‘Change’
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. Psalm 143:10-11
Dear Brothers and sisters,
Change can be devastating for this reason: most real change happens through
crisis. It is like crisis is required. Real change rarely happens without crisis.
Think back over your life, what has had the most powerful impact resulting change
in your life?
Crisis come in many sizes… whether it is moving, losing a
job or some other great loss such as a pet, or your reputation has been
successfully attacked, or it may be a child has stubbornly gone astray wounding
you deeply. Another painful time is the death of a beloved family member. Or it
could be a tear in a family relationship resulting in a deep, bloody tear in
your heart. Things we have no control over can beat us up, leaving us tearfully
black and blue and betrayed. The enemy of our souls isn’t particular about
using his weapons against us, as he knows just what to use in his diabolical
attack. He senses where we are weak. He wants us discouraged, hopeless, and
fearful.
When we know Jesus personally and have the sustaining power
of the LORD, He holds our hand and walks right beside us; at times He even
carries us, protecting and providing in ways we could never imagine. It is then
we are given ample opportunity, because of our trials, to prove Him! Prove He
is faithful, absolutely, completely and always. Our mind is the vehicle the
Holy Spirit uses and so we must keep our minds renewed. I shared about the battle for our minds last week… but this
is so important I must pursue it further. I have been in a non-stop battle for
my mind this week and wonder if it will ever end. I know I am being given
opportunity to count myself dead to sin and chose with my ‘will’ to trust Him
who never fails. How? I am to see
in every situation a chance to die. (to self, my flesh)
What does faith look like in crisis? E. Hopkins writes:” “Faith needs
facts to rest upon.” It is on this basis that JBS can say “Real faith is always
increased by opposition, while false confidence is damaged and discouraged by
it.”
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now
for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though
tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the
revelation of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:6-7
It may not have occurred to us
that much of what we have considered a ‘natural’ disability such as confusion
in the use of our mind, is really the enemy battling for our minds, knowing that
if he can disable us and control our thinking he has won a huge victory over us.
A mind that is not renewed is prey for use by the predator. As I have said,
repentance, a change of mind, is the beginning, there is more; our minds must
be renewed in His word daily. This is war. He wants to destroy every testimony,
every family that loves and serves Jesus. The Bible says Satan comes to kill,
steal and destroy. One way is to deceive and blind our children to truth and
divide our families.
We must recognize we have an old
sin nature we are born with, that is capable of any sin, and unbelief (of God’s
word) is the most rampant sin. Our mind can only be renewed in His word. Hear
me! The unrenewed mind is part of the old nature in us. That is why the Bible
teaches us when we are ‘in’ Christ we are new
creations. Trust God to give you a renewed mind and feed your mind with
Truth, with God’s living word; while remembering the “mind” is the strategic
battle ground and the devil will never give up. Never.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
II Corinthians 5:17
The enemy is actively at work seeking to disable the mental
powers of God’s children and he does this through the strain of conflict,
trials, and crisis! This is war and so God has provided armor. Put on the whole
armor of God…. Ephesians 6:10-18
If you have never taken your mind out of the control of the
enemy, do so now! Many of us know our minds are not under God’s control and by
faith we can receive a new mind. In fact the Bible says we have the mind of
Christ when we receive Him as Savior and invite Him into our lives; believing
He died for our sins and shed His blood that we may be forgiven. I John 1:7-9
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that
he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians
2:15-16
When God is in control of our mind, we are able to decide
when to speak and what to say. Here are some scriptures that will help:
Hebrews 10:16
I Corinthians 2: 13 & 16
Philippians 2:5-8
I Peter 4:1
Ephesians 1:18
I Peter 1:13 niv
Roman 12:3
II Corinthians 10:5
Pouring the Light into our mind, according to His written
Word, will enable us to circumspectly and prayerfully walk with Him who is
Strength and Hope daily.
God of all, Daddy, You who know my every
thought, my every word before it is on my tongue! I run to You. Renew my mind.
I believe You have given me the mind of Christ, let me stand strong in faith. I
know too, that whatever You have allowed in my life, You plan to use in my
life, for my good and Your glory! This includes whatever uninvited crisis I am
facing. Just like a small child, I put my hand in Yours and trust You to work
in the lives of those I love. Where there is misunderstanding, bring clarity of
thought. Where there is hurt, heal. Where they may be believing a lie, bring
the Light of Your Truth. You are the mighty God, move in ways I am not even
able to think of and bring hearts to the Light, so they will see You love them
and sent Your Son Jesus to die to set them free. We have sinned, You are the
Sin-bearer. And lastly and so important, help me get into Your word daily that
I may renew my mind and receive Your strength and the peace and living hope,
You speak of in Your word. I want to thank You for loving me unconditionally
and eternally. In the Name of Jesus the Holy One, I pray expectantly, amen
In Your love now and forever,
az
We have 5 million receptors in our nose as humans, deer have 300million!! Go to Gramz Kidz and click on 'By Design' and check out God's amazing creation in this mammal!
