“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28 -30
I was watching a rerun of “Friends” the other night where Monica faced her addiction to perfectionism. After coming home to find that Rachel had cleaned the apartment and moved a foot stool Monica became frantic. She tried to hide her anxiety but to no avail. When confronted about her perfectionism she denied it. Then her friends challenged her to leave things out of place. She gladly accepted their challenge.
In the next scene she is preparing to go to bed and her shoes were in the living room. When asked about them she said she had no problem leaving them there overnight. Then the scene changed to her bedroom where she was in bed and wrestling with the thought of leaving the shoes out. She was having a conversation with herself about it. While the episode was hilarious the reality of a person struggling with perfectionism was not.
While being addicted to perfectionism only affects a small percentage of people, all of us are yoked to perfectionism in some area of life, and experience the same weight of burden that the addict experiences. Whether it is trying to be the perfect wife, mother, friend, employer, employee, Christian, volunteer, etc., we all struggle with trying to be perfect at some point. Being yoked to the burden of perfectionism weighs us down and causes us to spend a lot of mental energy trying to make sure we don’t fail in life.
I love how intimately God knows us and how He loves us so much that He offers solutions to every problem we face in life. Perfectionism is poison to our soul. In this verse Jesus offers the only antidote for it. He tells us to come to Him, yoke ourselves to Him, and to learn from Him. It says that being intimately yoked to Jesus will provide rest for our souls, which means there is relief from the mental torment that accompanies perfectionism.
Notice what the verse doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that our burdens will be removed! It doesn’t say we won’t have bad days where we make mistakes or wound someone with our words. It doesn’t say our lives will be perfect if we yoke ourselves to Him. But what it does reveal to us is that when we yoke ourselves to Jesus He will lead us in the direction that leads to rest and peace.
He frees us from the churning anxiety within and we find rest for our weary souls. We will also be able to sleep in peace and not suffer like Monica did when she was wrestling with her thoughts. Isaiah 26:3 confirms this truth. It says, “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.” AMP
If you find yourself being yoked to perfectionism take time out and make a conscious decision to yoke yourself to Jesus. As a believer Christ lives and dwells in us but we are still given free will, and have to make the decision to choose His ways over our ways. A yoke is something that can be put on and taken off, just like the yoke of oxen, so this is a daily exercise of faith. You might be wondering how to know if you are yoked to Jesus and the answer is: Whenever you feel weighted down by burdens, chances are you have removed the yoke and need to put it back on. This act of faith will lead you in the right direction to peace and rest every time.
Prayer: I believe by faith that when I am yoked to you I find rest for my soul. I praise you for being the perfect sacrifice for my imperfection and for unconditionally loving me. I stand in awe at how intimately you know my every need and struggle and I praise you for making a way for me to be in perfect peace, by yoking myself to You. I choose today to consciously yoke myself to you and I release my burdens to you. I gladly take your yoke upon me and I am ready to learn from you. Amen.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Day 6
The Quicksand of Temptation Can be Escaped!
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Have you ever watched a movie where the hero falls into quicksand and a frantic rescue scene ensues? Hollywood does a great job creating a sense of fear and anxiety in the audience during these rescue scenes. Even though the people watching know the hero will be saved, the intensity of the moment still affects them, and they get caught up in the moment cheering for the heroes rescue. Most of these scenes end with someone throwing a rope or a big stick to the hero and dragging them to safety.
What most of the people watching the movie don’t know, is that in real life, people rarely die in quicksand. Quicksand itself is harmless, but the limitation of movement the quicksand creates, causes the person who falls into it, to become fearful. This creates a sense of urgency and they flail around trying to escape, which only causes them to sink deeper. Quicksand is usually only a few inches or a few feet deep, and with the proper knowledge, a person caught in quicksand, can get themselves free fairly easily. But the person without knowledge can harm themselves and become dehydrated, resulting in injury or death.
Temptation is the same way. By itself it is harmless, but the limitation of understanding about how to escape it, causes people to react in a similar way as the inexperienced person who falls into quicksand. They become anxious and nervous and they flail around in the thought of the temptation, until they find themselves sinking deeper into it. Pretty soon they find themselves stuck and unable to get free. When their human efforts of trying to escape fail them, and they act on the temptation, they end up injuring themselves or others.
The Scriptures provide wisdom and understanding on how to easily escape from a temptation, but few people take the time to read them. The voice of the Holy Spirit also provides wisdom and understanding but most people don’t take the time to listen. Other people who have experienced the same temptations can provide wisdom and understanding, but few people seek their advice. I know that sometimes temptations seem unbearable but this Scripture ensures us that God gives us the strength to bear it, until we have been freed from it.
In order to avoid being caught in a temptation it is important to seek wisdom and understanding in regards to temptation, before you encounter one. People living in regions where quicksand is present know how to identify it in order to avoid it. And if they accidentally fall into it, they know what actions to take in order to escape unharmed. A Christian needs to approach temptations in the same way. They need to know the Word of God, be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and seek wise counsel from other Christians, so they are equipped to deal with temptation. This is the only way to avoid being caught in a temptation, or to know how to quickly escape if you accidentally find yourself in the midst of one.
The Bible says that God’s people perish for the lack of knowledge. Notice that it doesn’t say they perish because of temptation. So it is up to each of us to gain the knowledge that will keep our lives, our marriages, our relationships, our health, our finances, etc. from perishing! Spend time in the classroom of wisdom and understanding and you will find yourself being equipped to avoid or escape any temptation that comes your way.
Prayer: I praise you for giving me wisdom and understanding when I ask for it. I praise you for making a way of escape for me when I find myself facing temptation. Today I believe by faith that I can avoid being caught in temptation as I gain more understanding from your Word, your Spirit, and the people you have placed in my life. I believe by faith that as I wait on you my strength will be renewed and I will be able to avoid temptation or to stand up under it, until I am set free from its snare. I praise you for being faithful and for loving me unconditionally. Amen.
Have you ever watched a movie where the hero falls into quicksand and a frantic rescue scene ensues? Hollywood does a great job creating a sense of fear and anxiety in the audience during these rescue scenes. Even though the people watching know the hero will be saved, the intensity of the moment still affects them, and they get caught up in the moment cheering for the heroes rescue. Most of these scenes end with someone throwing a rope or a big stick to the hero and dragging them to safety.
What most of the people watching the movie don’t know, is that in real life, people rarely die in quicksand. Quicksand itself is harmless, but the limitation of movement the quicksand creates, causes the person who falls into it, to become fearful. This creates a sense of urgency and they flail around trying to escape, which only causes them to sink deeper. Quicksand is usually only a few inches or a few feet deep, and with the proper knowledge, a person caught in quicksand, can get themselves free fairly easily. But the person without knowledge can harm themselves and become dehydrated, resulting in injury or death.
Temptation is the same way. By itself it is harmless, but the limitation of understanding about how to escape it, causes people to react in a similar way as the inexperienced person who falls into quicksand. They become anxious and nervous and they flail around in the thought of the temptation, until they find themselves sinking deeper into it. Pretty soon they find themselves stuck and unable to get free. When their human efforts of trying to escape fail them, and they act on the temptation, they end up injuring themselves or others.
The Scriptures provide wisdom and understanding on how to easily escape from a temptation, but few people take the time to read them. The voice of the Holy Spirit also provides wisdom and understanding but most people don’t take the time to listen. Other people who have experienced the same temptations can provide wisdom and understanding, but few people seek their advice. I know that sometimes temptations seem unbearable but this Scripture ensures us that God gives us the strength to bear it, until we have been freed from it.
In order to avoid being caught in a temptation it is important to seek wisdom and understanding in regards to temptation, before you encounter one. People living in regions where quicksand is present know how to identify it in order to avoid it. And if they accidentally fall into it, they know what actions to take in order to escape unharmed. A Christian needs to approach temptations in the same way. They need to know the Word of God, be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and seek wise counsel from other Christians, so they are equipped to deal with temptation. This is the only way to avoid being caught in a temptation, or to know how to quickly escape if you accidentally find yourself in the midst of one.
The Bible says that God’s people perish for the lack of knowledge. Notice that it doesn’t say they perish because of temptation. So it is up to each of us to gain the knowledge that will keep our lives, our marriages, our relationships, our health, our finances, etc. from perishing! Spend time in the classroom of wisdom and understanding and you will find yourself being equipped to avoid or escape any temptation that comes your way.
Prayer: I praise you for giving me wisdom and understanding when I ask for it. I praise you for making a way of escape for me when I find myself facing temptation. Today I believe by faith that I can avoid being caught in temptation as I gain more understanding from your Word, your Spirit, and the people you have placed in my life. I believe by faith that as I wait on you my strength will be renewed and I will be able to avoid temptation or to stand up under it, until I am set free from its snare. I praise you for being faithful and for loving me unconditionally. Amen.
Day 5
Weaned on Lemons Produces Illness! Weaned on Laughter Produces Health & Healing!
“A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 AMP
Whenever my grandma met a person who was grouchy or irritable she would always say, “Looks like they were weaned on lemons honey.” As a child I never understood what she meant. When I grew up and began forming friendships I quickly grew to understand her funny statement. I would meet people who were unhappy most of the time, and they were always complaining about something. I found it interesting that these same people were suffering from some sort of illness or ailment most of the time.
In contrast, I would meet people who had cheerful dispositions and a childlike enthusiasm, and they didn’t seem openly phased by the troubles of life. They laughed a lot and focused their energy on the positive side of any situation. It was interesting to me that these people seldom complained and I rarely heard them speak of aches and pains or of being sick.
Years later when doing research on the causes of sickness and disease I came across many studies that had been done on the correlation between laughter and health. Research showed that people who laughed a lot and who focused on the positive, instead of the negative, had lower stress levels and healthier immune systems. They reported less aches and pains than those who didn’t laugh a lot. They had lower blood pressure and better cardiac strength.
One day when reading the Bible I came across Proverbs 17:22 and I realized just how important laughter is to our health and the healing process. The studies I read were validation to what God prescribed as an antidote for illness thousands of years ago. He designed our immune systems to respond to laughter, and He created our bodies to release certain illness fighting antibodies when we engage in laughter.
Today there are studies being done all around the world that focus on humor therapy. Researchers and doctors at Loma Linda University in California have proven this theory to be true in the many published studies that have been released in recent years. For further education on the correlation between laughter and health you can contact them and read their findings for yourself.
My question to you is: Which person are you? Have you been weaned on lemons and as a result your life is filled with negativity, pain, sickness, and turmoil? Or were you weaned on laughter and as a result your life is filled with positivity, health, and wellness? If you were weaned on lemons begin to ask God for wisdom and open yourself up to laughter. Begin to focus your mind time on learning how to be cheerful .and allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life so you can begin to experience joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Learning to be positive and learning to laugh is an exercise that takes time and concentrated effort. The great news is that the results you will experience will far out way the time you invest. Only you can change the way you think and live, so it is completely up to you to make this change. God’s Word is true but it has no effect until it is applied and acted upon. If you will focus on this formula for health you will experience life changing results and begin to live a healthier, more fulfilling life!
Prayer: Thank you for the healing power of laughter and for giving me a prescription for healthy living. I praise you for the joy stored up inside of me, and I choose today to open up the gift of laughter so that I can experience that joy! I believe by faith that as I laugh and look at life from a positive mindset, my body will respond and it will produce antibodies for healing. I praise you for perfectly creating my body with the ability to heal its self and today I choose to believe your truth over my reality. I will see my body restored to health and wholeness as I daily engage in laughter. Amen.
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 AMP
Whenever my grandma met a person who was grouchy or irritable she would always say, “Looks like they were weaned on lemons honey.” As a child I never understood what she meant. When I grew up and began forming friendships I quickly grew to understand her funny statement. I would meet people who were unhappy most of the time, and they were always complaining about something. I found it interesting that these same people were suffering from some sort of illness or ailment most of the time.
In contrast, I would meet people who had cheerful dispositions and a childlike enthusiasm, and they didn’t seem openly phased by the troubles of life. They laughed a lot and focused their energy on the positive side of any situation. It was interesting to me that these people seldom complained and I rarely heard them speak of aches and pains or of being sick.
Years later when doing research on the causes of sickness and disease I came across many studies that had been done on the correlation between laughter and health. Research showed that people who laughed a lot and who focused on the positive, instead of the negative, had lower stress levels and healthier immune systems. They reported less aches and pains than those who didn’t laugh a lot. They had lower blood pressure and better cardiac strength.
One day when reading the Bible I came across Proverbs 17:22 and I realized just how important laughter is to our health and the healing process. The studies I read were validation to what God prescribed as an antidote for illness thousands of years ago. He designed our immune systems to respond to laughter, and He created our bodies to release certain illness fighting antibodies when we engage in laughter.
Today there are studies being done all around the world that focus on humor therapy. Researchers and doctors at Loma Linda University in California have proven this theory to be true in the many published studies that have been released in recent years. For further education on the correlation between laughter and health you can contact them and read their findings for yourself.
My question to you is: Which person are you? Have you been weaned on lemons and as a result your life is filled with negativity, pain, sickness, and turmoil? Or were you weaned on laughter and as a result your life is filled with positivity, health, and wellness? If you were weaned on lemons begin to ask God for wisdom and open yourself up to laughter. Begin to focus your mind time on learning how to be cheerful .and allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life so you can begin to experience joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit.
Learning to be positive and learning to laugh is an exercise that takes time and concentrated effort. The great news is that the results you will experience will far out way the time you invest. Only you can change the way you think and live, so it is completely up to you to make this change. God’s Word is true but it has no effect until it is applied and acted upon. If you will focus on this formula for health you will experience life changing results and begin to live a healthier, more fulfilling life!
Prayer: Thank you for the healing power of laughter and for giving me a prescription for healthy living. I praise you for the joy stored up inside of me, and I choose today to open up the gift of laughter so that I can experience that joy! I believe by faith that as I laugh and look at life from a positive mindset, my body will respond and it will produce antibodies for healing. I praise you for perfectly creating my body with the ability to heal its self and today I choose to believe your truth over my reality. I will see my body restored to health and wholeness as I daily engage in laughter. Amen.
Day 4
Hand-Me-Down Religion Never Fits Right!
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-14
When my son Wyatt was a toddler I belonged to a mom’s group. We shared stories of parenting, encouragement, recipes, etc. We also handed down clothing that didn’t fit our children anymore. I remember one year I received a bag of clothes from a woman who always shopped at department stores, and paid top dollar for everything her kids wore. I was excited when I opened the bag and discovered an outfit I had seen the previous season at the mall. At that time I wanted to buy it but I didn’t, and when I went back it wasn’t there. So when I saw that outfit in the bag I got excited when I realized it was Wyatt’s size.
I called him into the room to have him try it on. As I put the outfit on him I was shocked to discover that it was too small for him! How could this be? It fit him perfectly in the store and he hadn’t grown any since then, so why didn’t it fit now? As I looked closer at the outfit I read the tag that said “dry clean only” and I realized that this mom had accidentally washed it.
I was disheartened but I really didn’t give it much thought until years later when I was working out my beliefs about God, and determining what I believed. Most of what I knew about God had been passed down to me by my family, church, and the parochial school I had attended for 10 years. When studying one day the memory of this event came mind. As I prayed about it and read the Bible I found the passage in John 16:12 -14 that I quoted above.
After further reflection I came to an understanding about the event that took place with the outfit and what Jesus was trying to tell us in John 16. Let me explain. When Wyatt tried on that outfit in the store it was in its original condition. The designer of the clothing line had taken great care to choose the proper material and gave instructions on how to care for it. When the outfit got into the hands of man (the mother) she had a choice to make. She could follow the instructions of care given to her directly from the designer, or she could ignore it and go with her own interpretation of his instructions. It is obvious what she chose to do, and the result of that decision was the disfigurement of a perfectly designed article of clothing.
This is exactly what happens when people disregard what Jesus said in this passage. The Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life is to instruct them into all truth. Unfortunately most people choose instead to rely on man’s instructions on how to be in relationship with God. When this happens they end up getting a hand-me-down religion that has been disfigured by man, and when they try it on, it never fits right! The Word of God was perfectly designed to fit each person who reads it, and a relationship with God is perfectly designed to bring complete fulfillment to the believer’s life.
The beauty of the difference between these two scenarios is that what is impossible to change in the natural, is possible to change in the supernatural! I had no ability to re-figure that outfit to restore it to its original design because it was impossible! But when it came to the hand-me-down religious beliefs, I was able to change them, and God was faithful to restore my relationship with Him to its original design. I now rely on the Holy Spirit to instruct me into all truth and I no longer adopt the beliefs of man when it comes to my relationship with God.
I want to encourage you today to spend time with God and ask Him to reveal if your relationship with Him is based on His original design, or if it is based on hand-me-down religious beliefs. Begin to see the importance of the Holy Spirit’s role in your relationship with God. Ask Him to supernaturally remove your hand-me-down religious beliefs, and to instruct you into all truth, as He has promised in John 16 by the operation of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Prayer: Give me wisdom according to your Word and reveal if there is anything in my relationship with you that is not a part of your original design. I praise you for giving me the Holy Spirit as my teacher and my guide into the truth of your Word and the truth about our relationship. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand your instructions for my life. I praise you for giving me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, so I can overcome any hand-me-down religious beliefs that have disfigured my relationship with you. I believe by faith that I will come into an understanding of you by allowing your Spirit to lead me into all truth. Amen.
When my son Wyatt was a toddler I belonged to a mom’s group. We shared stories of parenting, encouragement, recipes, etc. We also handed down clothing that didn’t fit our children anymore. I remember one year I received a bag of clothes from a woman who always shopped at department stores, and paid top dollar for everything her kids wore. I was excited when I opened the bag and discovered an outfit I had seen the previous season at the mall. At that time I wanted to buy it but I didn’t, and when I went back it wasn’t there. So when I saw that outfit in the bag I got excited when I realized it was Wyatt’s size.
I called him into the room to have him try it on. As I put the outfit on him I was shocked to discover that it was too small for him! How could this be? It fit him perfectly in the store and he hadn’t grown any since then, so why didn’t it fit now? As I looked closer at the outfit I read the tag that said “dry clean only” and I realized that this mom had accidentally washed it.
I was disheartened but I really didn’t give it much thought until years later when I was working out my beliefs about God, and determining what I believed. Most of what I knew about God had been passed down to me by my family, church, and the parochial school I had attended for 10 years. When studying one day the memory of this event came mind. As I prayed about it and read the Bible I found the passage in John 16:12 -14 that I quoted above.
After further reflection I came to an understanding about the event that took place with the outfit and what Jesus was trying to tell us in John 16. Let me explain. When Wyatt tried on that outfit in the store it was in its original condition. The designer of the clothing line had taken great care to choose the proper material and gave instructions on how to care for it. When the outfit got into the hands of man (the mother) she had a choice to make. She could follow the instructions of care given to her directly from the designer, or she could ignore it and go with her own interpretation of his instructions. It is obvious what she chose to do, and the result of that decision was the disfigurement of a perfectly designed article of clothing.
This is exactly what happens when people disregard what Jesus said in this passage. The Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life is to instruct them into all truth. Unfortunately most people choose instead to rely on man’s instructions on how to be in relationship with God. When this happens they end up getting a hand-me-down religion that has been disfigured by man, and when they try it on, it never fits right! The Word of God was perfectly designed to fit each person who reads it, and a relationship with God is perfectly designed to bring complete fulfillment to the believer’s life.
The beauty of the difference between these two scenarios is that what is impossible to change in the natural, is possible to change in the supernatural! I had no ability to re-figure that outfit to restore it to its original design because it was impossible! But when it came to the hand-me-down religious beliefs, I was able to change them, and God was faithful to restore my relationship with Him to its original design. I now rely on the Holy Spirit to instruct me into all truth and I no longer adopt the beliefs of man when it comes to my relationship with God.
I want to encourage you today to spend time with God and ask Him to reveal if your relationship with Him is based on His original design, or if it is based on hand-me-down religious beliefs. Begin to see the importance of the Holy Spirit’s role in your relationship with God. Ask Him to supernaturally remove your hand-me-down religious beliefs, and to instruct you into all truth, as He has promised in John 16 by the operation of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Prayer: Give me wisdom according to your Word and reveal if there is anything in my relationship with you that is not a part of your original design. I praise you for giving me the Holy Spirit as my teacher and my guide into the truth of your Word and the truth about our relationship. Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand your instructions for my life. I praise you for giving me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, so I can overcome any hand-me-down religious beliefs that have disfigured my relationship with you. I believe by faith that I will come into an understanding of you by allowing your Spirit to lead me into all truth. Amen.
Day 3
Mind Time Produces Fruit – It’s Your Choice Which Fruit You Produce!
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:43-45
Growing up my dad always told me that success or failure is produced by the things we think about the most. Whenever I was struggling with something he loved to sit me down and give me advice. Being a teenager I didn’t appreciate his insights most of the time, but as an adult I look back now and realize just how smart he was. Don’t we all do that? I remember one time when I was making poor choices and he called me into the kitchen to have one of his talks with me. While I was sitting there he handed me the following poem:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Author Unknown
Though at the time I didn’t heed his advice I kept this poem in a binder. Several years ago I came across it when I was rummaging through a box of memorabilia. It was at that moment when I realized just how true this poem was and how it correlated to the truth found in Luke 6:43-45. Many studies have been done that substantiate the truth found in both of these writings.
How we spend our mind time is where the fruit of our lives is produced! If we spend our time thinking about pain, failure, insecurities, and fears, we will produce the fruit of depression, resentment, anger, and frustration. If we spend our mind time thinking about success, healing, purpose, and victory, we will produce the fruit of love, hope, peace, joy, and fulfillment.
When it comes to making the decision where we are going to spend our mind time, the decision is completely up to the individual. No one else can give energy to your thoughts except for you! Research indicates that the brain produces between 7 - 9 thoughts per second and that our thoughts travel at the speed of light. This means that for every hour we spend in mind time at least 400 thoughts come into our mind. With each thought that enters we have a decision to make. We have to decide what thoughts we are going to give energy and time to based on what kind of fruit we want to harvest in our lives.
I want to encourage you to begin the process of evaluating where you spend your mind time. Take a day and journal your thoughts. Make an entry whenever you spend more than a minute on a specific thought and record the emotions those thoughts produce, and whether that thought focused you towards success or disappointment. You may need to do this exercise several times before you can determine the pattern of your thoughts, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you begin to see if your thoughts are producing words and actions that steer you in the direction of success and fulfillment or whether they are steering you towards failure and disappointment. Again the choice is up to you. What are you going to choose to think about today?
Prayer: Today I choose to evaluate where I spend my mind time. I believe by faith that I have the power to change the way I think which will change the results I get in my life. By faith I choose to focus on the life giving words of God and I say no to the thoughts of defeat and failure that bombard my mind. By faith I will give my mind over to the living Spirit of God so He can operate in me and produce His fruit in my life. I believe by faith that as I change the way I think I will reap a harvest of abundance in every area of my life. Amen.
Growing up my dad always told me that success or failure is produced by the things we think about the most. Whenever I was struggling with something he loved to sit me down and give me advice. Being a teenager I didn’t appreciate his insights most of the time, but as an adult I look back now and realize just how smart he was. Don’t we all do that? I remember one time when I was making poor choices and he called me into the kitchen to have one of his talks with me. While I was sitting there he handed me the following poem:
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Author Unknown
Though at the time I didn’t heed his advice I kept this poem in a binder. Several years ago I came across it when I was rummaging through a box of memorabilia. It was at that moment when I realized just how true this poem was and how it correlated to the truth found in Luke 6:43-45. Many studies have been done that substantiate the truth found in both of these writings.
How we spend our mind time is where the fruit of our lives is produced! If we spend our time thinking about pain, failure, insecurities, and fears, we will produce the fruit of depression, resentment, anger, and frustration. If we spend our mind time thinking about success, healing, purpose, and victory, we will produce the fruit of love, hope, peace, joy, and fulfillment.
When it comes to making the decision where we are going to spend our mind time, the decision is completely up to the individual. No one else can give energy to your thoughts except for you! Research indicates that the brain produces between 7 - 9 thoughts per second and that our thoughts travel at the speed of light. This means that for every hour we spend in mind time at least 400 thoughts come into our mind. With each thought that enters we have a decision to make. We have to decide what thoughts we are going to give energy and time to based on what kind of fruit we want to harvest in our lives.
I want to encourage you to begin the process of evaluating where you spend your mind time. Take a day and journal your thoughts. Make an entry whenever you spend more than a minute on a specific thought and record the emotions those thoughts produce, and whether that thought focused you towards success or disappointment. You may need to do this exercise several times before you can determine the pattern of your thoughts, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you begin to see if your thoughts are producing words and actions that steer you in the direction of success and fulfillment or whether they are steering you towards failure and disappointment. Again the choice is up to you. What are you going to choose to think about today?
Prayer: Today I choose to evaluate where I spend my mind time. I believe by faith that I have the power to change the way I think which will change the results I get in my life. By faith I choose to focus on the life giving words of God and I say no to the thoughts of defeat and failure that bombard my mind. By faith I will give my mind over to the living Spirit of God so He can operate in me and produce His fruit in my life. I believe by faith that as I change the way I think I will reap a harvest of abundance in every area of my life. Amen.
Day 2
You are Known by God and Set Apart for an Appointed Assignment
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
Oh how I cringed the first time I read this Scripture! Over the years I had battled the thought, “If they only knew me, they wouldn’t like me.” I wasn’t a bad person but I struggled with a bad image of myself, which kept me from feeling like my life had purpose. My mom always told me God had a plan for me but the resounding voice of doubt, because of my insecurities, kept me from really embracing her words of truth. Then one day when I was praying this Scripture came to mind.
At first I didn’t give it much thought but then I realized God was trying to tell me something very profound! The very thing I was afraid of, someone really knowing me, was the very truth He wanted me to embrace, so I could discover the purpose for my existence. He had an assignment preordained for me in life, but unless I believed He knew me and accepted me, without judgment, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish that assignment.
Then when I read the part of the scripture that says, “Before you were born I set you apart” I really struggled because being set apart hadn’t been a great experience for me in life. I was a spirited child who constantly found myself being “set apart” from my classmates because of my disruptive behavior. After spending time in prayer I asked God to reframe the negative feelings I had about His Words to me due to my previous life experience. I knew that in order to discover my appointed assignment in life, I had to accept that He knows me and loves me despite my shortcomings, and that He set me apart for an assignment before I was even born. And I had to believe that being known and being set apart is a positive, not a negative.
It is important for you to allow God access to the areas of your life where you feel inferior, afraid, or self conscious. In order for you to complete the assignment God has for you in life, you have to let Him speak His truth to you, regardless of what your reality presents as truth. Your reality is only partial truth and it has been designed to enhance the experience of fulfilling your assignment in life. Whatever your struggle, whatever your pain, God knows it intimately and if you will allow him access to it, He will turn it into a great tool to be used in completing your assignment.
Set aside some time today to spend with God and reflect on this Scripture. Ask him to remove any shadow of doubt that is hindering you from being able to embrace “being known” and “Being set apart” as a positive. When you are willing to release your preconceived notions and limited understanding of your reality, it opens up your mind to receive God’s truth. As you make this choice and take action God will give you wisdom and understanding and He will begin to reveal your assignment in life. You may need to do this exercise over and over until your mind accepts His truth as your true reality!
Prayer: Today I choose to believe by faith that you know me, accept me, and love me, for who I am. I believe by faith that being set apart is a gift from you to embrace, and I refuse to accept the negative beliefs about myself anymore. I believe by faith that you have an assignment for my life and I am willing to do what it takes to accomplish it. I praise you for creating me in your image and for setting me apart to do complete an assignment that you prepared for me to do before I was even born. Thank you for my life and I will choose today to believe your words of truth! Amen.
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
Oh how I cringed the first time I read this Scripture! Over the years I had battled the thought, “If they only knew me, they wouldn’t like me.” I wasn’t a bad person but I struggled with a bad image of myself, which kept me from feeling like my life had purpose. My mom always told me God had a plan for me but the resounding voice of doubt, because of my insecurities, kept me from really embracing her words of truth. Then one day when I was praying this Scripture came to mind.
At first I didn’t give it much thought but then I realized God was trying to tell me something very profound! The very thing I was afraid of, someone really knowing me, was the very truth He wanted me to embrace, so I could discover the purpose for my existence. He had an assignment preordained for me in life, but unless I believed He knew me and accepted me, without judgment, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish that assignment.
Then when I read the part of the scripture that says, “Before you were born I set you apart” I really struggled because being set apart hadn’t been a great experience for me in life. I was a spirited child who constantly found myself being “set apart” from my classmates because of my disruptive behavior. After spending time in prayer I asked God to reframe the negative feelings I had about His Words to me due to my previous life experience. I knew that in order to discover my appointed assignment in life, I had to accept that He knows me and loves me despite my shortcomings, and that He set me apart for an assignment before I was even born. And I had to believe that being known and being set apart is a positive, not a negative.
It is important for you to allow God access to the areas of your life where you feel inferior, afraid, or self conscious. In order for you to complete the assignment God has for you in life, you have to let Him speak His truth to you, regardless of what your reality presents as truth. Your reality is only partial truth and it has been designed to enhance the experience of fulfilling your assignment in life. Whatever your struggle, whatever your pain, God knows it intimately and if you will allow him access to it, He will turn it into a great tool to be used in completing your assignment.
Set aside some time today to spend with God and reflect on this Scripture. Ask him to remove any shadow of doubt that is hindering you from being able to embrace “being known” and “Being set apart” as a positive. When you are willing to release your preconceived notions and limited understanding of your reality, it opens up your mind to receive God’s truth. As you make this choice and take action God will give you wisdom and understanding and He will begin to reveal your assignment in life. You may need to do this exercise over and over until your mind accepts His truth as your true reality!
Prayer: Today I choose to believe by faith that you know me, accept me, and love me, for who I am. I believe by faith that being set apart is a gift from you to embrace, and I refuse to accept the negative beliefs about myself anymore. I believe by faith that you have an assignment for my life and I am willing to do what it takes to accomplish it. I praise you for creating me in your image and for setting me apart to do complete an assignment that you prepared for me to do before I was even born. Thank you for my life and I will choose today to believe your words of truth! Amen.
A Master Craftsman Created You!
A friend of mine used to love working with wood and he created some of the most beautiful works of art I have ever seen. I remember the first time I saw one of his creations that contained Purple Heart. I stood there in amazement because I had never seen that wood before and the beauty of it is almost indescribable. On one visit to his house I began thinking about the fact that Jesus was also a master craftsman and a carpenter by trade.
Imagine for a moment what His work must have looked like? Every piece of art he created was perfect, flawless, and beautiful beyond description! Each creation was also designed for a purpose and built strong enough to withstand the harsh elements of the desert. Every curve and corner perfectly straight with smooth edges and precise dimensions!
Now imagine the thought process He went through before He actually created one of His masterpieces. When He knew what He wanted to create He carefully formulated His plan and then he executed it. The result of His perfectly calculated effort must have been an amazing sight to behold! He left nothing undone and He gave incredible attention to the details of His work!
Have you ever taken the time to consider that this very same master craftsman created you? Psalm 139: 14 – 16 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When you think about your life do you constantly remind yourself of this Scripture or do you look at your body and your life and only see flaws and defects? Do you focus your attention on the imperfections and blemishes or do you behold the beauty of the work of art that God created when He created you? Most people forget that they were created by the master Craftsman, Jesus Christ, who made them in His own image and made them beautiful beyond description!
Today is the time to begin to embrace the truth that you were perfectly designed and created with an incredible purpose by the same God who put the stars into orbit and who made the ocean’s tide. Your life has meaning and you were woven together in the depths of the earth before one star was put into orbit and before one wave crashed upon the ocean’s shore!
It is also important to remind yourself that in creating you, Christ paid great attention to every detail and made you beautiful beyond description! He also created you to withstand the harsh elements of life and to be a useful creation for the benefit of all who enter the door of your life! Begin today to praise Him for creating you and stand in awe and behold the beauty of Christ’s masterful work of art because that is exactly what you are.
Prayer: I praise you for creating me in your image and for perfectly designing my life for a purpose no one else can fulfill! I praise you for the beauty of my life and for the attention you paid to every detail of it. I praise you Lord God for seeing such value in creating me that you designed my life even before you laid the foundations of the world! I will stand in awe of your incredible work of art called my life and I will lift up my eyes to the heavens and remind myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Amen.
Imagine for a moment what His work must have looked like? Every piece of art he created was perfect, flawless, and beautiful beyond description! Each creation was also designed for a purpose and built strong enough to withstand the harsh elements of the desert. Every curve and corner perfectly straight with smooth edges and precise dimensions!
Now imagine the thought process He went through before He actually created one of His masterpieces. When He knew what He wanted to create He carefully formulated His plan and then he executed it. The result of His perfectly calculated effort must have been an amazing sight to behold! He left nothing undone and He gave incredible attention to the details of His work!
Have you ever taken the time to consider that this very same master craftsman created you? Psalm 139: 14 – 16 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
When you think about your life do you constantly remind yourself of this Scripture or do you look at your body and your life and only see flaws and defects? Do you focus your attention on the imperfections and blemishes or do you behold the beauty of the work of art that God created when He created you? Most people forget that they were created by the master Craftsman, Jesus Christ, who made them in His own image and made them beautiful beyond description!
Today is the time to begin to embrace the truth that you were perfectly designed and created with an incredible purpose by the same God who put the stars into orbit and who made the ocean’s tide. Your life has meaning and you were woven together in the depths of the earth before one star was put into orbit and before one wave crashed upon the ocean’s shore!
It is also important to remind yourself that in creating you, Christ paid great attention to every detail and made you beautiful beyond description! He also created you to withstand the harsh elements of life and to be a useful creation for the benefit of all who enter the door of your life! Begin today to praise Him for creating you and stand in awe and behold the beauty of Christ’s masterful work of art because that is exactly what you are.
Prayer: I praise you for creating me in your image and for perfectly designing my life for a purpose no one else can fulfill! I praise you for the beauty of my life and for the attention you paid to every detail of it. I praise you Lord God for seeing such value in creating me that you designed my life even before you laid the foundations of the world! I will stand in awe of your incredible work of art called my life and I will lift up my eyes to the heavens and remind myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)