlling thoughts out of our minds, they must become Christ -controlled thoughts while still in our minds. That is by taking every thought, making it obedient to Christ. This process begins as we re-wallpaper our minds with truth - specific truth. Confession means saying the same thing God says about any specific matter."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
The following verse is my favorite reminder of how the Lord leads us out of captivity:
"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them." Hosea 11:4
In prayer this morning we asked God to search our hearts (Psalm 139). As we did, He spoke to us to forgive and not judge and criticize others. He promised us forgiveness as as we walk in the light (I John 1:5-9).
We asked Him to light the candle from proverbs; "The Spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all of the inward parts..."
Blessings
There was a great deal of encouragement to "come out from among them (the world) and I (God) will receive you."
The Lord also challenged us to become "friends of God"-those, like David, who are people "after His own heart". God is looking for fellowship with us, His people. Lets make ourselves ready, as His bride, for His visitation by living holy and consecrated lives.
i can't tell you how many times i have quoted Philippians 4:8 to myself and others today. i am thankful that everyday God's Word hits us where we need it most!
While reading a devotional today, I was struck once again at how the Lord tries many times, not just once but sometimes multiple times to bring home a point...to allow our feeble minds (or at least mine) to process the change, concept, truth that He so desperately wants us to understand, believe, apply.
During the prayer meeting this morning something that was shared was that God is calling us deeper. To follow Him, His ways, not the old things that we are simply used to or to merely follow where others go, but to go after Him trusting that He has the world (and our best interests) in His hands.
David Wilkerson's devotional writes that “If you want God to be in control, then you have to give up the reins. If you look to him for deliverance, you’ve got to let go of your plans and be willing to go his way.” In short, the Holy Spirit doesn’t use his power to deliver doubters. Unbelief aborts his work. We have to be willing to let him make changes in our lives, if that is God’s chosen way of delivering us.
I'm back on the thought of friendship with God. I was reading Oswald Chamber's from yesterday and something jumped out. Here it is. "It was a wonderful intimacy (speaking of the ministry Jesus gave to the disciples), but there was a much closer intimacy to come-"I have called you friends". Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ." Amen!
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