How Do I Do That?

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (New American Standard Bible)

I find great difficulty in doing something that I don’t understand. For years I have heard I should take my thoughts captive but failed to understand exactly what that meant and how to go about doing it. I would hear illustrations, like when a cowboy ropes a calf or when a soldier takes a prisoner hostage, but the pictures didn’t show me HOW. I had learned the source of my damaging thoughts and imaginations was myself and the enemy but I was finding myself with more failure than victory in the area of “taking the thoughts captive.” It seemed for a while I would guard myself against the thoughts entering but if the enemy remained persistent I usually ended up dwelling on wrong thoughts and going down a mental and emotional trail that led to pits, dungeons, and prison cells of great proportion. Then the thoughts of hopelessness and “you will never change” would set in and defeat would be the only picture that hung over my horizon.

God knows better and He desires better for me! First, He began assuring me that He was exposing this area in my life to show me what He wanted to transform and then He reminded me that He always finishes what He starts. What eventually came to me was a very simple yet powerful prayer that WORKS every time I speak it and it comes right from today’s verse. At first, when a thought came to mind that I knew was not of God and not good for me, I simply said, “I take that thought captive to Jesus Christ.” And instantly the thought was gone! Now I have begun adding to that phrase and finding joy in the anticipation that it will work every time. I have prayed it several times already this morning and want to share with you an example of what my prayer now entails.

“I take that thought captive to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is based on a lie rather than truth. I choose to think on what is true. I have the mind of Christ and God’s Spirit living in me. Purify my thoughts and my motives, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Whether the thought is based on lies, jealousy, insecurities, feelings of abandonment, suspicion, or any number of things, I know now to identify it and state the victorious opposite. May this help others as much as it has helped me.

Father, it is so essential that I handle my thoughts in the right way. Dwelling on the right things and taking captive the wrong things is one huge key to victory for me. Thank you for continuing to transform my life and my walk with You. Amen.

Learning How to Fight

We are not able to go up against this people, for they are too strong for us. Numbers 13:31 (New American Standard Bible)

These words were spoken by ten of the twelve spies upon returning from their forty day assignment in the land of Canaan. The land God had promised to bring them into and cause them to possess. But what they saw with their eyes and believed in their heart resulted in fear, unbelief, and disobedience. In other words, they embraced lies rather than truth! For any of us, that spells danger and disaster every time! If only they had embraced God’s promises to them and reviewed the past deliverances He afforded them. If only we would do the same!

I am becoming acutely aware of the persistence of the enemy to introduce many negative thoughts to me or exaggerate the ones I come up with on my own. Like the children of Israel, I come to believe the very things I should reject and the longer I dwell on those things the more powerful the stronghold becomes. I can tell when this is happening because my mind becomes filled with negative, condemning, fearful, hopeless, frustrating, and confusing thoughts. It is a trap he loves setting for me and delights when I step into it and remain in it. Any time I voice the words of Numbers 13:31 over a situation in my life I can be sure I have exchanged God’s truth for Satan’s lies.

After a two day battle, I finally decided it was time to change my position. It was time to become savvy and discerning in regards to the activities of my mind and those of the enemy. I knew that my primary need was to flesh out the truth of taking my thoughts captive but sometimes that concept can seem intimidating and elusive. So I googled the phrase “taking thoughts captive” and discovered a treasure cove of articles that had rich information for me to feed on. I learned some things about the enemies tactics, the things in me that he uses, and the power of using my Ephesians 6 armor to resist him.

Already this morning I have been aware of several attempts he has made to walk me down a path of emotional turmoil and each attempt was met with resistance and a closed door. I am amazed at how ineffective his schemes are when I apply the truth of God’s word, stand on the promises of God’s word, and wield my sword (God’s Word) at every lie and distortion.

Father, You invite me to stand against the schemes of the enemy and take every thought captive. I want to become a valiant soldier on the battleground of my mind. Teach me! Amen.

Seeing Who It Comes From

Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD. I Kings 12:24 (New King James Version)

War was diverted among God’s people with this one verse. How essential it is that I allow God to speak these same words over my life in any given situation. For God knows my tendency to focus on the difficult circumstances or people in my life and miss the precious truth of His sovereignty and involvement over and through all things. How easy it can be to fight the very thing that God is either causing or allowing. There is no rest or peace when I choose to resist that which God is doing.

Rather than fight it, God implores me to return to my home, and Psalm 91 reminds me where my home is. It is in the shadow of His wings, for He is to be my dwelling place, refuge, and fortress. God wants me to realize that I am to abide in His presence for my shelter, safety, and security.

As I step into a new day (and month) God desires me to hear Him voice His five word phrase to me on a continual basis. When I face a difficulty, “This thing is from Me.” When I sustain a loss, “This thing is from Me.” When a medical diagnosis threatens to turn my world upside down, “This thing is from Me.” When relationships change, “This thing is from Me.” When disappointment marks my path, “This thing is from Me.” When that which I desire to hold on to slips through my fingers, “This thing is from Me.” When my plans fall apart, “This thing is from Me.” When the storms of life hit hard, “This thing is from Me.” When dreams die, “This thing is from Me.”

As I receive the words He is speaking then I will find the peace that passes all understanding. I will no longer view myself as a victim of other people’s choices and actions. I will stop being consumed with self pity, condemnation, and grief. Each portrait the enemy has painted on the walls of my imagination will be replaced with artwork painted by the sovereign and loving hand of God. I will begin to notice the many positive, uplifting, and encouraging gifts with which God graces my life. And I will experience the truths of Zephaniah 3:17 which say He will quiet me with His love.

Father, there is not a day in my life when I do not need to hear you say these things are from You. I receive them as words spoken from a heart of love and a desire for my good. Amen.

Deciding Ahead of Time

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3 (New King James Version)

Soldiers do not enter a war without a military strategy. A football player does not enter a game without a game plan. A surgeon does not proceed with an operation without a predetermined medical procedure in mind. A construction worker does not begin to build a building without an architectural plan. And we had better understand that we do not enter a single day without a plan. We do not know the totality of what will be in this day but we can determine ahead of time certain game plans for it. David is sharing one such plan with us today. Ahead of time, he already determined his course of action when fear would hit. He would trust in God.

This morning I want to take his strategy and apply it to all areas of negative responses and emotions. Each and every one can be slipped into this verse with the same predetermined action! Whenever I am afraid, angry, confused, disappointed, hurt, stressed, worried, weak, offended, or in turmoil, I will trust in God. Trusting God means I am placing my confidence, security, and belief in Him. How He must delight when we do that! To start our day with the attitude that, come what may, we are trusting Him! Then when the storms of life hit, the winds of adversity blow, the valley of death approaches, or any number of rugs get pulled out from under us, we already know what we will do. Above and through it all we will trust Him and place ourselves in a position to receive His strength, peace, and safety.

Many of us had to learn the hard way that living the Christian life did not mean we would not have trials and troubles. We definitely will have them, but God desires to teach us where to go when those things arise. If we allow them, they become the arrows that point us straight to Him as our source and resource in the midst of any tragedy. But we cannot wait until we are in the middle of an upsetting moment to figure out what we are going to do. Before the storm hits we should determine where our shelter will be. That is the essence of what David was saying. He knew fear would be his companion at one time or another and he resolved ahead of time to trust God. Each of us knows which emotional challenges become issues for us. Let’s place them in this verse and then place our trust in God.

Father, I have so often floundered with negative feelings and emotions, when all the while You were urging me to trust You. Bring this verse to my mind throughout today. No matter which word I put in it, I have already decided I will trust You! Amen.

Knowing When God Is Speaking

And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:9 (New American Standard Bible)

How often I have felt like Samuel. God was speaking his name and desiring to tell him something and yet he had no idea God was the One speaking to him. Yet when he took the advice of Eli, the priest, and voiced the words, “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening,” he clearly heard and understood what God was saying to him. After that point, I believe he had no trouble discerning when God was speaking to him. His ears remained open and his heart remained receptive to each message.

Who was the Eli in your life who taught you essential principles about hearing God’s voice? For most of my Christian life I embraced the idea that I speak to God in prayer and God speaks to me through His Word. Prayer was like speaking into a tape recorder…much like a one sided conversation. Hearing God meant reading His Word and seeing what He said to people thousands of years ago. Many times I felt like I was listening in on someone else’s conversation. Like Samuel, I didn’t know when God was speaking directly to me, unless it was for the purposes of condemnation and disapproval. I praise God for the person who wisely let me know prayer is a dialogue not a monologue, whereby I speak to God and then listen as God speaks to me.

While God definitely speaks through His Word, whether I am reading it, meditating on it, or hearing it from another person, He is not limited to only speaking through His Word, but what He says will always be in agreement with His Word. I have come to recognize God’s voice within my thoughts, for they are too profound to be my own. As I have learned to listen, I know that I know He is speaking to me.

How does He speak to me? In times when I have shared with Him my own feelings of worthlessness and insignificance He has clearly spoken to my spirit and said, “You matter to me.” In times when I don’t know what to do, He brings pointed direction to mind. When I don’t understand the buried issues of my heart He reveals the roots that are nourishing and holding in place wrong attitudes. Many are the times He brings scripture to mind or the words of a precious song. It may be during the hours I am at work or simply taking a much needed walk through neighborhoods close to my home. It may be in the night hours when tears fall freely and I can’t even speak the words to Him. Conversations abound now that I recognize His voice. They will for any who learn to listen with interest and attention.

Father, You were speaking to me long before I knew it was You. Thank you for awakening my ear to the sound of Your voice. Speak, Lord, I am listening. Amen.

The Promise and Power of God's Word

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (New American Standard Bible)

To think that every time I read my Bible, God has something He wants to accomplish in me. He did it several times this morning. Through different passages I saw heart issues that needed to be addressed, times where I have allowed the opinions of others to hold too much power over me, instances when I have allowed myself to be “rooted and grounded” in soil that is not of God, unwillingness to walk in love and forgiveness, and other things that remain between God and me. My point is this. As God’s word comes forth to me it has purpose and promise. He says it will not return to Him empty. It will accomplish what He wants it to accomplish and it will succeed in what He plans for it.

He compared it to the rain. The rain does not evaporate back into the air without first watering the ground and bringing forth the growth for our sustenance. It accomplishes what it was sent to accomplish! His word does so even more profoundly.

I am being challenged this morning to make this verse a prayer each time I open God’s word or sit under the teaching of God‘s word. A prayer of thanksgiving, promise, anticipation, and realization. To ask God to make me completely receptive to all that He desires to accomplish through what He speaks to me. Ultimately it will produce growth, change, and fruit. In other words, what God tells me should have a profound effect on how I think, speak, and act. It is the very thing that will transform me from the inside out.

Too often I have allowed circumstances and people to speak louder to me than God’s voice. But this morning, God is urging me to allow His voice to become clearer and louder than any others. As I begin to do that, some voices will become duller and others will be muted all together. May His words accomplish much today!

In addition to this, I am gaining fresh confidence in the power of praying Scripture over the life of individuals. This is done by finding verses that express what it is I would like to see God do in another person’s life and then praying those verses for them. It might be for salvation, deliverance, reconciliation, change, or any number of issues. Whatever it is, God’s Word and God’s Spirit are the most powerful means to accomplish it. May much be sent forth and accomplished today!

Father, I am trying to grasp the full implication of what You are saying to me this morning. You have awakened in me a desire to hear You. Amen.

Look for the Conditions

Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear. Psalm 112:6-8 (New International Version)

There have been many times in my Christian life when this passage of Scripture would taunt me more than comfort me. The idea of not being shaken or in fear was as far removed from me as a steadfast and secure heart. But that was because I failed to see the conditions of such a proclamation. The picture that is being painted with God-breathed words is not the experience of many people….even among Christians. And when it isn’t, we want to blame God or others and walk with a confused and bitter spirit. When our life is in shambles and our foundations lie in a crumbled heap, we shake our heads and ask through clenched teeth and tear stained faces, “What happened?” If we really want to know and we have a teachable disposition, then God’s Word is opened up to answer us in a life changing way.

This morning the conditions are clear! This passage is speaking of one who lives a righteous life and places complete trust in God. When we trust Christ, we are made righteous, but that is not the end of the story. His righteousness enables us to live in cooperation with and obedience to God. It is not a life of self righteousness but rather a transformed life that is empowered by the Spirit of God and infused with the Word of God. It is allowing God to change us from the inside out and that will affect our thoughts, words, and actions. Add to this the elements of trust…childlike trust. Being confident and secure in God’s love and involvement in our life. Trusting Him for the strength, guidance, provision, and wisdom that we need on a daily basis.

But the promises of this passage will not be evident in my life if I choose to live my life simply by an outward performance of good works and fixing my eyes on people. If I am looking to others to give me all the answers and to instill in me confidence, security, assurance, and stability, then I am setting myself up for a huge fall that will eventually shake me to the very center of my being. I have lived that way and reaped the painful consequences. But things are changing as I dare to look into God’s Word, receive it as life altering truth, and take the conditions seriously.

Father, You are the One who has set my feet on solid rock and established my going. You are the One who will continue to develop my spiritual muscles which will enable me to walk, run, and fly with confidence and courage. Amen.