Good morning beloved…
What a morning as the light streams in through the windows, breaking through the trees, seeping into the house and splashing into corners. Watch the sun come up some morning. Morning people nod with me. Non-morning people shake their heads. We can learn so much by watching the sun rise.
Chinese (Singapore) : Leshan, Sichuan Province, mainland China under the sun in a college flower by 自有作品
Watch the light…there is still darkness but where the light touches it is radiant. It is beautiful. It shimmers. I was out at a park with my kids yesterday and the wind was strong and the temperature was in the sixties. Yet the sun was out. So as long as I stayed in the sun, basking in the light, I stayed warm. I reveled in the warmth. The shade? No way. I backed out of there quick.
Same idea for my mind. When negative thoughts invaded my mind this morning, I had a decision to make. What was I going to do with this?
- Well, first, am I denying myself and picking up my cross? (Luke 9:23)
- Next , am I giving thanks in everything? (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
3. Then, take the thoughts captive! 2 Corinthians 10:
3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories andreasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
6 Being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete.
And today I need to “flesh” that out a little bit more so I’m going to take some help and work through some more verses..want to come along?
For though we walk in the flesh…
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought andpurpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],
2 So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.
For the weapons of our warfare...
12 The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.
13 Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
…we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)…
Psalm 1392 You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off.
Hebrews 412 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [a]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
Tomorrow…part two…I gotta go make bread! Love you guys…die to self, give thanks and take those thoughts captive!! 🙂
Pray on, pray on!
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