The brain and our attitude are more powerful than most of us believe, or live as if we believe.
Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label positive thinking. Show all posts
Monday, February 21, 2011
Peaceful Persona
Centenarians, those who live more than 100 years, have one thing in common it seems, all over the world. They have an ability to maintain a peaceful persona, which enables them to outlive many people they love and live in community with.
The brain and our attitude are more powerful than most of us believe, or live as if we believe.
The brain and our attitude are more powerful than most of us believe, or live as if we believe.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Weigh Your Thoughts
I'm reading 'Soul-Full Eating' by Maureen Whitehouse. Working through this 400+ page book slowly as I have much to think about. It fits nicely with my Word for 2011, Be Mindful.
Her chapter on "Weigh Your Thoughts" starts with Galatians 6:7, 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap.'
"The most powerful way to affect your outer world is to be mindful of your inner world. Your mind is like a field into which you can plant any seed and it will grow. That is why it is of utmost importance that you notice what kinds of thoughts you consistently think and then weigh them to see if they are life-seed-thoughts of compassion, joy, accomplishment, acceptance and love, those things will appear in your life abundantly. Conversely, if you choose to plant a briar patch of negative, doubtful and fearful thoughts, they too will grow. Choose wisely. "
It reminds me of scripture in Deuteronomy where God says "I put before you Life and Death, Blessings and Curses. Choose Life, that you and your children may live."
We have choices.
Are you Choosing Life???
Her chapter on "Weigh Your Thoughts" starts with Galatians 6:7, 'As ye sow, so shall ye reap.'
"The most powerful way to affect your outer world is to be mindful of your inner world. Your mind is like a field into which you can plant any seed and it will grow. That is why it is of utmost importance that you notice what kinds of thoughts you consistently think and then weigh them to see if they are life-seed-thoughts of compassion, joy, accomplishment, acceptance and love, those things will appear in your life abundantly. Conversely, if you choose to plant a briar patch of negative, doubtful and fearful thoughts, they too will grow. Choose wisely. "
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| image from Garden Web World |
It reminds me of scripture in Deuteronomy where God says "I put before you Life and Death, Blessings and Curses. Choose Life, that you and your children may live."
We have choices.
Are you Choosing Life???
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Choose the Positive
from Little House on the Prairie
Pa has just had a conversation with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Scott about the soldiers coming out to force the homesteaders to move because they supposedly are 6 miles within Indian Territory. Pa quickly decides to move his family on his own accord, rather than waiting it out to be physically escorted off the land.
After a feast of potatoes for supper because "We've been going without potatoes, saving them for seed. Now we'll eat 'em up!"
Everyone was quiet that night. Even Jack felt that something was wrong, and he lay down close to Laura when she went to bed.
It was now too warm for a fire, but Pa and Ma sat looking at the ashes in the fireplace.
Ma sighed gently and said, "A whole year gone, Charles." But Pa answered, cheerfully: "What's a year amount to? We have all the time there is."
Pa and Ma and the 3 girls (and Jack, the dog) are now traveling to Independence to set up a new homestead. Ma was disappointed about the sudden move, and the abandonment of their house with real glass windows, and the fields that Pa had worked so diligently on, and the plow that he had just traded furs to acquire.
They set up camp, chained the livestock to the feed-box at the end of the wagon and fed everybody their supper. The girls are tucked into their beds, and Ma sits down by the fire alongside Pa who begins to play his fiddle. Pa stopped singing "Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me," to comment "Do you know, Caroline, I've been thinking what fun the rabbits will have, eating that garden we planted."
"Don't, Charles," Ma said.
"Never mind, Caroline!" Pa told her. "We'll make a better garden. Anyways, we're taking more out of Indian Territory than we took in."
"I don't know what," Ma said, and Pa answered, "Why, there's the mule!" Then Ma laughed, and Pa and the fiddle sang again.
That's the kind of attitude I want to have. Although undesirable things happen to all of us, can we focus on the good in the situation, rather than wallowing in the bad? Can we even say that it is 'bad'? It might just be the thing that moves us, motivates us, propels us toward something we would not normally choose but might be a true blessing in disguise.
Because of them or in spite of them I am not sure. Does it matter?
Pa has just had a conversation with Mr. Edwards and Mr. Scott about the soldiers coming out to force the homesteaders to move because they supposedly are 6 miles within Indian Territory. Pa quickly decides to move his family on his own accord, rather than waiting it out to be physically escorted off the land.
Everyone was quiet that night. Even Jack felt that something was wrong, and he lay down close to Laura when she went to bed.
It was now too warm for a fire, but Pa and Ma sat looking at the ashes in the fireplace.
Ma sighed gently and said, "A whole year gone, Charles." But Pa answered, cheerfully: "What's a year amount to? We have all the time there is."
Pa and Ma and the 3 girls (and Jack, the dog) are now traveling to Independence to set up a new homestead. Ma was disappointed about the sudden move, and the abandonment of their house with real glass windows, and the fields that Pa had worked so diligently on, and the plow that he had just traded furs to acquire.
They set up camp, chained the livestock to the feed-box at the end of the wagon and fed everybody their supper. The girls are tucked into their beds, and Ma sits down by the fire alongside Pa who begins to play his fiddle. Pa stopped singing "Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me," to comment "Do you know, Caroline, I've been thinking what fun the rabbits will have, eating that garden we planted."
"Don't, Charles," Ma said.
"Never mind, Caroline!" Pa told her. "We'll make a better garden. Anyways, we're taking more out of Indian Territory than we took in."
"I don't know what," Ma said, and Pa answered, "Why, there's the mule!" Then Ma laughed, and Pa and the fiddle sang again.
That's the kind of attitude I want to have. Although undesirable things happen to all of us, can we focus on the good in the situation, rather than wallowing in the bad? Can we even say that it is 'bad'? It might just be the thing that moves us, motivates us, propels us toward something we would not normally choose but might be a true blessing in disguise.
Because of them or in spite of them I am not sure. Does it matter?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Taking Our Thoughts Captive
I was skyping with a loved one the other morning about the need to take our thoughts captive and then later that same day I met a friend for lunch at the Rawthentic Eatery and the same topic came up concerning her eldest daughter. And then later when I got 'home' in the afternoon I was scheduled to listen to a teleclass called "Harnessing Your Negative Thoughts For Success". I decided to make a concerted effort to listen between poopy diapers and running 'chicken pox baths' and all the other stuff moms have to deal with, and I'm glad I did.
It wasn't like this was rocket science. The talk was very basic. It was really a continuation from previous discussions of the day. But it was kind of an ah-huh moment.
This fella (David Koons) was just pointing out that all of us get negative thoughts coming into our brains. It happens to the best of us. Everybody.
The difference between negative thinkers and positive thinkers is what thoughts they start to ponder. Which thoughts do they give attention to.
If we all get negative thoughts, then we don't need to feel guilty for having them. They just come. Stop judging ourselves for getting those nasty thoughts. And we don't need to start trying to figure them out.
We just Got them. A fact.
But when we realize that thoughts are energy, and they can be used for either the good or the bad, we are the ones in control of deciding for what they will be used for!! It's our choice. We give the thoughts power by choosing which ones we are going to focus on.
David said that we should recognize the Stinkers, and like a smelly fart ;) just open up the window and let that Stinker go. Don't hold onto that thought. Don't entertain it. Don't empower it. Just let it go.
If we keep those negative thoughts, we start to get more and more of those unsupportive, destructive thoughts about other people or about ourselves and we find we are in a downward spiral, sucking the life and energy out of our very being.
On the other hand, if a positive thought comes, be sure to grab onto it. Give it energy. Focus on it. Let it expand into more positive thoughts.
I haven't been a fan of Positive Thinkers in the past. Not exactly sure why. But I do think they have some very good points to make. And science says that positive thinking does have positive influences in our lives. So, positive thinking works, but what David was saying was rather a choosing to focus on positive thoughts, and dismiss the negative.
We are going to have negative thoughts and events, but what do we focus on???
What do we do with the Negative thoughts?
For every reason you can give as to why you aren't good enough, we could find a reason why you ARE good enough!!!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
PS. Our eldest daughter Layne just started a(nother) blog this week and she posted a bit about the same thing here.
It wasn't like this was rocket science. The talk was very basic. It was really a continuation from previous discussions of the day. But it was kind of an ah-huh moment.
This fella (David Koons) was just pointing out that all of us get negative thoughts coming into our brains. It happens to the best of us. Everybody.
The difference between negative thinkers and positive thinkers is what thoughts they start to ponder. Which thoughts do they give attention to.
If we all get negative thoughts, then we don't need to feel guilty for having them. They just come. Stop judging ourselves for getting those nasty thoughts. And we don't need to start trying to figure them out.
We just Got them. A fact.
But when we realize that thoughts are energy, and they can be used for either the good or the bad, we are the ones in control of deciding for what they will be used for!! It's our choice. We give the thoughts power by choosing which ones we are going to focus on.
David said that we should recognize the Stinkers, and like a smelly fart ;) just open up the window and let that Stinker go. Don't hold onto that thought. Don't entertain it. Don't empower it. Just let it go.
If we keep those negative thoughts, we start to get more and more of those unsupportive, destructive thoughts about other people or about ourselves and we find we are in a downward spiral, sucking the life and energy out of our very being.
On the other hand, if a positive thought comes, be sure to grab onto it. Give it energy. Focus on it. Let it expand into more positive thoughts.
I haven't been a fan of Positive Thinkers in the past. Not exactly sure why. But I do think they have some very good points to make. And science says that positive thinking does have positive influences in our lives. So, positive thinking works, but what David was saying was rather a choosing to focus on positive thoughts, and dismiss the negative.
We are going to have negative thoughts and events, but what do we focus on???
What do we do with the Negative thoughts?
For every reason you can give as to why you aren't good enough, we could find a reason why you ARE good enough!!!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
PS. Our eldest daughter Layne just started a(nother) blog this week and she posted a bit about the same thing here.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Power in Words
I have a few videos to share from XP Media (ministry of Extreme Prophetic).
They talk about the power of our words, for both good and bad. There are encouragements for us to be careful about what we speak, and to purpose to decree the word of God in our own lives and those of our loved ones, and even for the country and churches and leaders.
The Power of Words
What do we speak over our children? Watch Stacey Campbell here.
One of societies problems that the church of Jesus Christ certainly has not escaped, although we should have, is Gossip. Gossip even seems to sneak in under the guise of 'concern' or even via prayer chains.
Here's simple instruction on how to crush gossip. It's about The Test of Three spoken of by Socrates, and Patricia King shares about it here.
Blessings and Curses
Life and Death are in the power of our words. What a huge responsibility!! Let's encourage.
Getting a Tune-Up. Julie Meyer shares about a dream she had, and how the Lord wants to help prepare the Bride of Christ.
Question for You: Do you have a good word to share?
They talk about the power of our words, for both good and bad. There are encouragements for us to be careful about what we speak, and to purpose to decree the word of God in our own lives and those of our loved ones, and even for the country and churches and leaders.
The Power of Words
What do we speak over our children? Watch Stacey Campbell here.
One of societies problems that the church of Jesus Christ certainly has not escaped, although we should have, is Gossip. Gossip even seems to sneak in under the guise of 'concern' or even via prayer chains.
Here's simple instruction on how to crush gossip. It's about The Test of Three spoken of by Socrates, and Patricia King shares about it here.
Blessings and Curses
Life and Death are in the power of our words. What a huge responsibility!! Let's encourage.
Getting a Tune-Up. Julie Meyer shares about a dream she had, and how the Lord wants to help prepare the Bride of Christ.
Question for You: Do you have a good word to share?
Monday, October 26, 2009
Our Words Create
We've heard on our childhood playgrounds "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!" That just is not true. Names and those words do hurt us. We so often take those words to heart, accepting those fiery darts of the enemy and then we let them fester and grow.
Our words are more powerful than most of us ever realize. They create.
Genesis 27 is the record of when Jacob pretends he is his brother Esau, and presents himself before their father and successfully sneaks a blessing out of Isaac. This story clearly shows how much power these people believed that words had. For in verses 33-36 Isaac tells Esau "Who-where-is the one who hunted game, brought it to me, and I partook of all when you had not yet come, and I blessed him? Indeed, he shall remain blessed!"
When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me too, Father!"
But he said, "Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing."
He (Esau) said, "....Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"
Esau and Isaac both knew and understood the power of their words, and that the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob would be played out in Jacobs life, which also effected Esau's life because part of that very blessing was "be a lord to your kinsmen, and your mother's sons will prostrate themselves to you; cursed be they who curse you, and blessed be they who bless you." (v29)
We need not be victims to the words spoken by others towards us. When somebody says something to you that does not line up with the Word of God, take those words and related thoughts captive. Take Action!!
Isaiah 54:17
"No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD."
From the Torah it says:
"Any weapon sharpened against you will not succeed, and any tongue that will rise against you in judgment, you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Hashem, and their righteousness from Me -- the word of Hashem."
There's power in words. And when they come at us, we need to be discerning to know the source from which they come, so that if they are coming from our adversary, then we can refute them, or condemn them. We must take action. In Eph 6 we are told to be wise about the devils means of attack, so that we can overcome him.
Below I have a list of scriptures that talk about the power of our words. Consider how they effect your life, and those around you.
Prov 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." (So, if pleasant words are good for our soul/body, then what do unpleasant words actually do to us? Is that where some of our bad health originates from?)
Matt 15:11 "It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (With regards to the above verse, could those defiling words coming from our mouth effect our physical bodies?)
Luke 4:36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Mark 16:20, John 14:12 Greater works/signs will we do as believers. Our words must hold huge amounts of authority & power. Are we careful how we wield that power?)
Job 22:28 says about His people (when they are obedient)
"You would utter a decree and it would be done." (Is this a decree that God mandated them to say, or is it their own words spoken from a heart in-line with God's Word?)
1 Sam 6:18 "The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day"
This is an amazing and yet scarey thought. That even the rocks around us, the materials in our house, have an ability to hear and record and play-back what they have heard. Before you think I'm off my rocker, consider technology today, that can store information and then we are able to retrieve it. That's the whole workings behind computer chips!!
Ecc 10:20 "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say."
Now this verse jumped out at me about a year ago after hearing some Christian science men talk about quantum physics. When I read this verse it hit me, that it wasn't even just my spoken words, but it was my thoughts, really the intent of my heart even, that was somehow tangible. My thoughts create a frequency, and that creates a change in my own body (my feelings of rejection are translated into emotions and effect my behavior) and influences the environment around me. (I think this verse is very likely where we get the saying "A little birdie told me.")
There is a Japanese scientist named Dr. Masaru Emoto who is famous for his studies and photos of water crystals, and how they react to music, words both spoken or written. You'd find some of these photos absolutely amazing. Look here for a start.
Question for You: What would you like to create with your words?
Our words are more powerful than most of us ever realize. They create.
Genesis 27 is the record of when Jacob pretends he is his brother Esau, and presents himself before their father and successfully sneaks a blessing out of Isaac. This story clearly shows how much power these people believed that words had. For in verses 33-36 Isaac tells Esau "Who-where-is the one who hunted game, brought it to me, and I partook of all when you had not yet come, and I blessed him? Indeed, he shall remain blessed!"
When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me too, Father!"
But he said, "Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing."
He (Esau) said, "....Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"
Esau and Isaac both knew and understood the power of their words, and that the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob would be played out in Jacobs life, which also effected Esau's life because part of that very blessing was "be a lord to your kinsmen, and your mother's sons will prostrate themselves to you; cursed be they who curse you, and blessed be they who bless you." (v29)
We need not be victims to the words spoken by others towards us. When somebody says something to you that does not line up with the Word of God, take those words and related thoughts captive. Take Action!!
Isaiah 54:17
"No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD."
From the Torah it says:
"Any weapon sharpened against you will not succeed, and any tongue that will rise against you in judgment, you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Hashem, and their righteousness from Me -- the word of Hashem."
There's power in words. And when they come at us, we need to be discerning to know the source from which they come, so that if they are coming from our adversary, then we can refute them, or condemn them. We must take action. In Eph 6 we are told to be wise about the devils means of attack, so that we can overcome him.
Below I have a list of scriptures that talk about the power of our words. Consider how they effect your life, and those around you.
Prov 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." (So, if pleasant words are good for our soul/body, then what do unpleasant words actually do to us? Is that where some of our bad health originates from?)
Matt 15:11 "It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (With regards to the above verse, could those defiling words coming from our mouth effect our physical bodies?)
Luke 4:36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Mark 16:20, John 14:12 Greater works/signs will we do as believers. Our words must hold huge amounts of authority & power. Are we careful how we wield that power?)
Job 22:28 says about His people (when they are obedient)
"You would utter a decree and it would be done." (Is this a decree that God mandated them to say, or is it their own words spoken from a heart in-line with God's Word?)
1 Sam 6:18 "The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day"
This is an amazing and yet scarey thought. That even the rocks around us, the materials in our house, have an ability to hear and record and play-back what they have heard. Before you think I'm off my rocker, consider technology today, that can store information and then we are able to retrieve it. That's the whole workings behind computer chips!!
Ecc 10:20 "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say."
Now this verse jumped out at me about a year ago after hearing some Christian science men talk about quantum physics. When I read this verse it hit me, that it wasn't even just my spoken words, but it was my thoughts, really the intent of my heart even, that was somehow tangible. My thoughts create a frequency, and that creates a change in my own body (my feelings of rejection are translated into emotions and effect my behavior) and influences the environment around me. (I think this verse is very likely where we get the saying "A little birdie told me.")
There is a Japanese scientist named Dr. Masaru Emoto who is famous for his studies and photos of water crystals, and how they react to music, words both spoken or written. You'd find some of these photos absolutely amazing. Look here for a start.
Question for You: What would you like to create with your words?
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Negative Thinking
Here is an audio of Sara Taylor sharing about our thought life. She shares about her own struggles in her thought life, and how we need to change the songs that play around in our minds.
There is so much truth in what Sara has to say. We are called to having a new way of thinking. We are to reconsider and redefine everything about how we think and see this world. We are not called to positive thinking, but Biblical thinking. We are to focus on things that are pure, holy, true, etc. We need to accept the truths of scripture, irregardless to whether we understand them at first.
Let's put a new and a good Biblical song into our thoughts. And let's sing a new song from our own heart to the Lord. One that is from our own spirit and soul, rather than always borrowing songs from others. Sing to Him a New Song. Your Song.
Question for You: Are you taking your thoughts captive? Lining them up to Scripture?
There is so much truth in what Sara has to say. We are called to having a new way of thinking. We are to reconsider and redefine everything about how we think and see this world. We are not called to positive thinking, but Biblical thinking. We are to focus on things that are pure, holy, true, etc. We need to accept the truths of scripture, irregardless to whether we understand them at first.
Let's put a new and a good Biblical song into our thoughts. And let's sing a new song from our own heart to the Lord. One that is from our own spirit and soul, rather than always borrowing songs from others. Sing to Him a New Song. Your Song.
Question for You: Are you taking your thoughts captive? Lining them up to Scripture?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Choose Life
Shortly after we arrived on Cape Breton in the fall of 2007, it seemed like Everette and I entered into our own kind of Discipleship Training School with God. We had all of our previous support gone and we had begun a new journey. The process had started at some point before we left BC, but it was very clear and intense when we were here on Cape Breton and especially once the cold eastern winter set in. We were home much of the time, engrossed in the Word, online teachings thru podcasts or videos, and reading books. We each had our own journey, but they were overlapping quite often.
I was seeking to know God better, and to clear my mind and heart of all the religious things I'd grown up with. I had put God in a pretty small box, and had limited Him pretty much to my experience. I was wanting to serve a powerful BIG God. I was on the search to find Him.
I started to hear a voice. I don't know how to explain it, but it was clear and precise. I suppose it was in my head that I heard it, but it wasn't like the flurry of thoughts that seem to be constantly going around in this females head. It was loud, and everything else stopped. It got my total attention, although it was just one single word. It stood out like a beacon amidst a storm.
LIFE!!
How simple was that? Of course, I choose life. I wasn't considering suicide. I don't agree with abortion or euthanasia. Of course I choose life.
But then God brought me to Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
As I pondered this verse and started looking into blessings and curses, it became more apparent to me that through ignorance and/or naivety I was living with a form of death and with curses in my life, considering it a normal part of living in a fallen world. But when I became aware of the life and the blessings that God has for His children, and I recognized that as a citizen of the Kingdom I don't live under the rulership of this world (unless I'd choose to), then I really started to LIVE!
I started to evaluate my thoughts, and wonder if they were bringing life to my soul and spirit. If they weren't, then I would "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
I would reject lies for I recognized that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
Jesus came and died for me, that I would not only have life, not only eternal life, but abundant here-&-now life. He sent His Spirit in fullness to live in me, that I can have a very different life than those that are without Him. But I must constantly be choosing life, not death and the ways of the thief.
I started to see things more simply. Life....or death. Blessings......or curses. No brainer, of course I wanted the Life and the Blessings. So, how did that look in my daily life? (You can check out Deut 28 for a list of blessings and curses)
I would choose to think thoughts of Life. This isn't the same as being a positive thinker. This is thinking thoughts or words that originate from God, and from Jesus, since He is the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
Bill Johnson says, "I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me that is not in His." Chew on that for awhile. That was a biggie for me. It was a turning point, actually.
So, by choosing Life I was definitely choosing Jesus who is the Life, and I was choosing His thoughts about me. Thoughts like.....
I am a new creation in Christ; old things have passed away and all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor 6:17)
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor 5:21)
I am righteous and holy. (Eph 4:24)
I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
I am more than a conqueror through Christ. (Rom 8:37)
I am a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance in every place. (2 Cor 2:14)
I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Eph 1:3)
If I sin and confess it, I now stand righteous before God. (1 John 1:9)
When I started to decree the truths God gave in the Bible, I was choosing words of LIFE over the lies of death that my spiritual enemy tried to feed me. I was working at doing what Bill Johnson said......not having thoughts about myself that God doesn't have. I find LIFE the more my thinking truly lines up with God's Word. There is really no other way to have LIFE than from the Life-Giver.
Question for You: Have you ever audibly heard the voice of God?
I was seeking to know God better, and to clear my mind and heart of all the religious things I'd grown up with. I had put God in a pretty small box, and had limited Him pretty much to my experience. I was wanting to serve a powerful BIG God. I was on the search to find Him.
I started to hear a voice. I don't know how to explain it, but it was clear and precise. I suppose it was in my head that I heard it, but it wasn't like the flurry of thoughts that seem to be constantly going around in this females head. It was loud, and everything else stopped. It got my total attention, although it was just one single word. It stood out like a beacon amidst a storm.
LIFE!!
How simple was that? Of course, I choose life. I wasn't considering suicide. I don't agree with abortion or euthanasia. Of course I choose life.
But then God brought me to Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
As I pondered this verse and started looking into blessings and curses, it became more apparent to me that through ignorance and/or naivety I was living with a form of death and with curses in my life, considering it a normal part of living in a fallen world. But when I became aware of the life and the blessings that God has for His children, and I recognized that as a citizen of the Kingdom I don't live under the rulership of this world (unless I'd choose to), then I really started to LIVE!
I started to evaluate my thoughts, and wonder if they were bringing life to my soul and spirit. If they weren't, then I would "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:3-5
I would reject lies for I recognized that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
Jesus came and died for me, that I would not only have life, not only eternal life, but abundant here-&-now life. He sent His Spirit in fullness to live in me, that I can have a very different life than those that are without Him. But I must constantly be choosing life, not death and the ways of the thief.
I started to see things more simply. Life....or death. Blessings......or curses. No brainer, of course I wanted the Life and the Blessings. So, how did that look in my daily life? (You can check out Deut 28 for a list of blessings and curses)
I would choose to think thoughts of Life. This isn't the same as being a positive thinker. This is thinking thoughts or words that originate from God, and from Jesus, since He is the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
Bill Johnson says, "I can't afford to have a thought in my head about me that is not in His." Chew on that for awhile. That was a biggie for me. It was a turning point, actually.
So, by choosing Life I was definitely choosing Jesus who is the Life, and I was choosing His thoughts about me. Thoughts like.....
I am a new creation in Christ; old things have passed away and all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)
I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him. (1 Cor 6:17)
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor 5:21)
I am righteous and holy. (Eph 4:24)
I am hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
I am more than a conqueror through Christ. (Rom 8:37)
I am a child of God who always triumphs in Christ and releases His fragrance in every place. (2 Cor 2:14)
I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (Eph 1:3)
If I sin and confess it, I now stand righteous before God. (1 John 1:9)
When I started to decree the truths God gave in the Bible, I was choosing words of LIFE over the lies of death that my spiritual enemy tried to feed me. I was working at doing what Bill Johnson said......not having thoughts about myself that God doesn't have. I find LIFE the more my thinking truly lines up with God's Word. There is really no other way to have LIFE than from the Life-Giver.
Question for You: Have you ever audibly heard the voice of God?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Whatsoever things......
Life seems full of a million goals, or all the things I hope to achieve, or I dream of changing in my life! But one that I think ought to be a lifetime goal of mine is based from the Scriptures in Philippians 4:8. The Message says:
8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
The Amplified Bible says:
8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
The one I memorized decades ago (but don't ask me to quote it or you'll just get the Karen paraphrase!) is from NIV:
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I have found that since putting more effort in thinking on the positive and trying throughout my day to turn my attention more onto the Lord (the Best of the Bests!) the better my days go. I am not empowering the negatives in my life by pondering on them. I am taking stock of my emotions as if they are immediate feedback on what my thought life is up to, and then I know immediately if I am in need of action to change what I'm thinking about.
I am winning at this....for I can do ALL THINGS thru Christ who strengthens me.
Question for You: What translation do you use to memorize from?
8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
The Amplified Bible says:
8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
The one I memorized decades ago (but don't ask me to quote it or you'll just get the Karen paraphrase!) is from NIV:
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I have found that since putting more effort in thinking on the positive and trying throughout my day to turn my attention more onto the Lord (the Best of the Bests!) the better my days go. I am not empowering the negatives in my life by pondering on them. I am taking stock of my emotions as if they are immediate feedback on what my thought life is up to, and then I know immediately if I am in need of action to change what I'm thinking about.
I am winning at this....for I can do ALL THINGS thru Christ who strengthens me.
Question for You: What translation do you use to memorize from?
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