journey onWord with us

It was one of the most unusual requests I have ever received. In October of 2007, I had the opportunity to participate in the funeral of a dear friend. Her faith was deep, she was ready to meet her Lord and she was firm on the passage of Scripture to be read at her service. Her request was not unusual, but the passage was. It was her desire for those at her service to hear the most familiar passage in the Bible on worry. I pondered why that would be her choice, and admittedly I was a bit confused. Her desired passage has great value as we start the New Year, and was a wise choice at her celebration service.

It is now the third day of your new year. Have you worried yet? Has work been on your thoughts even during the holidays? Could it be that you have financial concerns, family struggles etc…? Frankly, there will always be plenty to worry about. None of us will be exempt from the circumstances of life that try to steal our joy and occupy our minds. God already knows what those circumstances will be. And He is not shy about giving us counsel on worry. His opinion for all Christ followers is this: don’t do it! Is it possible to live out God’s design? Yes, but can it really happen for you?

Worry can be conquered (even for you), but most people don’t live like they believe it. It is seemingly easier to carry our burdens than to release them to our all-sufficient Lord. His strong words on worry in Matthew chapter six are the words my friend wanted me to read. You have probably read them yourself, or at least heard them read. To help you gain fresh perspective on what God wants for you, below you will find part of this pertinent passage taken from the Message.

Matthew 6:30-34 (MSG)
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers-most of which are never seen-don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Even when it seems that our world is falling apart around us, the principles in the above passage give us hope. It is not our role to figure out how God will do His best for us, but to believe that He will. I am convinced that if we don’t steep ourselves in God-reality, God-initiatives and God’s provisions, we will struggle to overcome those issues that tend to steal our joy and occupy our minds. But today is a new day, God’s Word is true and we can live life His way.

Could it be that my friend was not giving me an unusual request, but great counsel? She was finishing her earthly journey, and had raised three daughters that loved God and had married Christ followers. Maybe she wanted all who would gather and celebrate her life to realize that all the stuff that weighs us down is not what really matters.

While I may still have questions as to why my friend had me read a passage on worry at her memorial service, the impact of her request endures.  And, I believe, has special significance in all our lives as we begin a new year.  “… Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.”

Looking back at another year can easily cause a myriad of emotions (good and bad), countered by the excitement of a new day coming. There have been years for my wife and I where 12:00 a.m. on January 1^st couldn’t come quickly enough. At other times, it was just the beginning of yet another year. As I was thinking this week about crossing into next year, Back to the Future has been ringing in my ears. You may remember those words as the title of an old movie that featured Michael J. Fox. It seems to me that if we are not careful, each New Year begins to look very similar to the one just completed. But in my relationship with God, going Back to the Future is not appealing. I want a deeper relationship filled with new growth and effectiveness. What about you?

As I finish reading the Old Testament this week, one theme seemed consistent to me … The Israelites continually made wrong choices. God showed remarkable grace, mercy and patience, but they repeatedly turned their back on His blessings. They kept going Back to the Future. To be perfectly candid, each of us has some Israelite struggles. We have seen and been blessed by God’s grace, mercy and patience, but there are some areas of weakness and sin that each year frustrate us as we go Back to the Future. Take heart, a new day is upon us, and I believe the New Year can be different. Do you think that God cares about your struggles? Of course He does!

My final challenge of 2010 will not involve telling you how to conquer all of your struggles as you begin the New Year. I don’t even know what they are. It is my purpose to implore you to seek God with new zeal. He wants this to be a year of growth and spiritual effectiveness. Just think: God cares deeply about your personal issues, and is willing to guide you into the Future. Just this morning, I read some words from The PAPA Prayer, by Larry Crabb that will be my challenge to both you and me for the New Year.

Do you know God well enough to enjoy His company, the same way you enjoy being with a family member or close friend?

Do you want to know God better and enjoy Him more than you know and enjoy anyone else?

Do you connect with God in such a way that enables you to hear His voice and to know He’s right there with you?

Bold questions to be sure! But now is a starting place from where you are, to where He wants you to be. Don’t go Back to the Future and let the old ways dominate your thinking and life. There is new ground to cultivate. Why not turn the three challenges above into your New Year’s prayer? Hold on to His Word, and seek Him daily…. those challenges can be a reality for you. The Future is now.

Start tomorrow reading through the New Testament with us in a “New Testament Year”

What now? Christmas is completed with all of the gift giving, family time and eating too much (I shouldn’t have weighed myself this morning). From Thanksgiving until Christmas, life becomes a blur. As the festive season is coming to a close, it’s time to get back to our routines and prepare for 2011. This week will be filled with news and sports headlines that say, the year in review. There is obvious wisdom in reviewing our personal lives during the last year. For all of us the journey was filled with a series of highs and lows, victories and defeats, and “three steps forward and two steps back” (or sometimes the other way around). With an honest look at your year in review, what would you want to change for the New Year?

Without a doubt, most people in 2011 would like to slow down, change the pace of life, reduce the stress, live healthier, have more family time, etc…  But most people also view those changes as wishful thinking. Since I know that the design of God for Christ-followers is joy, I challenge you to let Him direct your 2011 journey. You should be assured that He can provide internal joy and rest. As you jump headlong into a new year, please take the counsel of an anonymous friar from Nebraska who wrote these words late in life.

If I had my life to live over again, I would try to make more mistakes next time. I would relax, I would limber up, and I would be sillier than I have been on this trip. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would do more walking and looking. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles, and fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who live life prophylactically and sensibly hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had it to do over again I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else, just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day.

I’ve been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play hooky more. I would make such good grades, except by accident. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I’d pick more daisies.

(taken from When I Relax I Feel Guilty, Tim Hansel)

I believe you get the point! But why write about it now? Rather than look back at life and regret, we have the gift of a new year to look forward to with anticipation. Without a doubt, you will face similar stresses that confronted you in 2010. However, with a firm commitment to change, and being yielded to God’s daily purpose, you will travel lighter and pick more daisies.

And remember to start January 1^st reading through the New Testament with us!

A serious, but often neglected discipline for Christians is the study of God’s Word. There is no adequate substitute for the consistent intake of God’s revealed truth. At Journey On Word, we are committed to help Christ followers grow in their knowledge of Scripture. During the last year, many of you have participated with us in reading through the Old and New Testaments. Congratulations to those of you are on track to finish the entire Bible on December 31^st. It is truly a great accomplishment. In the next few days, as we celebrate Christmas and bring 2010 to a close; it’s time to begin thinking about 2011.

Based on our uncompromising position to help everyone grow in his or her knowledge of God, we at Journey On Word have declared 2011 to be a New Testament Year. Our goal is to read through the New Testament each quarter. If you would like to follow our reading plan, you will survey the entire New Testament four times in 2011. If you choose to read with us, we trust that your knowledge of God and His design for your life will be dramatically impacted. Our two posts each week will typically come from the areas of Scripture that we are covering at that time. You will be amazed at how surveying the New Testament multiple times throughout the year will give clarity to God’s truth.

If you already have subscribed to receive our articles via email, you will continue to receive each week’s reading on Saturday evening (for the week of Jan 1 it will come on Friday night December 31st). If you haven’t yet subscribed to receive our articles and Bible reading on your email, just scroll down the right side of this article and click on the link in the “Subscribe” section. Our goal is simple: To help you grow in your faith and knowledge of God.

As we bring this year to a close by celebrating our Savior’s birth, and reflect on the joys and difficulties of 2010, we trust you are excited about what God has in store for you in 2011. At Journey On Word, we are excited about what God has put on our hearts for the New (Testament) Year.

We are sincerely grateful for you, and invite you to journey onWord with us in 2011.

God bless, and Merry Christmas!

Over the course of the last few days I have experienced the Christmas season from various perspectives. It started with viewing a great production about Christmas that ended with a moving presentation of Christ’s birth. As the week continued, I saw snow at home (I don’t like to snow plow), and 70-degree temperatures (I like warmth) in Florida. After a quick trip, it was home again to the cold. Later in the week as my wife and I walked into a store, there was a man with a bell and a container to take monetary gifts. In handing him the obligatory dollar, it pained me when he said, “Is this for me or the container?” In a short week and in different climates, I saw the beauty and the pain of the season.  Christmas comes to all, and I am so thankful that Christ came for us all.

This season has probably brought you a wide variety of experiences also. It is probably safe to assume that your pace has caused a bit of distraction from the reason we celebrate. Anyone serious about his or her faith struggles with the thought of not emphasizing enough what the birth of our Savior means. Sure, we see Advent candles lit at church, and go to Christmas programs, but taking a moment to internalize Christ’s incarnation often gets lost amongst all the other trappings of the season. History and our eternal salvation hinge on the moment in time when Christ came. It is only proper for Christ followers to focus on the greatest of all gifts.

One of the easiest ways to focus on His birth is to truly listen to what God told us in His Word. If I am not careful, the words of His coming become a story I read or “hear” each year, but that I do not truly listen to. Since you may feel the same, this year read these words for yourself as if you had never heard them before. It is great to hear them at Christmas dinner or a church program, but far better to read and reflect on them personally.  Find some quiet amongst the bustle, and take time to “hear” with your heart.

Luke 2:1-14
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.  2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

On that day a Savior was born, for you and for me. For those experiencing either pain or joy, know the truth that He came for all. Let the good news of the verses above resonate in your spirit this week. History hinged on that moment, and He came for you and me. Experience His joy this Christmas.

Earlier this week our family was in the world’s largest department store. It was a time of joy for my wife and daughter, and an hour of sitting at Starbucks for me. As I entered the Macy’s store on 34^th street in New York City, I was confronted with their believe it meter. It reminded me of Santa and the Miracle on 34^th Street. Children everywhere love to believe in Santa, his gifts, and the chimney. Christmas is a time when small children love to believe in Santa, but the miracle we celebrate is that God became man. Now that’s a miracle! Do you still believe in miracles?

A friend once shared with me what he considered to be a miracle.  During the course of our discussion, he was passionate about God doing the unexplainable, yet undeniable. From the pages of Scripture and the recordings of history, God’s love and grace can be seen in events that are unexplainable and undeniable. Psalm 78:14 says, “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” But a constant stress point is moving our intellectual understanding to a faith that expects the unexplainable. I can promise you that walking by sight and not by faith will keep your journey explainable. But is that where anyone wants to live? Do you believe in miracles?

A personal confession might give more insight to my premise. Throughout my spiritual journey, I have seen God do the unexplainable. His protection, provision and grace have been undeniable to me. But sometimes I have sensed a distractedness that leads to living earthbound and not really expecting God to do much. It is easy to believe in miracles, but just not expect them in my own life. I asked someone last week if they believed in miracles. The answer was “yes”, but the sense was: not for me. You probably have felt the same way. We accept that God hung our world in space, sent His son as a baby, and raised a crucified Christ from the grave. But it is easy to lose sight of His desire to do the unexplainable, yet undeniable in our lives. Do you believe in miracles?

God is a miracle worker. He still does miracles today. Santa, and a Macy’s believe it meter get us in the Christmas spirit. But what about living every single day believing that God cares enough to do the unexplainable, yet undeniable in your life. I have found that by simply living out what I believe, the unexplainable often happens. But too often, I live and pray too low on the real believe it meter. It is easy to live in the “not for me” world of believing in His miracles. Do you believe in miracles?

To be clear, we should not live with a faith that just treats God like a Santa. We ask and He is bound to give. Nor should we live with a faith that believes in miracles, but not for me. God in his sovereignty knows when to do the unexplainable, yet undeniable in our lives. And He wants us to live by faith, not sight. His design is to bless those who will walk with a surrendered, faith-filled heart. In this season of celebration, we have the opportunity to redirect our thoughts around our faith, His power, and His ability to do miracles, even for me. Will you believe in miracles?

A friend recently shared the following story with me, and I thought it was timely and worth sharing with you.  From here on, the words are his.

I am perhaps one of the biggest kids at Christmas.  Despite my 40+ years, I am still routinely the first person up on Christmas morning.  In the weeks of preparation, one of my most favorite things to do and see are Christmas lights.  On Christmas trees, on garland, on roofs and eaves, on lampposts and in outdoor displays, it makes no difference … I love Christmas lights.  I love putting them up, and also piling my wife and kids in the van to drive around and look at them.

I was out volunteering the other night and returned home quite late.  I was a bit weary from the activity of the evening, but my heart began to warm as I approached the stop sign about a block from our house.  My wife had left our lights on, knowing it would be just what I needed at the end of a long evening.  But the warmth quickly faded as I slowed to a stop and parked the van on the street directly in front of our house.  My heart sank as I noticed a glaring blemish.  Amongst the continuous strings of white icicle lights that followed the roof line of the front and side of my house, there was a three-foot section that had gone dark.  I immediately became frustrated.

Just days before, I had tested and retested the strings of icicle lights packed away since last year.  My wife then assisted with hanging them.  Myself on the ladder snapping the hangers and light strings onto the first story gutters, and my wife climbing the extension ladder to the story-and-a-half peaked section and clipping hangers and strings to the shingles.  As we stood back after completing the entire roof line and hit the button on the remote for the big reveal, the entire 15-foot first string remained unlit.  After a few bulbs were tested, I ended up removing the entire string, and climbed the ladder once again to replace it.  As I sat in the van staring at the three-foot section, that days-before frustration came flooding back.  And to make matters worse, the small unlit section was near the peak of the story-and-a-half section.

In almost an instant, this three-foot section was all I could see.  Paying no mind now to the other forty feet of glowing goodness, this three-foot section had ruined it all.  I sat a little longer, and my mind started to marinate on a larger thought.  I have three-foot sections in my own life.  Parts of me, or my past that are hurtful or defeating.  Weaknesses, bad habits, failures, secret sin.  Things that when someone else would “drive by”, they might not notice.  But things that are all I can see when I look at my own life.  Brokenness that imprisons me, causes despair, and can blind me to the existence of any other light in my life.

But almost as quickly as the discouragement came, I began to think of the Jesus I know.  The Jesus whose own life here among us shouts that real life exists in the three-foot sections.  The Jesus who spent the majority of his life among us hanging out with three-foot section sort of people.  The Jesus who said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17).

This Jesus wants me to give him access to my three-foot sections, and he wants to fix and heal them.  Although, not for the reason that I might want to fix them.  See, I want it fixed because I want my neighbors across the street, and those who occasionally drive by to say, “Wow, what an amazing light display!  The best house on the block, hands down!”.  No, Jesus wants to fix and heal it because he knows that until it is, I cannot be completely whole.  I cannot be the person he created me to be, and have the freedom only he can give.

And there is one other incredibly important detail in all of this.  Namely, that Jesus does not desire to stand back and encourage or demand that I go up the ladder to fix that three-foot section.  No, he knows that this is the third of three years I have been putting icicle lights on my house where someone else has had to climb the extension ladder to hang the lights on the peak section of my roof.  He knows that when I get above six feet or so, my knees lock, and I cannot take another step.  He knows that I am not capable of fixing this.  No, he wants to walk with me to the base of the ladder, and then he wants to climb up and fix the three-foot section himself.  He wants to walk with me to the base of the ladder, and then watch as he climbs up, and name the truth that I cannot do this. And the further truth that he is sufficient, and he can.

My story ends with an interesting, but (I believe) purposed twist.  The very next night, without any intervention on my part, the three-foot section lit up with all the rest.  And then the following night, it went out again.  Almost a week later the section remains unlit, and may stay that way until I take the strings down after the holidays are over.  I praise God for the truths that I was reminded of that first night, and on the nights following.  And I am OK with acknowledging my brokenness in leaving the three-foot section unlit, if that is the way it works out.

The physical reality is that there is likely a short in the wiring of that section of the icicle light string, or water has gotten into a light socket and frozen, thawed, frozen, thawed, etc…  The spiritual reality is that my life has three-foot sections.  And God blessed me the other night with a reminder that he wants access, and desperately wants to heal them, and live out the purpose he has for me in complete freedom.

All is Well! It would be wonderful if those words truly reflected our world this Christmas season. But in looking around, it is easy to find all that is wrong. Considering that there is a war going on, political unrest and high unemployment (to name just a few), things don’t look all that rosy. On a personal note, most people feel some pressure during this season because of the frantic pace, all of the presents to buy, and all of the spending. Doesn’t sound much like “all is well” to me. We can’t fix the world’s problems, and you may still spend too much this Christmas, but all can be well. Reflect on a miracle with me.

A few years ago, I received this story from a friend. I believe it to be true, and it reminds me of the miracle of Christmas…

The brand new pastor and his wife came to their first ministry in Brooklyn, New York. They arrived in early October to reopen a church. The couple started to repair the run-down facility in hopes of having their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, painting, plastering etc, and on December 18, it was about finished. But as life would have it, torrential rains came on the 19^th and lasted two days. When the pastor finally went back to the church on the 21^st, he found it in disrepair. The roof had leaked, and there was a 20 by 8 foot area of plaster missing behind the pulpit.

With sadness, the pastor decided to cancel Christmas Eve. Heading home, he drifted into a flea market. His eyes landed on a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth. It was an exquisite piece, with a cross right in the middle. Being a perfect fit for the missing plaster behind his pulpit, the young pastor bought it and headed back to the church. On his way back, he encountered an elderly lady who had missed her bus. He let her wait in the church until her bus came. She ignored him as he began to place the tapestry behind the pulpit.

All of a sudden, he noticed her coming down the aisle. “Pastor,” she asked, “where did you get the tablecloth?” He explained and she asked him to check for the initials EBG in the right corner. Upon finding her initials, the young pastor heard a painful story. She and her husband were well to do when the war came to Austria 35 years earlier. She was forced to leave as the Nazis attacked. Her husband was to follow the next week. He was captured and she never saw him or her country again. He tried to give the tapestry to her, but she wanted him to keep it for the church. The least he could do was take her home, and he did. She lived on the other side of Staten Island, and was only in Brooklyn for a housing cleaning job.

On Christmas Eve, the church reopened and was almost full. The music and spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted the quests and many were interested in returning. Curiously, there was an older man who remained in his seat and stared. The young pastor approached him about why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tapestry on the front wall. It was just like the one his wife had made in Austria 35 years earlier. There couldn’t be two tablecloths just alike. He told the young pastor of how the Nazis came, his wife had to flee and that he was to follow her. But he was arrested, put in prison and had not seen his wife or his home in 35 years.

The pastor asked if he could take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the elderly man climb three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion he could have ever imagined. Can you imagine the tears and joy all wrapped together?  It was a miracle, and for a moment in time … All was Well!

As I think of that moment, I am reminded of another reconciliation. There was a separation, of far greater depth and breadth. It was in a garden, and at the start, all was well. It wasn’t the Nazis, but sin that separated mankind from God. No one could bridge the great divide, but then in a special moment in time, God became man, Christ came and all could be well. He entered our world in a stable, lived a perfect life and then at another remarkable moment in time, He died for our sins and rose again so that all could be well.

Unemployment may stay high, wars will continue, and the Christmas season will most likely have a frantic pace for you. But where life matters, within you, all can be well. The young pastor witnessed a miracle. Don’t miss the Miracle this year! All is Well.

You might, for a moment, consider lying rather than admit it. But there are thoughts that flow into your mind that causes you to wonder, “How could I think such a thing?” Those kinds of thoughts cause you to question yourself, the depth of your spirituality, and sometimes even your sanity. We have all been there, and the purpose of this post is not to examine why (or play amateur psychologist), but rather to give encouragement in the battle for your mind. Each of us have some personal struggles that are contained within our minds, and if not controlled, will burden our souls. Can you accept that God knows all about your mind games, and is very willing to help?

Thinking of the battle we all face reminds me of the “prince of preachers” Charles Spurgeon. He could be considered an earlier version of  Billy Graham. Yet he battled  long-term struggles with depression.  I will never forget one of the ways that he fought against his struggle. The story goes that he would write Scripture verses on the ceiling of his bedroom, and use them to overcome his melancholy. Your personal mental assault may not be depression, but it could be anger, guilt, insecurity, an addiction, etc…  For some, the assault may be fleeting and for others deep seeded. I am here to say “take heart!”  God knows, He cares and He wants us to cast our cares on Him.

It is hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head. – Sally Kempton

I don’t know anything about Sally Kempton, but her statement intrigues me. We can all relate to a particular enemy that wants to set up control in our minds. In our most recent post it was stated that all that surrounds, affects us. It can also be said that all that our mind ponders, affects us … both the good, and the bad! So in this life we have, and will face battles from the outside (circumstances and people), and issues on the inside (our thoughts). God gives counsel that all believers should grab hold of, and never let go. II Corinthians 10:5(b) says, “and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”. We can turn any thought toward the will of the Father.

Let every thought that frustrates you become like an automated announcement, “Warning! Danger Ahead”. Use that warning to immediately “make it obedient to Christ”. Don’t try it once and quit. But with every errant thought, “take it captive” and go to our Lord. Let me close with words from The Road to Daybreak, by Henri Nouwen.

I am your God…I see all of your actions. And I love you because you are beautiful, made in my own image…Do not judge yourself. Do not condemn yourself. Do not reject yourself…come, come, let me wipe your tears, and let my mouth say…I love you, I love you, I love you.

All that surrounds us affects us. None of us would like to admit the extent to which external circumstances dominate our internal thought patterns. Whether people or events, something on the outside is always clamoring for your attention. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius gave us a humorous, yet at the same time, resonant insight centuries ago: I am going to be meeting people today who talk too much—people who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful. But I won’t be surprised or disturbed for I can’t imagine a world without such people.

Nor should we! Frustrating people and emotional circumstances will always surround us, but should never dominate us. Under our own power, those words are easier said than done.  But in Christ, we can live inside out.

In my personal reading recently, I was reminded of a devotional book written early in the last century. The book was written by James Allen and is entitled, As a Man Thinketh.  The inspiration for the title and the text was taken directly from Proverbs 23:7(a): For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. It resonated with me, that so much of how we view life is driven by the controlling influences of our mind. We will always be confronted with positive and negative circumstances, but they should never control us internally. However, since everyone has daily battles within, it is important to be clear that God understands our struggle and gives guidance. We have His Spirit to direct us, His Word to teach us, and we have been given freedom to communicate with Him in Christ. Availing ourselves of what God has provided can change our view of life from the inside out, by the transforming of our minds.

So where are your thoughts, and how are they controlling your days and weeks? James Allen said: “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts will take you“. Frankly speaking, most of us have some ingrained habits of the mind that cloud our perspective. With the renewing power of the Holy Spirit, change can come. It is imperative that our lives go from being dominated by all that surrounds us to being directed by His Spirit. Any Christ follower can live with the mind of Christ. Whether our weeks (and people) are great or incredibly draining should never be the issue. The real issue should be: is my mind renewed, and are my thoughts in line with God’s perspective.

If you know Christ and are struggling from the outside in, determine to reverse that order today (to living inside out). You may have found that it is easier to be more frustrated than patient, and more overwhelmed than at peace. Having the mind of Christ takes discipline, but the results are worth it. Let this principle guide you … When I allow my life to be controlled by His Spirit, I can handle all that surrounds me, well. For an on-looking world to ever see our faith working, we must think right, because how we think determines how we live.