I’m notorious in my family for changing my mind! After all, it is a woman’s prerogative, right? If I decide to take one course of action (doing something, buying something, etc.), invariably I’ll decide I should choose another. By the time I act, I’ve changed my mind more than once, and it’s a surprise what I end up doing! During this process, after I’ve exhausted my mind, just to give myself peace, I decide “When the time comes to act, whatever I end up doing is how it will be.”
Changing our minds can be either a good thing or a bad thing. I want to talk about changing our minds for our own good.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God.”
Wow, I’ve just this minute figured out that I can change my mind! I CAN CHANGE MY MIND! I can change my mind-set about everything! I’ve practiced and practiced and am now an expert at changing my mind. Now I can put it to good use.
............
I started this article over a month ago, but didn’t know exactly how to finish it. I made the conscious decision to start believing what God’s Word says, rather than to believe what my mind tells me. I decided what I was thinking and believing wasn’t working very well in my life. Well, duh! Once it hit me that I can really and truly change my mind and mind-set about how I think, I was off and running. Amazing things have been happening to me since I figured out I can change my mind!
The most amazing or impacting for me is how my mind has changed about myself. My whole entire life I’ve thought, “I hate myself”, “I don’t like myself.” “I wish I wasn’t the way I am.” I’ve walked in frequent periods of depression and hopelessness. I’ve berated and hated how I am, how I talk, how I act. And God’s Word of, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” … more condemnation! How can I love anyone if I don’t love myself?
In the last week or so, I’ve found the thought going through my mind, “It really doesn’t matter.” Or, “It just doesn’t matter.” This has been in response to my actions, after I’ve talked too long, or too much, or done something embarrassing, or just acted in a way that, in my mind, made me look stupid. And as I kept saying it, it finally registered to my mind and spirit that it really doesn’t matter! I am who I am, and I like who I am. WHAT WAS THAT? Did I just think that? Really? Wow! Now I find myself saying out loud “I love myself. I love who I am in Jesus. I love how I think and process things. I love who I really am. I may not like how my words come out haltingly when I talk, but I accept that it just doesn’t matter, because it’s “what’s inside” me that counts!
Wow! Jesus just set this captive free! It is truly a miracle, a supernatural sign and wonder in my long life! Thank you Jesus! There are endless possibilities before me now…
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wilbur T. Cornfield - The Swallow Who Spit by Harlas Seidel
Wilbur T. Cornfield: It was a fine name my parents gave me, and I know they were so proud on the day I was hatched. I was just a tiny featherless body with feet and a beak, but I guess that’s how all swallows look when they claw and peck their way out of the confines of their eggs.
Mom said that I was born with my mouth open and hungry all the time. She and Dad kept busy finding bits of food and flying back to stuff it into the mouths of their seven swallow babies. The interesting thing was that Rufus, Ralph, Rachael, Randy, Ruthie and Rasputin all obediently swallowed their food like good little swallows, but every once in awhile I felt this compelling urge to spit, instead of swallow. There was no reason; the food was okay, and I was hungry, but I just spit it out. Ralph was the biggest, and he generally got the food on the floor of the nest.
Mom and Dad caught me one time, and they lectured me pretty good. You know, “We work hard for our food. You’re being rebellious.” … and the ultimate, “Swallows are starving in China,” … or India, or some place.
Now, you and I both know that swallows are supposed to swallow, not spit. Well, maybe I was a little bit rebellious, but I wasn’t stupid. From then on, I tried to spit when no one else was looking. I would cover my beak with my featherless wing and spit as quietly as possible.
Ruthie was such a tattletale. And she watched me like a hawk, not a swallow.
“Wilbur’s been spitting again,” she’d say when Mom or Dad would light on the edge of the nest. I swear, she would rather tell on me than eat, and that’s saying a lot for a baby swallow.
I got into a lot of trouble growing up, but my feathers were growing pretty fast, and I was getting better at hiding my actions.
When the day finally came for us to leave the nest, I was more than ready. Mom and Dad woke us early one morning. “Time to try your wings, kids.” For days we had been jumping up on the lip of the nest and flapping our wings like we really would leap out to what we were sure would be certain death. Ralph almost fell one time. Rasputin and Randy beaked him just in time and pulled him back to the safety of the nest.
That morning there was to be no turning back. With their strong wings they forced Rachael up to the edge and over. The rest of us couldn’t see, but Mom took off with her and a couple minutes later Rachael landed on a branch above the nest. I knew they were going alphabetically and for once I was grateful that my name was Wilbur, instead of Andrew or Axel or something. Ralph was next, and he made it to the branch Rachael was on. Randy and Rasputin followed, flying and landing successfully. Rufus tried to hide, but let me tell you, a nest is not a good place for hide-and-seek. Boy was I glad to see Ruthie go over the edge: she was such a little snert!
Soon, my six siblings were perched on the branch above the nest. I knew what was coming, but I didn’t know if I was ready. Dad hopped toward me, and I don’t know what came over me. I started spitting uncontrollably.
“Wilbur!” I heard Mom say. “Now stop that! You’re a Cornfield and Cornfield’s don’t spit.”
I felt Dad’s strong wings pressing against me, and I think he pecked me, too. I was still spitting when I plunged over the edge of the nest. It was about 30 feet down, as the crow flies; but I wasn’t a crow, and at that particular moment, I wasn’t flying, either. The last thing I remembered was Ruthie yelling at Mom. “Wilbur’s spitting! Wilbur’s spitting!”
I don’t know how long I lay on the ground, but when I woke up and looked around, they were all gone: Mom, Dad, Rachael, Ralph, Randy, Rasputin, Rufus and Ruthie. I wiggled my feet, legs, neck and wings. Nothing was broken, but I was still pretty woozy. I hopped around a little and made some swallow sounds to let Mom and Dad know I was okay, and I was hungry. But they didn’t come.
I was very sorry for my rebellion then, and I swore to myself that if they would only come back for me, I would never ever spit again.
About that time, I heard a familiar flapping of wings. Suddenly Mom was there beside me, and I knew I would be safe. She fed me a morsel of food and told me that she loved me. I told her I would never spit again, and I was sorry for my rebellion.
I guess this is about the end of my story. Mom and I hopped over to the edge of an embankment. She flew out and back a couple of times to show me how, and then she gently nudged me. I flapped my wings, and before you knew it, I was flying. We rejoined the family just in time to head off to Capistrano.
The moral of my story is, “Children, obey your parents. And stop spitting!”
Signed,
Wilbur T. Cornfield
Swallow
P. S. The T. stands for Truebird
Mom said that I was born with my mouth open and hungry all the time. She and Dad kept busy finding bits of food and flying back to stuff it into the mouths of their seven swallow babies. The interesting thing was that Rufus, Ralph, Rachael, Randy, Ruthie and Rasputin all obediently swallowed their food like good little swallows, but every once in awhile I felt this compelling urge to spit, instead of swallow. There was no reason; the food was okay, and I was hungry, but I just spit it out. Ralph was the biggest, and he generally got the food on the floor of the nest.
Mom and Dad caught me one time, and they lectured me pretty good. You know, “We work hard for our food. You’re being rebellious.” … and the ultimate, “Swallows are starving in China,” … or India, or some place.
Now, you and I both know that swallows are supposed to swallow, not spit. Well, maybe I was a little bit rebellious, but I wasn’t stupid. From then on, I tried to spit when no one else was looking. I would cover my beak with my featherless wing and spit as quietly as possible.
Ruthie was such a tattletale. And she watched me like a hawk, not a swallow.
“Wilbur’s been spitting again,” she’d say when Mom or Dad would light on the edge of the nest. I swear, she would rather tell on me than eat, and that’s saying a lot for a baby swallow.
I got into a lot of trouble growing up, but my feathers were growing pretty fast, and I was getting better at hiding my actions.
When the day finally came for us to leave the nest, I was more than ready. Mom and Dad woke us early one morning. “Time to try your wings, kids.” For days we had been jumping up on the lip of the nest and flapping our wings like we really would leap out to what we were sure would be certain death. Ralph almost fell one time. Rasputin and Randy beaked him just in time and pulled him back to the safety of the nest.
That morning there was to be no turning back. With their strong wings they forced Rachael up to the edge and over. The rest of us couldn’t see, but Mom took off with her and a couple minutes later Rachael landed on a branch above the nest. I knew they were going alphabetically and for once I was grateful that my name was Wilbur, instead of Andrew or Axel or something. Ralph was next, and he made it to the branch Rachael was on. Randy and Rasputin followed, flying and landing successfully. Rufus tried to hide, but let me tell you, a nest is not a good place for hide-and-seek. Boy was I glad to see Ruthie go over the edge: she was such a little snert!
Soon, my six siblings were perched on the branch above the nest. I knew what was coming, but I didn’t know if I was ready. Dad hopped toward me, and I don’t know what came over me. I started spitting uncontrollably.
“Wilbur!” I heard Mom say. “Now stop that! You’re a Cornfield and Cornfield’s don’t spit.”
I felt Dad’s strong wings pressing against me, and I think he pecked me, too. I was still spitting when I plunged over the edge of the nest. It was about 30 feet down, as the crow flies; but I wasn’t a crow, and at that particular moment, I wasn’t flying, either. The last thing I remembered was Ruthie yelling at Mom. “Wilbur’s spitting! Wilbur’s spitting!”
I don’t know how long I lay on the ground, but when I woke up and looked around, they were all gone: Mom, Dad, Rachael, Ralph, Randy, Rasputin, Rufus and Ruthie. I wiggled my feet, legs, neck and wings. Nothing was broken, but I was still pretty woozy. I hopped around a little and made some swallow sounds to let Mom and Dad know I was okay, and I was hungry. But they didn’t come.
I was very sorry for my rebellion then, and I swore to myself that if they would only come back for me, I would never ever spit again.
About that time, I heard a familiar flapping of wings. Suddenly Mom was there beside me, and I knew I would be safe. She fed me a morsel of food and told me that she loved me. I told her I would never spit again, and I was sorry for my rebellion.
I guess this is about the end of my story. Mom and I hopped over to the edge of an embankment. She flew out and back a couple of times to show me how, and then she gently nudged me. I flapped my wings, and before you knew it, I was flying. We rejoined the family just in time to head off to Capistrano.
The moral of my story is, “Children, obey your parents. And stop spitting!”
Signed,
Wilbur T. Cornfield
Swallow
P. S. The T. stands for Truebird
Friday, July 23, 2010
Harboring a Grudge by Harlas Seidel
Picture a ship, Y.S.S. (Your Soul’s Ship) Bitterness, filled with pirates and cutthroats, pulling into a harbor (The Harbor of the Grace of God). It is tied up to a pier, and the crew is about to go on shore leave. The crew plan to terrorize the inhabitants of this place.
Look at the crew as they leave the ship. Pride swaggers down the gangway. Pride is always first. He always draws attention to himself and never backs down from a fight, whether he is right or wrong. Things always have to be done his way or not at all. And he will fight with anyone who opposes him. He is loud and boastful and eternally striving to prove his point, in order to get others to follow him. He used to be the captain of this ship, and never thought his demotion was fair. He is subversive, and struggles to regain control, so he can take the ship wherever he wants.
The next off the ship walks with a limp, and is covered with scars and wounds. He is a very close companion to Pride. You can hear him muttering to himself and to anyone else who will listen. He is a pitiable character, and in fact, his name is Self-Pity. He stays very close to Pride, even though Pride has led him into a lot of scrapes and fights, and Self-Pity always gets hurt. He makes a lot of sniveling noises, and never hesitates to let others know how tough his lot in life is, or to show off his scars. The thing is, most of the scars never heal because Self-Pity continually picks at them and opens them up anew.
Self-Pity has no real position in the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness, but goes around with his two side-kicks, Murmuring and Complaining, bending the ears of those foolish enough to ask how he’s doing. In fact, Murmuring and Complaining are the next two down the gangway. They stick close to Self-Pity, knowing that if he were ever fired, they would be out of a job as well. You can hear their incessant chatter as they disembark, and you know that the dark little rain cloud hovering over them will follow them into the town. Quite a crew: Pride, Self-Pity, Murmuring, and Complaining; but really this is only the foretaste of that which is yet to come.
There is a space before the next two characters begin their descent down the gangway. The reason is obvious when you see their countenances. Anger and Hatred are good buddies; but only with each other. They can recount every bad thing that has ever happened to them, and the more they think on these things, the madder they get. They are uptight, and don’t care who knows. Everybody better stay out of their way; for in their thinking, they have been pushed far enough. And they won’t take it any more. They lash out even during their calmer moments. And they are forever on guard, perceiving every action from any other as hostile. They are ready to take revenge, and fighting fair is not something they do very well.
After awhile, a hulking, giant-like person steps to the edge of the gangway. The ship actually leans toward whatever side he is on. This is the Captain of the Y.S.S. Bitterness. A scowl distorts the features of his face. The boards groan beneath his feet, afraid they might break under his weight. Captain Grudge is coming ashore. (This is what is known as harboring a grudge.)
The crew are all waiting for Captain Grudge; something is wrong. The Harbor Master is speaking to them in a calm voice, but one with definite authority. The ship, Y.S.S. Bitterness is not being granted access into this harbor at this time. The Harbor Master introduces Himself. Forgiveness is His name. His police, the shore patrol, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance are with Him. They surround the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness to make sure that Forgiveness’ orders are carried out.
Pride tries to speak, but Meekness points his sword at Pride’s throat, and Pride is broken. Self-Pity tries to tell of all the wrongs done him, but Faith stares him down. Then as if at a signal, Captain Grudge turns and lumbers back up the gangway. Anger and Hatred threaten, but in the end they are silenced by Peace. They follow Captain Grudge, with the rest of the motley crew slowly trailing behind.
The ship hoists its sails and Y.S.S. Bitterness leaves the Harbor of the Grace of God. The village is once again safe and returns to expressing praise and worship to the Living God.
Look at the crew as they leave the ship. Pride swaggers down the gangway. Pride is always first. He always draws attention to himself and never backs down from a fight, whether he is right or wrong. Things always have to be done his way or not at all. And he will fight with anyone who opposes him. He is loud and boastful and eternally striving to prove his point, in order to get others to follow him. He used to be the captain of this ship, and never thought his demotion was fair. He is subversive, and struggles to regain control, so he can take the ship wherever he wants.
The next off the ship walks with a limp, and is covered with scars and wounds. He is a very close companion to Pride. You can hear him muttering to himself and to anyone else who will listen. He is a pitiable character, and in fact, his name is Self-Pity. He stays very close to Pride, even though Pride has led him into a lot of scrapes and fights, and Self-Pity always gets hurt. He makes a lot of sniveling noises, and never hesitates to let others know how tough his lot in life is, or to show off his scars. The thing is, most of the scars never heal because Self-Pity continually picks at them and opens them up anew.
Self-Pity has no real position in the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness, but goes around with his two side-kicks, Murmuring and Complaining, bending the ears of those foolish enough to ask how he’s doing. In fact, Murmuring and Complaining are the next two down the gangway. They stick close to Self-Pity, knowing that if he were ever fired, they would be out of a job as well. You can hear their incessant chatter as they disembark, and you know that the dark little rain cloud hovering over them will follow them into the town. Quite a crew: Pride, Self-Pity, Murmuring, and Complaining; but really this is only the foretaste of that which is yet to come.
There is a space before the next two characters begin their descent down the gangway. The reason is obvious when you see their countenances. Anger and Hatred are good buddies; but only with each other. They can recount every bad thing that has ever happened to them, and the more they think on these things, the madder they get. They are uptight, and don’t care who knows. Everybody better stay out of their way; for in their thinking, they have been pushed far enough. And they won’t take it any more. They lash out even during their calmer moments. And they are forever on guard, perceiving every action from any other as hostile. They are ready to take revenge, and fighting fair is not something they do very well.
After awhile, a hulking, giant-like person steps to the edge of the gangway. The ship actually leans toward whatever side he is on. This is the Captain of the Y.S.S. Bitterness. A scowl distorts the features of his face. The boards groan beneath his feet, afraid they might break under his weight. Captain Grudge is coming ashore. (This is what is known as harboring a grudge.)
The crew are all waiting for Captain Grudge; something is wrong. The Harbor Master is speaking to them in a calm voice, but one with definite authority. The ship, Y.S.S. Bitterness is not being granted access into this harbor at this time. The Harbor Master introduces Himself. Forgiveness is His name. His police, the shore patrol, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness and Temperance are with Him. They surround the crew of Y.S.S. Bitterness to make sure that Forgiveness’ orders are carried out.
Pride tries to speak, but Meekness points his sword at Pride’s throat, and Pride is broken. Self-Pity tries to tell of all the wrongs done him, but Faith stares him down. Then as if at a signal, Captain Grudge turns and lumbers back up the gangway. Anger and Hatred threaten, but in the end they are silenced by Peace. They follow Captain Grudge, with the rest of the motley crew slowly trailing behind.
The ship hoists its sails and Y.S.S. Bitterness leaves the Harbor of the Grace of God. The village is once again safe and returns to expressing praise and worship to the Living God.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Magnify The Lord!
When we read the scripture, “O magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” (Psalms 34:3), we usually think of expressing honor to God in praise and worship.
However, in Philippians 1:20:21, Paul gives us a different slant on magnifying the Lord. “Christ will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through life or through death. For to me to live is Christ – His life in me: and to die in gain – the gain of the glory of eternity.” (Amplified) Let us consider what it means to magnify Jesus in our bodies.
The definition of magnify is to give honor, to make great, to enlarge. If words are too small for us to read, we might use a magnifying glass to enlarge them, so we could see them better. In actual fact, we would either put the magnifying glass directly on the words or position it towards them. The glass would be focused upon the words we wish to see, and we would have to look through the glass to see them.
What do we magnify or put the magnifying glass on in our lives? What are we focusing on? Is it Jesus? Or is it self? If we focus on ourselves, we are in essence magnifying ourselves. So what we see is still ‘self’ and all that we ‘are’, including our failures and wrong habits, and/or our successes and all we do that is right and good. When we look at or focus on ourselves, we also will naturally draw other people’s attention to us.
Consider this familiar scenario. We see someone standing outside looking up at the clouds and pointing towards the sky. As we watch, someone else comes and does the same. Soon we have to go see for ourselves what everyone is looking at. If we look at ourselves, the magnifying glass is directed at our hearts or ‘self’. To personalize this, I look at me. How to I measure up? Am I a success or a failure? Am I happy or sad? Is life hard or easy for me? Am I a good Christian or a bad Christian? If I stay focused on me, eventually other people’s attention will be drawn to me. And I might get criticized or exalted depending upon how I am evaluated by myself and others. Unfortunately, we all tend to look at ourselves and each other, judging what is good and/or bad in all our lives. It is still we who are being focused upon or ‘magnified’, not Jesus. People see us, not Jesus.
John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “I must decrease, and He must increase.” As we take the magnifying glass and focus it on Jesus in ourselves and each other, He is increased. This magnifies and gives honor and glory to the God who created the universe, who lives in those who believe in Jesus Christ. Let’s look through the glass and see Jesus. We look at who Jesus is, even if it’s ‘only us’ He lives in. We see His love, His goodness, His mercy, and His power, and He lives in us! And as we keep our eyes on Him and point to Him, pretty soon someone else will come along and be curious about what we’re looking at with such rapt attention and awe. And Jesus will be magnified in our lives, not us. What we all will see in Jesus. Is that not what we all long to do, to “magnify the Lord” in our lives?
Jesus prays to the Father in John 17:22-23, The glory which you have given Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” We can cooperate with God’s plan for us to be drawn together in one by putting our magnifying glass upon Jesus, not just in our own lives, but in one another’s lives as well. Let us help each other to focus on Jesus, rather than self, within each of us. Let us magnify and exalt the lord together!
However, in Philippians 1:20:21, Paul gives us a different slant on magnifying the Lord. “Christ will be magnified and get glory and praise in this body of mine and be boldly exalted in my person, whether through life or through death. For to me to live is Christ – His life in me: and to die in gain – the gain of the glory of eternity.” (Amplified) Let us consider what it means to magnify Jesus in our bodies.
The definition of magnify is to give honor, to make great, to enlarge. If words are too small for us to read, we might use a magnifying glass to enlarge them, so we could see them better. In actual fact, we would either put the magnifying glass directly on the words or position it towards them. The glass would be focused upon the words we wish to see, and we would have to look through the glass to see them.
What do we magnify or put the magnifying glass on in our lives? What are we focusing on? Is it Jesus? Or is it self? If we focus on ourselves, we are in essence magnifying ourselves. So what we see is still ‘self’ and all that we ‘are’, including our failures and wrong habits, and/or our successes and all we do that is right and good. When we look at or focus on ourselves, we also will naturally draw other people’s attention to us.
Consider this familiar scenario. We see someone standing outside looking up at the clouds and pointing towards the sky. As we watch, someone else comes and does the same. Soon we have to go see for ourselves what everyone is looking at. If we look at ourselves, the magnifying glass is directed at our hearts or ‘self’. To personalize this, I look at me. How to I measure up? Am I a success or a failure? Am I happy or sad? Is life hard or easy for me? Am I a good Christian or a bad Christian? If I stay focused on me, eventually other people’s attention will be drawn to me. And I might get criticized or exalted depending upon how I am evaluated by myself and others. Unfortunately, we all tend to look at ourselves and each other, judging what is good and/or bad in all our lives. It is still we who are being focused upon or ‘magnified’, not Jesus. People see us, not Jesus.
John the Baptist said in John 3:30, “I must decrease, and He must increase.” As we take the magnifying glass and focus it on Jesus in ourselves and each other, He is increased. This magnifies and gives honor and glory to the God who created the universe, who lives in those who believe in Jesus Christ. Let’s look through the glass and see Jesus. We look at who Jesus is, even if it’s ‘only us’ He lives in. We see His love, His goodness, His mercy, and His power, and He lives in us! And as we keep our eyes on Him and point to Him, pretty soon someone else will come along and be curious about what we’re looking at with such rapt attention and awe. And Jesus will be magnified in our lives, not us. What we all will see in Jesus. Is that not what we all long to do, to “magnify the Lord” in our lives?
Jesus prays to the Father in John 17:22-23, The glory which you have given Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” We can cooperate with God’s plan for us to be drawn together in one by putting our magnifying glass upon Jesus, not just in our own lives, but in one another’s lives as well. Let us help each other to focus on Jesus, rather than self, within each of us. Let us magnify and exalt the lord together!
Friday, June 18, 2010
BUT - For Us or Against Us?
How many of us have heard or said these words?
“I believe God loves me, BUT...”.
“I know God forgives me, BUT…”.
“The Scripture says…, BUT …”.
These are all words using the big “BUT” against us.
The following is a reversal. Why not use “BUT” for us?
1. God loves me totally, completely, unequivocally, irrevocably, forever - past, present, future. NO BUTS. (Romans 8:35-39). I was cut off from God (through Adam and Eve), BUT God sent Jesus (because He loves me – see #1) to shed His blood for the remission of my sins, bringing me into salvation and relationship with God. (John 3:16)
3. In my flesh there is no good thing, BUT my flesh has been crucified with Christ. My flesh can’t keep God’s standard, BUT Jesus is keeping it for me. (Romans 7:18-Romans 8:4; Philippians 2:13)
4. I am experiencing hard times and tribulation, BUT Jesus Christ lives in me and He has overcome the world; I am more than a conqueror in Him. (John 16:33: Romans 8:37)
5. My life doesn’t seem victorious, BUT God is completing the work He began in me. (Philippians 1:6)
CHALLENGE:
Next time you use the little word “BUT”, use it for you (positive), rather than against you (negative). Make your own list! Besides giving you a whole new outlook, it also works wonders in searching the Scriptures to see if a thing is true, rather than searching to see if a thing isn’t true. “The Bereans received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” ( Acts 17:11)
Final Thoughts...
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, BUT WE KNOW that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)
“The wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23)
“I believe God loves me, BUT...”.
“I know God forgives me, BUT…”.
“The Scripture says…, BUT …”.
These are all words using the big “BUT” against us.
The following is a reversal. Why not use “BUT” for us?
1. God loves me totally, completely, unequivocally, irrevocably, forever - past, present, future. NO BUTS. (Romans 8:35-39). I was cut off from God (through Adam and Eve), BUT God sent Jesus (because He loves me – see #1) to shed His blood for the remission of my sins, bringing me into salvation and relationship with God. (John 3:16)
3. In my flesh there is no good thing, BUT my flesh has been crucified with Christ. My flesh can’t keep God’s standard, BUT Jesus is keeping it for me. (Romans 7:18-Romans 8:4; Philippians 2:13)
4. I am experiencing hard times and tribulation, BUT Jesus Christ lives in me and He has overcome the world; I am more than a conqueror in Him. (John 16:33: Romans 8:37)
5. My life doesn’t seem victorious, BUT God is completing the work He began in me. (Philippians 1:6)
CHALLENGE:
Next time you use the little word “BUT”, use it for you (positive), rather than against you (negative). Make your own list! Besides giving you a whole new outlook, it also works wonders in searching the Scriptures to see if a thing is true, rather than searching to see if a thing isn’t true. “The Bereans received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” ( Acts 17:11)
Final Thoughts...
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, BUT WE KNOW that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2)
“The wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6:23)
Seidel Archives Introduction
Several years ago, I put Harlas' and my writings into church publications such as monthly newsletters, bulletins, and magazines. A couple of the magzines were Branch News and Heartbeat (Listen for the Heartbeat of the Spirit) from The Vine Christian Fellowship in Eugene, OR. I'm labeling these articles as Seidel Archives, rather than Heartbeat archives, since I realized a lot of our writings were so spread out.
I'm having to retype these as I go (from existing hard copies). May you be encouraged and blessed from reading or "rereading" them with me.
I'm having to retype these as I go (from existing hard copies). May you be encouraged and blessed from reading or "rereading" them with me.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Words and Focus
What is our focus? What are we looking at? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, “We look not at the seen but the unseen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal.” It also tells us to “not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
When the problems of life seem to “encroach on our space”, it is time to redirect our focus on God, on His Kingdom, on our spiritual lives. Instead of keeping our eyes fixed on us and our problems, or the problems of our loved ones, we need to put our eyes on God. One way we can do this is by changing the words we speak. We can take our eyes off ourselves and turn them to God by reading aloud (or reciting from memory) scripture verses having to do with who God is, and what He’s done and does! I’ve tried this and it works! We can get the spiritual momentum by swinging our eyes around, off ourselves and on to God.
Wow! This answers the question I’ve had a lot of times over the course of my life. I’ll be going along good “in the Lord”, and it seems like there is a spiritual dynamic or momentum that keeps growing, and I’m hearing from God and seeing things in the spirit almost every day. Then “something” happens, and all of a sudden, that momentum is gone. And I feel like I’ve lost it, lost that connection, and it feels awful! Once you’ve tasted that kind of life in the spirit with the Lord, and you lose it, you know you’ve lost the best thing in your life. I’m not talking about losing my salvation, or even actually losing my connection with God, but rather losing that continual, daily connection of being able to see things in the Kingdom and hear words from the Holy Spirit. (If you’ve never had that kind of life, and would like to, first of all seek God, but let me know and I’ll share with you how I learned to develop that kind of walk with Jesus.) I’ve learned that if I “lose that momentum”, I can just start building that momentum again! And the sooner I start after “losing it”, the easier it is to recover some of the momentum from before..
Back to words and our focus! The Bible says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” It also says “Set your affection on things above.” These are scriptures that address what our focus is. “What are we looking at?” Like Peter when he walked on water because Jesus said, “Come.” As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on top of the water! But then he took his eyes off Jesus, put them on the waves, and started to sink. Sometimes our problems, or the affairs of this life, busyness, all the activities or business we have to take care of, plus work, just take up so much time that our focus becomes on those things, simply to survive. As hard as it may be, we each have to find or make time to turn our eyes back on Jesus, on the eternal spiritual kingdom.
We can speak words about how God works in our lives. Even in the midst of the busyness we can say “God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed or fixed continually on Him.” Isaiah. 26:3. We can say, “God’s got my back! He always leads me in triumph in Christ Jesus. God always provides for me. I am a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, therefore, all my needs are met according to His riches in glory.”
Like David, we can say “God helped me slay the lion, and the bear (previous problems in our lives), and He is well-able to slay this giant, mountainous problem in my life. He is also well able to give me wisdom to know how to handle all the affairs of my life. He will give me the wisdom, spiritual help and guidance I need to get me out of the mess I got myself into. The Holy Spirit will teach me all things and bring to remembrance all things Jesus said. He is God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,. God made man and raises man from the dead. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
These are all scriptures I’ve put into my own words, made them my own declarations to speak and declare over my life. I encourage you to do the same. Speaking God’s Word or words redirects our focus on Him and His eternal Kingdom. When the affairs of life claim all of your attention, redirect your focus by speaking God’s Word, and speaking scriptures that declare who God is, and what He has done and can do.
When the problems of life seem to “encroach on our space”, it is time to redirect our focus on God, on His Kingdom, on our spiritual lives. Instead of keeping our eyes fixed on us and our problems, or the problems of our loved ones, we need to put our eyes on God. One way we can do this is by changing the words we speak. We can take our eyes off ourselves and turn them to God by reading aloud (or reciting from memory) scripture verses having to do with who God is, and what He’s done and does! I’ve tried this and it works! We can get the spiritual momentum by swinging our eyes around, off ourselves and on to God.
Wow! This answers the question I’ve had a lot of times over the course of my life. I’ll be going along good “in the Lord”, and it seems like there is a spiritual dynamic or momentum that keeps growing, and I’m hearing from God and seeing things in the spirit almost every day. Then “something” happens, and all of a sudden, that momentum is gone. And I feel like I’ve lost it, lost that connection, and it feels awful! Once you’ve tasted that kind of life in the spirit with the Lord, and you lose it, you know you’ve lost the best thing in your life. I’m not talking about losing my salvation, or even actually losing my connection with God, but rather losing that continual, daily connection of being able to see things in the Kingdom and hear words from the Holy Spirit. (If you’ve never had that kind of life, and would like to, first of all seek God, but let me know and I’ll share with you how I learned to develop that kind of walk with Jesus.) I’ve learned that if I “lose that momentum”, I can just start building that momentum again! And the sooner I start after “losing it”, the easier it is to recover some of the momentum from before..
Back to words and our focus! The Bible says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” It also says “Set your affection on things above.” These are scriptures that address what our focus is. “What are we looking at?” Like Peter when he walked on water because Jesus said, “Come.” As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on top of the water! But then he took his eyes off Jesus, put them on the waves, and started to sink. Sometimes our problems, or the affairs of this life, busyness, all the activities or business we have to take care of, plus work, just take up so much time that our focus becomes on those things, simply to survive. As hard as it may be, we each have to find or make time to turn our eyes back on Jesus, on the eternal spiritual kingdom.
We can speak words about how God works in our lives. Even in the midst of the busyness we can say “God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed or fixed continually on Him.” Isaiah. 26:3. We can say, “God’s got my back! He always leads me in triumph in Christ Jesus. God always provides for me. I am a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, therefore, all my needs are met according to His riches in glory.”
Like David, we can say “God helped me slay the lion, and the bear (previous problems in our lives), and He is well-able to slay this giant, mountainous problem in my life. He is also well able to give me wisdom to know how to handle all the affairs of my life. He will give me the wisdom, spiritual help and guidance I need to get me out of the mess I got myself into. The Holy Spirit will teach me all things and bring to remembrance all things Jesus said. He is God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,. God made man and raises man from the dead. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
These are all scriptures I’ve put into my own words, made them my own declarations to speak and declare over my life. I encourage you to do the same. Speaking God’s Word or words redirects our focus on Him and His eternal Kingdom. When the affairs of life claim all of your attention, redirect your focus by speaking God’s Word, and speaking scriptures that declare who God is, and what He has done and can do.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Words, Heart, and Life
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4. These scriptures connect our words with life; now let’s see where our hearts fit into this equation.
God is Spirit, and we are made in His image. Therefore we are also spirits, who have a soul, and live in a body. Our spirit is often referred to as our heart, our inner man, or the hidden man of the heart. Our spirit is who we are, the real us. Our spirit is the part of us that connects us to God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. It is also the part of us that will live forever, either in Heaven or Hell, depending on what we believe about Jesus, who is the only way to Heaven.* That is a brief definition, or explanation of our hearts. It is necessary for us to understand what or who our hearts (spirits) are, and the impact our words have on our hearts.
Jesus, Himself, is the one who linked words, heart, and life together. He said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) He said to God, the Father, “Your words are truth.” (John 17:17) Here again we see the correlation between words (truth), heart (spirit) and life. Remember, God is a creative God, and we are made in His image. Words in our hearts (spirits) spoken out loud create. They create either life or death.
Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He also said “The things that come out of the mouth (words) come from the heart.” (Matthew 15:16) Solomon said in Proverbs 4:20-23 to keep God’s word “in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The NIV version says the heart is the wellspring of life. The Amplified Bible says it this way. “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; for out of it flow the springs of life.” Above all, we are to guard our heart with diligence and vigilance, and keep our hearts secure in God’s Word. “Your word have I hid in my heart.” (Psalm 119:11)
It is imperative that we guard our hearts. The way we do this is to keep God’s words in the midst of our hearts. We don’t let them depart from us; we don’t neglect, or ignore His words. We put His words into our hearts by reading, speaking, memorizing, and meditating. If we keep an abundance of His words in our hearts, then when we speak, we will be speaking life, creating hope and life in other people. That is so powerful!
However, the reverse is true. If we don’t put His word in our hearts and minds, the words that come out of our hearts will be words of death both to us and the people around us. Again that picture of a burned forest comes to my mind: death, devastation, and destruction. The choice is ours. Every day we can choose life or death. Let’s choose life. Proverbs 15:4 shows us a different picture than the burned down forest. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Let’s replant that forest with living, healthy, thriving trees!
Keeping God’s Word in our hearts affects our entire lives. God’s words are spirit and they are life. Since God is spirit, His words are spirit. His words create life. They create spirit life. And this spirit life is eternal! His words in our hearts cause that eternal spirit life to flow into our lives and out to others. The spirit life, which is in God’s words, not only brings life to our hearts, or spirits, but also affects our souls and our physical bodies. It brings health to all of our flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-23) And by guarding our mouths and tongues we can keep our souls from trouble, and keep ourselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23, NKJ and NIV)
Picture that wellspring of life flowing through us, creating a sense of well-being and peace in us. See it spilling out to other people as we speak life out of the abundance of our hearts.
*(1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 3:5-8, 16; John 4:23,24; John 6:63; Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:9, Romans 2:29, Romans 8 whole chapter; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26; 1 John 4:2,-; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 4:12; )
God is Spirit, and we are made in His image. Therefore we are also spirits, who have a soul, and live in a body. Our spirit is often referred to as our heart, our inner man, or the hidden man of the heart. Our spirit is who we are, the real us. Our spirit is the part of us that connects us to God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. It is also the part of us that will live forever, either in Heaven or Hell, depending on what we believe about Jesus, who is the only way to Heaven.* That is a brief definition, or explanation of our hearts. It is necessary for us to understand what or who our hearts (spirits) are, and the impact our words have on our hearts.
Jesus, Himself, is the one who linked words, heart, and life together. He said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) He said to God, the Father, “Your words are truth.” (John 17:17) Here again we see the correlation between words (truth), heart (spirit) and life. Remember, God is a creative God, and we are made in His image. Words in our hearts (spirits) spoken out loud create. They create either life or death.
Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He also said “The things that come out of the mouth (words) come from the heart.” (Matthew 15:16) Solomon said in Proverbs 4:20-23 to keep God’s word “in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The NIV version says the heart is the wellspring of life. The Amplified Bible says it this way. “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; for out of it flow the springs of life.” Above all, we are to guard our heart with diligence and vigilance, and keep our hearts secure in God’s Word. “Your word have I hid in my heart.” (Psalm 119:11)
It is imperative that we guard our hearts. The way we do this is to keep God’s words in the midst of our hearts. We don’t let them depart from us; we don’t neglect, or ignore His words. We put His words into our hearts by reading, speaking, memorizing, and meditating. If we keep an abundance of His words in our hearts, then when we speak, we will be speaking life, creating hope and life in other people. That is so powerful!
However, the reverse is true. If we don’t put His word in our hearts and minds, the words that come out of our hearts will be words of death both to us and the people around us. Again that picture of a burned forest comes to my mind: death, devastation, and destruction. The choice is ours. Every day we can choose life or death. Let’s choose life. Proverbs 15:4 shows us a different picture than the burned down forest. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Let’s replant that forest with living, healthy, thriving trees!
Keeping God’s Word in our hearts affects our entire lives. God’s words are spirit and they are life. Since God is spirit, His words are spirit. His words create life. They create spirit life. And this spirit life is eternal! His words in our hearts cause that eternal spirit life to flow into our lives and out to others. The spirit life, which is in God’s words, not only brings life to our hearts, or spirits, but also affects our souls and our physical bodies. It brings health to all of our flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-23) And by guarding our mouths and tongues we can keep our souls from trouble, and keep ourselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23, NKJ and NIV)
Picture that wellspring of life flowing through us, creating a sense of well-being and peace in us. See it spilling out to other people as we speak life out of the abundance of our hearts.
*(1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 3:5-8, 16; John 4:23,24; John 6:63; Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:9, Romans 2:29, Romans 8 whole chapter; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26; 1 John 4:2,-; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 4:12; )
Friday, April 9, 2010
Prayer of Faith - a Lifeline
Today a friend prayed for me. Her prayer of faith (in God for me) was like a lifeline at a time I needed a lifeline.
It has been my experience that we can have great faith in God for answering and helping other people; there's not a doubt there that God will answer. But sometimes, when it comes to having faith for something in our own lives, it's harder to do. And then someone who does have that great faith in God for us comes along and prays for us, and their faith sparks our own faith! (Remember, it only takes a spark...) We believe because they believe that God will answer the needs in our lives.
It's like a lifeline of faith...we're drowing or floundering in a sea of doubt, and their prayer becomes a lifeline to pull us into the boat of faith and victory.
James 5:15:
"The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the lord will raise him (or her)up..."
James 5:16
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much.
Just a current example of how important and powerful our words are, and how they can change lives!
It has been my experience that we can have great faith in God for answering and helping other people; there's not a doubt there that God will answer. But sometimes, when it comes to having faith for something in our own lives, it's harder to do. And then someone who does have that great faith in God for us comes along and prays for us, and their faith sparks our own faith! (Remember, it only takes a spark...) We believe because they believe that God will answer the needs in our lives.
It's like a lifeline of faith...we're drowing or floundering in a sea of doubt, and their prayer becomes a lifeline to pull us into the boat of faith and victory.
James 5:15:
"The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the lord will raise him (or her)up..."
James 5:16
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much.
Just a current example of how important and powerful our words are, and how they can change lives!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Words, Heart and Life
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Proverbs 15:4. These scriptures connect our words with life; now let’s see where our hearts fit into this equation.
God is Spirit, and we are made in His image. Therefore we are also spirits, who have a soul, and live in a body. Our spirit is often referred to as our heart, our inner man, or the hidden man of the heart. Our spirit is who we are, the real us. Our spirit is the part of us that connects us to God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. It is also the part of us that will live forever, either in Heaven or Hell, depending on what we believe about Jesus, who is the only way to Heaven.* That is a brief definition, or explanation of our hearts. It is necessary for us to understand what or who our hearts (spirits) are, and the impact our words have on our hearts.
Jesus, Himself, is the one who linked words, heart, and life together. He said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) He said to God, the Father, “Your words are truth.” (John 17:17) Here again we see the correlation between words (truth), heart (spirit) and life. Remember, God is a creative God, and we are made in His image. Words in our hearts (spirits) spoken out loud create. They create either life or death.
Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He also said “The things that come out of the mouth (words) come from the heart.” (Matthew 15:16) Solomon said in Proverbs 4:20-23 to keep God’s word “in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The NIV version says the heart is the wellspring of life. The Amplified Bible says it this way. “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; for out of it flow the springs of life.” Above all, we are to guard our heart with diligence and vigilance, and keep our hearts secure in God’s Word. “Your word have I hid in my heart.” (Psalm 119:11)
It is imperative that we guard our hearts. The way we do this is to keep God’s words in the midst of our hearts. We don’t let them depart from us; we don’t neglect, or ignore His words. We put His words into our hearts by reading, speaking, memorizing, and meditating. If we keep an abundance of His words in our hearts, then when we speak, we will be speaking life, creating hope and life in other people. That is so powerful!
However, the reverse is true. If we don’t put His word in our hearts and minds, the words that come out of our hearts will be words of death both to us and the people around us. Again that picture of a burned forest comes to my mind: death, devastation, and destruction. The choice is ours. Every day we can choose life or death. Let’s choose life. Proverbs 15:4 shows us a different picture than the burned down forest. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Let’s replant that forest with living, healthy, thriving trees!
Keeping God’s Word in our hearts affects our entire lives. God’s words are spirit and they are life. Since God is spirit, His words are spirit. His words create life. They create spirit life. And this spirit life is eternal! His words in our hearts cause that eternal spirit life to flow into our lives and out to others. The spirit life, which is in God’s words, not only brings life to our hearts, or spirits, but also affects our souls and our physical bodies. It brings health to all of our flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-23) And by guarding our mouths and tongues we can keep our souls from trouble, and keep ourselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23, NKJ and NIV)
Picture that wellspring of life flowing through us, creating a sense of well-being and peace in us. See it spilling out to other people as we speak life out of the abundance of our hearts.
*(1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 3:5-8, 16; John 4:23,24; John 6:63; Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:9, Romans 2:29, Romans 8 whole chapter; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26; 1 John 4:2,-; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 4:12; )
God is Spirit, and we are made in His image. Therefore we are also spirits, who have a soul, and live in a body. Our spirit is often referred to as our heart, our inner man, or the hidden man of the heart. Our spirit is who we are, the real us. Our spirit is the part of us that connects us to God the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. It is also the part of us that will live forever, either in Heaven or Hell, depending on what we believe about Jesus, who is the only way to Heaven.* That is a brief definition, or explanation of our hearts. It is necessary for us to understand what or who our hearts (spirits) are, and the impact our words have on our hearts.
Jesus, Himself, is the one who linked words, heart, and life together. He said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) Jesus also said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) He said to God, the Father, “Your words are truth.” (John 17:17) Here again we see the correlation between words (truth), heart (spirit) and life. Remember, God is a creative God, and we are made in His image. Words in our hearts (spirits) spoken out loud create. They create either life or death.
Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) He also said “The things that come out of the mouth (words) come from the heart.” (Matthew 15:16) Solomon said in Proverbs 4:20-23 to keep God’s word “in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” The NIV version says the heart is the wellspring of life. The Amplified Bible says it this way. “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; for out of it flow the springs of life.” Above all, we are to guard our heart with diligence and vigilance, and keep our hearts secure in God’s Word. “Your word have I hid in my heart.” (Psalm 119:11)
It is imperative that we guard our hearts. The way we do this is to keep God’s words in the midst of our hearts. We don’t let them depart from us; we don’t neglect, or ignore His words. We put His words into our hearts by reading, speaking, memorizing, and meditating. If we keep an abundance of His words in our hearts, then when we speak, we will be speaking life, creating hope and life in other people. That is so powerful!
However, the reverse is true. If we don’t put His word in our hearts and minds, the words that come out of our hearts will be words of death both to us and the people around us. Again that picture of a burned forest comes to my mind: death, devastation, and destruction. The choice is ours. Every day we can choose life or death. Let’s choose life. Proverbs 15:4 shows us a different picture than the burned down forest. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Let’s replant that forest with living, healthy, thriving trees!
Keeping God’s Word in our hearts affects our entire lives. God’s words are spirit and they are life. Since God is spirit, His words are spirit. His words create life. They create spirit life. And this spirit life is eternal! His words in our hearts cause that eternal spirit life to flow into our lives and out to others. The spirit life, which is in God’s words, not only brings life to our hearts, or spirits, but also affects our souls and our physical bodies. It brings health to all of our flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-23) And by guarding our mouths and tongues we can keep our souls from trouble, and keep ourselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23, NKJ and NIV)
Picture that wellspring of life flowing through us, creating a sense of well-being and peace in us. See it spilling out to other people as we speak life out of the abundance of our hearts.
*(1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 3:5-8, 16; John 4:23,24; John 6:63; Ephesians 3:16; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:9, Romans 2:29, Romans 8 whole chapter; 1 Corinthians 2:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26; 1 John 4:2,-; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Colossians 2:5; Hebrews 4:12; )
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Speaking Words
This next section of articles will be focused on the words we speak. We will consider concepts having to do with our tongue, mouth, speaking, saying, talking, and confessing. We will revisit the nature of words from Article # 2. We will review some scriptures and look at new ones.
Words Matter
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) This scripture alone should scream at us that we absolutely must consider the words we speak. Death and Life…it doesn’t get more basic than that. It is imperative that we realize our words matter! They are powerful enough to create life and death, not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people. Parents know this concept…”Watch your tongue, boy!” Does that sound familiar to anyone?
James also talks about the tongue. (James 3:1-9) He says the tongue is a small part of the body, but has power over the body. Like a bit in the mouth of a horse, or a small rudder on a ship, which can turn the horse or the ship in the midst of a storm, our mouths can turn our whole bodies. He goes on to say that our tongues are a fire, a small spark of a fire that can destroy a whole forest. So our tongues can destroy our whole bodies. “It (the tongue) corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” He says if anyone is able to control the tongue, he is a perfect, mature man, able to keep his whole body in check.
This sounds to me like what comes out of our mouths is much more powerful than we have thought! It is serious stuff! Death, life, and a fire… our tongues, the words we speak, may be the most important part of our bodies. They set and establish the course and direction of our lives. This means we can turn our lives one direction or another by the words we speak (like the rudder on a boat). What direction are our lives going? Are we satisfied with them, or would we like to change them? Our words can create a path of destruction, leaving behind rubble and ruined lives (started with the small spark of a fire). I picture trees that were once green and healthy ending up black and dead. Our words have enough power to do that in someone’s life! That is devastatingly sad. Or, we can leave a legacy of life and vitality, creating a thriving forest or greenhouse in someone’s life!
Let’s consider a similar analogy. Houses, like trees, or forests, are also burned down by a spark of a fire. Picture our lives as a house. Maybe it needs a little repair, a new coat of paint, some flowers blooming in the yard. Then a neighbor comes along and says something negative, ugly, or untrue. The house loses a little more paint, the window breaks, the plumbing goes haywire, what little grass was in the yard turns brown, and the trees and shrubs decay. If more people come by and speak some of those same kinds of things, our house might burn down altogether. However, maybe other people, possibly a friend or even a stranger, comes along and says something positive or encouraging to us. The house brightens up – perhaps it just got that new coat of paint – the window got a new window pane, the grass is watered and turns green, the plumber fixed the plumbing free of charge, and our yard has beautiful flowers in it along with healthy green trees. And all of these things happen because of the words spoken by someone’s tongue. That is powerful!
Our tongues can create death or life. They can turn our lives around to go a different direction. They can destroy a life, including our own, or they can build up and create a thriving life full of wisdom and maturity. The choice is ours. We each must decide how to use our tongues, whether to speak words of life or words of death, words to build up or words to destroy. What an exciting opportunity we have to change our lives, and to make a positive difference in someone else’s life! The choice is ours!
Words Matter
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) This scripture alone should scream at us that we absolutely must consider the words we speak. Death and Life…it doesn’t get more basic than that. It is imperative that we realize our words matter! They are powerful enough to create life and death, not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people. Parents know this concept…”Watch your tongue, boy!” Does that sound familiar to anyone?
James also talks about the tongue. (James 3:1-9) He says the tongue is a small part of the body, but has power over the body. Like a bit in the mouth of a horse, or a small rudder on a ship, which can turn the horse or the ship in the midst of a storm, our mouths can turn our whole bodies. He goes on to say that our tongues are a fire, a small spark of a fire that can destroy a whole forest. So our tongues can destroy our whole bodies. “It (the tongue) corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” He says if anyone is able to control the tongue, he is a perfect, mature man, able to keep his whole body in check.
This sounds to me like what comes out of our mouths is much more powerful than we have thought! It is serious stuff! Death, life, and a fire… our tongues, the words we speak, may be the most important part of our bodies. They set and establish the course and direction of our lives. This means we can turn our lives one direction or another by the words we speak (like the rudder on a boat). What direction are our lives going? Are we satisfied with them, or would we like to change them? Our words can create a path of destruction, leaving behind rubble and ruined lives (started with the small spark of a fire). I picture trees that were once green and healthy ending up black and dead. Our words have enough power to do that in someone’s life! That is devastatingly sad. Or, we can leave a legacy of life and vitality, creating a thriving forest or greenhouse in someone’s life!
Let’s consider a similar analogy. Houses, like trees, or forests, are also burned down by a spark of a fire. Picture our lives as a house. Maybe it needs a little repair, a new coat of paint, some flowers blooming in the yard. Then a neighbor comes along and says something negative, ugly, or untrue. The house loses a little more paint, the window breaks, the plumbing goes haywire, what little grass was in the yard turns brown, and the trees and shrubs decay. If more people come by and speak some of those same kinds of things, our house might burn down altogether. However, maybe other people, possibly a friend or even a stranger, comes along and says something positive or encouraging to us. The house brightens up – perhaps it just got that new coat of paint – the window got a new window pane, the grass is watered and turns green, the plumber fixed the plumbing free of charge, and our yard has beautiful flowers in it along with healthy green trees. And all of these things happen because of the words spoken by someone’s tongue. That is powerful!
Our tongues can create death or life. They can turn our lives around to go a different direction. They can destroy a life, including our own, or they can build up and create a thriving life full of wisdom and maturity. The choice is ours. We each must decide how to use our tongues, whether to speak words of life or words of death, words to build up or words to destroy. What an exciting opportunity we have to change our lives, and to make a positive difference in someone else’s life! The choice is ours!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Thoughts at Work
Think of our minds as the “work place.” Sometimes we have to work hard to think the right thoughts, but the benefits that come from thinking God’s Words are fantastic! It has the best “benefits package” around…great pay – abundance and blessings beyond measure – plus profit sharing, eternal life, health, and retirement assurance. And the paid vacations are out of this world! There is no thrill like vacationing in the Kingdom of God. The things you get to see and experience there spoil you for any other vacation spot. But…back to our minds, the “work” place. Let’s go into our work cubicles and put our thoughts to work.
Thoughts: Job Description
1. Wage war against every wrong thought.
2. Cast down all imaginations and thoughts that exalt themselves against God’s thoughts.
3. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
4. Renew our minds, so our lives are transformed.
5. Set our minds securely and steadfastly on God, on things above, and on things of the Spirit.
6. Think only on the pure, good, lovely, just, noble, praiseworthy thoughts. (Philippians 4:18)
7. Any other task that is revealed by the Word of God, including special projects.
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 tells us that our weapons are mighty in God, and that they can pull down strongholds. It goes on to say that these weapons have to do with our thoughts, arguments, and imaginations. We win when we “cast down arguments (imaginations) and every high thing (thought) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Thoughts that do not line up with God’s word are strongholds in our lives, and work against us. When we start thinking God’s thoughts (His Word), we can pull down those strongholds and change our lives! Words (even thinking them) are powerful. God’s Word is powerful and life-changing!
Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We renew our minds, and change the way we think about things, by meditating on God’s Word. We can be transformed by thinking God’s thoughts.
One of the benefits of setting our minds on God’s Word is peace. We can have peace of mind.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is steadfast on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“Set your mind on things above.” (Colossians 3:1-2) “Those who live according to the (Holy) Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6) Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. (John 14:27)
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.” These things are what we need to live, like water, food, homes, and clothing. God promises abundant life and exceeding abundance above all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20: John 10:10) Abundance is one of our perks!
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:20-21, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We store up treasures in heaven by putting God’s Word in our minds. When it is in our minds and hearts, no one can take it away. And the Holy Spirit promises to remind us of it when we need it. Our treasure is secure!
Although our thoughts sometimes have to work overtime, it is a blessing in disguise. When we achieve our thought goals, we get to experience all the joys of a job well done, and we have a sense of accomplishment and victory, resulting in our lives being changed! It is well-worth the effort we put forth to think the right thoughts, and to think God’s thoughts.
Thoughts: Job Description
1. Wage war against every wrong thought.
2. Cast down all imaginations and thoughts that exalt themselves against God’s thoughts.
3. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
4. Renew our minds, so our lives are transformed.
5. Set our minds securely and steadfastly on God, on things above, and on things of the Spirit.
6. Think only on the pure, good, lovely, just, noble, praiseworthy thoughts. (Philippians 4:18)
7. Any other task that is revealed by the Word of God, including special projects.
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5 tells us that our weapons are mighty in God, and that they can pull down strongholds. It goes on to say that these weapons have to do with our thoughts, arguments, and imaginations. We win when we “cast down arguments (imaginations) and every high thing (thought) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Thoughts that do not line up with God’s word are strongholds in our lives, and work against us. When we start thinking God’s thoughts (His Word), we can pull down those strongholds and change our lives! Words (even thinking them) are powerful. God’s Word is powerful and life-changing!
Romans 12:2 says “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We renew our minds, and change the way we think about things, by meditating on God’s Word. We can be transformed by thinking God’s thoughts.
One of the benefits of setting our minds on God’s Word is peace. We can have peace of mind.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is steadfast on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“Set your mind on things above.” (Colossians 3:1-2) “Those who live according to the (Holy) Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit. To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6) Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. (John 14:27)
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.” These things are what we need to live, like water, food, homes, and clothing. God promises abundant life and exceeding abundance above all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20: John 10:10) Abundance is one of our perks!
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:20-21, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” We store up treasures in heaven by putting God’s Word in our minds. When it is in our minds and hearts, no one can take it away. And the Holy Spirit promises to remind us of it when we need it. Our treasure is secure!
Although our thoughts sometimes have to work overtime, it is a blessing in disguise. When we achieve our thought goals, we get to experience all the joys of a job well done, and we have a sense of accomplishment and victory, resulting in our lives being changed! It is well-worth the effort we put forth to think the right thoughts, and to think God’s thoughts.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Name Game
I digress a little here...got the idea from my friend MaryLee Glassburn.
This was kinda fun... try it!
...Posted by Sharon Seidel 1/28/10
YOUR REAL NAME: SHARON ANN SEIDEL
YOUR GANGSTA NAME(first 3 letters of real name plus - izzle): SHAIZZLE
YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color and favorite animal): BLUE DOG
I'm not really an animal lover.)
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (MIDDLE NAME, AND CURRENT STREET): ANN NORTHRIDGE
STAR WARS NAME (The first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of Mom's maiden name): SEISHMAR
YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): RED PEPSI
(Diet, that is...maybe it should be RED DP)
YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (Mother's middle name and fathers middlename):
RHODA JOHN
YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets): BLACK BABE
(Daughter's now deceased dog, one of my favorite pets)
This was kinda fun... try it!
...Posted by Sharon Seidel 1/28/10
YOUR REAL NAME: SHARON ANN SEIDEL
YOUR GANGSTA NAME(first 3 letters of real name plus - izzle): SHAIZZLE
YOUR DETECTIVE NAME (favorite color and favorite animal): BLUE DOG
I'm not really an animal lover.)
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (MIDDLE NAME, AND CURRENT STREET): ANN NORTHRIDGE
STAR WARS NAME (The first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of Mom's maiden name): SEISHMAR
YOUR SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): RED PEPSI
(Diet, that is...maybe it should be RED DP)
YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME (Mother's middle name and fathers middlename):
RHODA JOHN
YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets): BLACK BABE
(Daughter's now deceased dog, one of my favorite pets)
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Our Minds
There are two scriptures that talk about the mind of Christ. And they have a direct bearing on our mind.
“We have the mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
“Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
It is sometimes hard for us to agree that we have the mind of Christ. It seems more like a lofty goal, than an accomplished fact. However, if we are born again, we do have access to the mind of Christ within us. God says in Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16, “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” If God has put His law (His words) in our minds, then we do have the mind of Christ. God has given it to us. Therefore, we can choose to let His mind work in us. Not only that, we have the Holy Spirit in us to remind us of God’s Word, and to reveal it to us. (John 14:16-26)
“God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) God has given us a sound mind! The NIV calls it “self-discipline”. The literal meaning of sound mind means “safe-thinking”. A sound mind is able to think right, has the wisdom to make good judgments and right decisions. It has the ability to exercise self control, and to discipline its thoughts and thought patterns. This is the mind that God has given us! It sounds a lot like the mind of Christ, or God’s mind, doesn’t it?
There are many other scriptures that talk about our minds. They give us instruction about how to enter into God’s higher realm of thought. They show us a higher way to live our lives. It is a better way, God’s way. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek (set your hearts on) those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Here we are actually told to set our minds up there with God’s thoughts and to seek the things above. When we take heed, or pay attention to His words, we can learn how to walk and live in the Spirit, in the Kingdom of God. We do this by meditating on His Words, and by letting His Words “dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” How do we love God with all our mind? By putting His Word in our minds. By thinking and meditating on His Word until we truly know Him, know His heart, know His love for us and His love for all other people. By putting His Word in our minds until our minds are saturated with His Word, and our hearts are truly beating in sync with His, until we are expressing His love back to Him and to other people.
Jesus also said in 6: 22, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.” Two thoughts come to my mind. One is that our eyes should be focused on God, and we do that by reading His Word. The other is that we talk about seeing with or in our mind’s eye. When I see into the Kingdom, or see spiritual things, I generally see in words by way of the thoughts that come to my mind from God. This is how I see with my mind’s eye. And when I share the things God has shown me with others by speaking or writing, I share by using words. But they were originally thoughts in my mind.
Our minds are created in God’s image! They absorb and process amazing amounts of data. We talk about “inquiring minds want to know”. If we inquire of God about His Word, He will explain His Word and reveal His mind in us. Imagine the amount of God’s Word Data we can absorb and process in our minds.
“We have the mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
“Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)
It is sometimes hard for us to agree that we have the mind of Christ. It seems more like a lofty goal, than an accomplished fact. However, if we are born again, we do have access to the mind of Christ within us. God says in Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16, “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” If God has put His law (His words) in our minds, then we do have the mind of Christ. God has given it to us. Therefore, we can choose to let His mind work in us. Not only that, we have the Holy Spirit in us to remind us of God’s Word, and to reveal it to us. (John 14:16-26)
“God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) God has given us a sound mind! The NIV calls it “self-discipline”. The literal meaning of sound mind means “safe-thinking”. A sound mind is able to think right, has the wisdom to make good judgments and right decisions. It has the ability to exercise self control, and to discipline its thoughts and thought patterns. This is the mind that God has given us! It sounds a lot like the mind of Christ, or God’s mind, doesn’t it?
There are many other scriptures that talk about our minds. They give us instruction about how to enter into God’s higher realm of thought. They show us a higher way to live our lives. It is a better way, God’s way. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek (set your hearts on) those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Here we are actually told to set our minds up there with God’s thoughts and to seek the things above. When we take heed, or pay attention to His words, we can learn how to walk and live in the Spirit, in the Kingdom of God. We do this by meditating on His Words, and by letting His Words “dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” How do we love God with all our mind? By putting His Word in our minds. By thinking and meditating on His Word until we truly know Him, know His heart, know His love for us and His love for all other people. By putting His Word in our minds until our minds are saturated with His Word, and our hearts are truly beating in sync with His, until we are expressing His love back to Him and to other people.
Jesus also said in 6: 22, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.” Two thoughts come to my mind. One is that our eyes should be focused on God, and we do that by reading His Word. The other is that we talk about seeing with or in our mind’s eye. When I see into the Kingdom, or see spiritual things, I generally see in words by way of the thoughts that come to my mind from God. This is how I see with my mind’s eye. And when I share the things God has shown me with others by speaking or writing, I share by using words. But they were originally thoughts in my mind.
Our minds are created in God’s image! They absorb and process amazing amounts of data. We talk about “inquiring minds want to know”. If we inquire of God about His Word, He will explain His Word and reveal His mind in us. Imagine the amount of God’s Word Data we can absorb and process in our minds.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
God's Thoughts
We talked about the importance of thinking good thoughts, and thinking thoughts that line up with the Word of God. God’s Words are His thoughts expressed in words. The Bible has much to say about God’s thoughts.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace (good) and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The NIV says it this way, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you.” He goes on to say in verses 12-13, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
The Lord thinks good thoughts about us! And did you catch the part about Him listening to us? He’s a good listener (# 7. Hearing Words). Along that line, let me also mention 1 John 5:14-15, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” And do you know why? Because the Lord thinks good thoughts about us! He plans to prosper us, give us a future, and give us hope!
Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” If you think about it, how awesome is that! He doesn’t think like we do! He thinks thoughts of good and not evil. His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and good. He thinks good thoughts of us. And we can know what those thoughts are! All we have to do is ask Him.
When we are born-again, God sends us the Holy Spirit, sometimes called the Counselor, or the Helper, to teach us all things, and remind us of everything Jesus said to us. (John 14: 16-26; 17:20-24) Peter also tells us that “God’s divine power has given us everything (in His Word) that we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) There are other scriptures that talk about us knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Look for them! God wants us to know Him, to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, and to know who we are in Him.
God’s good thoughts about us are too numerous to list all of them. But I must talk about His thoughts toward us that are written in Psalm 139. I will paraphrase some of them, but I encourage you to read it for yourself. First of all, He created us, in our innermost being. His eyes saw our unformed bodies before we were born. And all the days ordained for us were written in His Book of Life before we ever came into being. He knit us together in our mother’s wombs. He made us in the secret place, and we were woven together in the depths of the earth. He knows us, every part of us, and is familiar with all our ways. He knows the words we are going to speak before we speak them. He protects us with His divine hand. There is no place we can go on this earth, or even into outer space, that He won’t be there with us at all times. He shines His light into our darkness. His thoughts towards us are so precious and vast that they would outnumber all the grains of sand. He loves us! We are the beloved of God. That’s who we are!
Think about it! He thought us first…He saw us in His mind’s eye! With His thoughts, His Words, we were created! And remember, we were created in His image! (Genesis 1:26, 27) How wonderful it is that we are that important to God. When we are tempted to think wrong thoughts about ourselves, or each other, let’s think about how God sees us. We are all His precious, beloved creation. Also, let’s remember: the thoughts that we think, if spoken and acted upon, can create what we are thinking and seeing in our mind’s eye. If we think good thoughts, they can create good things in our lives. And, if we think God’s thoughts (those found in the Bible), He also goes to work to uphold and perform His Word in our lives. (Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 55:11)
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace (good) and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The NIV says it this way, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you.” He goes on to say in verses 12-13, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
The Lord thinks good thoughts about us! And did you catch the part about Him listening to us? He’s a good listener (# 7. Hearing Words). Along that line, let me also mention 1 John 5:14-15, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” And do you know why? Because the Lord thinks good thoughts about us! He plans to prosper us, give us a future, and give us hope!
Isaiah 55:8 tells us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” If you think about it, how awesome is that! He doesn’t think like we do! He thinks thoughts of good and not evil. His thoughts toward us are thoughts of peace and good. He thinks good thoughts of us. And we can know what those thoughts are! All we have to do is ask Him.
When we are born-again, God sends us the Holy Spirit, sometimes called the Counselor, or the Helper, to teach us all things, and remind us of everything Jesus said to us. (John 14: 16-26; 17:20-24) Peter also tells us that “God’s divine power has given us everything (in His Word) that we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3-4) There are other scriptures that talk about us knowing the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Look for them! God wants us to know Him, to know the mysteries of the Kingdom, and to know who we are in Him.
God’s good thoughts about us are too numerous to list all of them. But I must talk about His thoughts toward us that are written in Psalm 139. I will paraphrase some of them, but I encourage you to read it for yourself. First of all, He created us, in our innermost being. His eyes saw our unformed bodies before we were born. And all the days ordained for us were written in His Book of Life before we ever came into being. He knit us together in our mother’s wombs. He made us in the secret place, and we were woven together in the depths of the earth. He knows us, every part of us, and is familiar with all our ways. He knows the words we are going to speak before we speak them. He protects us with His divine hand. There is no place we can go on this earth, or even into outer space, that He won’t be there with us at all times. He shines His light into our darkness. His thoughts towards us are so precious and vast that they would outnumber all the grains of sand. He loves us! We are the beloved of God. That’s who we are!
Think about it! He thought us first…He saw us in His mind’s eye! With His thoughts, His Words, we were created! And remember, we were created in His image! (Genesis 1:26, 27) How wonderful it is that we are that important to God. When we are tempted to think wrong thoughts about ourselves, or each other, let’s think about how God sees us. We are all His precious, beloved creation. Also, let’s remember: the thoughts that we think, if spoken and acted upon, can create what we are thinking and seeing in our mind’s eye. If we think good thoughts, they can create good things in our lives. And, if we think God’s thoughts (those found in the Bible), He also goes to work to uphold and perform His Word in our lives. (Hebrews 1:3; Isaiah 55:11)
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