The battle plan (renew) 3

The bible says, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." I like to say, "Out of the abundance of the heart the body does." Whatever thoughts we are meditating on will eventually affect our actions. If we are listening to secular music it will affect our mood. If we are watching racy movies it will affect our thought life. Paul, in writing to the church in Philippi, said, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? The word 'mind' means to have understanding or to be harmonious. What it means is that we are allowing God to enter into our thought life. Our thoughts are in harmony with Him. It also means that anything that He is not pleased with, we simply discard. If we could learn this kind of discipline we would be able to think more purely. Many people like to say, "What would Jesus do?" How about if we change that to, "What would Jesus think?"

The battle plan (renew) 2

Is it possible to have victory in the area of our minds? I believe that it is possible. It seems like from the moment we flip on the television, turn on the radio, or even log onto the computer, the war begins. There is so much garbage out there and its constantly pulling us in. When writing to the church in Corinth, Paul said, "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5) Paul knew that there is power in prayer and especially in God centered prayer. We have to take those thoughts captive in the name of Jesus. And when they come in we must immediately throw them into the trash bin. If we could learn how to do this on a daily basis, we could live a victorious life in the area of the mind.

The battle plan (renew) 1

Everyday when we wake up there is a war that is raging on. That war that is waging within us begins in the mind. It is what I call a mind battle. The kind of battle that is filled with ungodly thoughts, thoughts of impurity, or thoughts of disobedience. Paul, in writing to the church in Rome, gives to us the most practical way to combat these thoughts. He says, "I beseech [urge]you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1, 2) The secret to success here is: make sure that we are presenting our bodies to God daily, making sure that we do not let the world squeeze us into its mold, and having our minds renewed. If we do this, we will be ready for the battle.

God's top ten 10

Have you ever desired something that belonged to someone else? It could be anything really: their car, their house, or even an outfit that they are wearing. The tenth and final commandment says, "Thou shall not covet." To covet something means that you desire something wrongfully. Coveting a person's property could be a selfish and wrong thing, especially if theft becomes involved. When it comes down to the root of the problem, it is a matter of the heart. It is putting your own needs and wants above God. When we do this, we not only disobey God, but we are breaking one of the commandments as well.

God's top ten 9

It's amazing how when a celebrity dies, how quick the world finds out. It's interesting because as the weeks go by the story begins to change. Sometimes the whole story changes. How many times have we heard information about another person that wasn't true? How many times have we repeated information about a person that was not true? Why do we do this? The ninth commandment says, "You shall not bear false witness." When we spread gossip about someone, accuse someone falsely, or lie about another person, we are not only slandering, but we are breaking one of God's laws. I think if we would practice the principal of being slow to speak and quick to listen, we would stay out of a lot of trouble.