My daughter once asked why God gave us freedom to make mistakes. She didn’t word it just like that, but she wished that we automatically did what was right and didn’t have free will to sin. Wow, wouldn’t the world look a lot different if that were the case?
Unfortunately, we are temporarily living in this fallen world, but that does not mean we should have the same mindset as the world around us. As a matter of fact, God’s Kingdom operates completely different from the world.
If you have given your life to Jesus – then YOU ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD. You may have been born here, but now you are an alien.
John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ …
The world hates us because they hate God. They don’t understand His ways and they don’t understand us.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
We are different.
Set apart.
Does this mean everything has been done for us and we have no responsibility for our choices and thoughts? NO. As a matter of fact, when we give our lives to Jesus we should understand this Kingdom of which we belong.
As Christians, we need to practice controlling our thought-life. What type of thoughts float through your mind? Self-defeating thoughts of self-pity? Jealousy of others? Unforgiveness towards those who have hurt you? Bitterness over situations that didn’t turn out the way you had hoped? Are you focusing on the situations around you that seem to be spinning out of control?
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
The battle truly begins in the mind!
Once we learn how to stop negative thinking and replace it with the TRUTH of God’s Word, we have won a great battle!
This is almost impossible to do if you don’t have the foundation of God’s Word in your heart. You MUST read the Bible. It is imperative to those of us who belong to the Kingdom of God.
God’s Word instructs us and sustains us. The Bible is more than words on a page and it is not a history book.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
The scriptures are ALIVE and ACTIVE. That statement would make no sense to the world, but those of us who have the Holy Spirit understand. God’s Word exposes sin in our hearts. It brings correction and revelation. It is our moral compass and it gives us supernatural sustenance.
Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we take what the Bible says as TRUTH (even over what we FEEL or SEE with our own eyes)! I had to learn this the hard way many years ago. Everything in my mind and body told me one thing, but God’s Word said another! Every cell of my body seemed to be tormented with fear and terror. I had no peace. But as I filled my mind with God’s Word (renewed my mind) and began to stand on His Word (opposite of what the world said), I began to overcome.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Ephesians 4:20-24
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
How do we renew our minds? By studying God’s Word and replacing our negative thoughts and confessions with scripture and faith-filled words.
Since our minds are a place of battle, wouldn’t it make sense to GUARD what enters that ground? What do we feed our mind all day? What type of music and lyrics float around in our hearts? What images are entering through our eye-gates? All of these questions are important.
The choice is yours.
What will you do?
I pray this short post prompts you to consider what you are feeding your mind. What type of thoughts are you entertaining? Does your mind need renewing?
Walk in Victory today!
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
