Our thought-life is a by-product of everything we’ve ever seen, heard, and experienced. Our thoughts are also influenced by things we’ve read, watched, and listened to. Our mind loves to take all those scary, gory, horrible things and spin them into fear…even if there’s nothing to be afraid of. A certain sound, smell, or sight can set our thoughts reeling with terror…and panic can take over, totally overwhelming and immobilizing us. That’s when we must take authority, in Jesus name, over our thoughts…reining them back in and gaining control over unfounded fear.
A viper in the brush
Acts 28: 3-6 ” Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects, the people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happening to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”
The people were right in calling Paul a murderer… for in his former life, Saul had persecuted and imprisoned many Believers – “Breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s Disciples.”(Acts 9:1) Paul, though, was a changed man, converted on the road to Damascus, and now greatly used by God. But this didn’t mean that the devil couldn’t dredge up his past. Every once in awhile our past will come back to haunt us…just like that snake, it’ll try to attach itself, attempting to kill us. But it says that Paul just shook the viper off into the fire. He had taken authority over the person he had once been.
Colossians 1:11 ” Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…”
The Lord wants us to lean totally on Him during those times of stress and temptation. Our self-restraint and endurance doesn’t need to hinge on our own decrepit strength. We don’t need to clench our fists, grit our teeth, and just make it through a trial. The Lord’s power is ever available to enable us to persevere and be victorious.
Colossians 1:10 ” And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
Our endeavor in life should be to please our Heavenly Father. Every word and deed should go through the “God” filter first. Is this something God would approve of? Would the Lord be happy with me if I said or did this? In the end, we daily attempt to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. (Eph. 4:1)
Colossians 1:9 ” For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His Will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
The Lord wants to complete His Will in your life. His good pleasure to accomplish this is through the gifts of spiritual insight and comprehension. As Paul did, I too pray a Spirit of wisdom and revelation into you today…that you may perceive His perfect Will for your life.”
Psalm 13:2 ” How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and everyday have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? “
Sometimes our worst enemy is our own mind. We struggle silently with our inner self…battling every negative self-image, each personal abasement, every gut wrenching dark emotion. And as we grapple with that inner self…we see that the enemy is no one else… but ourselves.
Mark 9:23 ” Everything is possible for him who believes.”
To the outside world, trusting in Jesus Christ is just plain crazy. To many people, placing your faith in the Gospel is ludicrous. But to the Believer…hope is forged, one faith-building miracle at a time. The world may shake its head in scorn at your trust…but belief in Jesus will never disappoint.
Micah 7:8 ” Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
When those times come of profound sorrow, grief, and heartache, the darkness will shroud even the slightest glimmer of light from our sight. That’s when we, as the body of Believers, must support and under-gird our brothers and sisters…gently leading them from darkness into light. We need to stand in the gap for them, until they can again stand on their own.
Psalm 19:9 ” The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.”
Stand in awe of God today. Look around you…contemplate your surroundings. Draw in a deep breath and consider what He has made. The inspiration and wonder of everything around you is from His hand. Stand in awe of God.
Psalm 19:8 ” The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
God’s principles are right and just…for the Believer, they are not a burden, but rather a joy to follow. There is a sense of security and comfort found there…for within them, we find spiritual illumination and enlightenment.
Safetypinlove 