Thinking the thoughts of God. Growing up in Christ.

Whatever "situation" you find yourself in, seek God's "heart and mind" for you and the ones in the situation. His thoughts are of "Redemptive Soulutions" His heart is full of hope. He knows our full potential. He knows who He created you to be. Be that!

Do you ever think about your thoughts? Have you ever wondered why you argue with yourself?

2 Cor. 10:3-5 MEV 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

IDEA - noun. Any conception existing in the mind as a result of mental understanding, awareness, or activity. a thought, conception, or notion:

 

What does the Bible say about Thoughts And The Mind?

"Now" & "Eternity"

God's "Presence" is "present" only in the present moment of the "here and now"! The here and now is where we invest in "Eternity" because "now" is where we abide in Christ. Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. In Christ we abide in Eternity because He is Eternal.

My relationship with God exists in the here and now. There is no other "time or place"  to "Walk with God" 

time.

Have you noticed that no matter where you go, when you get there it's always now. Maybe that's why they call it the present moment. 

Servanthood?

Revelation 1:1

New Living Translation: This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to His servant John,

Berean Literal Bible: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants what things it behooves to take place in quickness. And He signified it through having sent His angel to His servant, John,

King James Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

Contemporary English Version: This is what God showed to Jesus Christ, so that He could tell His servants what must happen soon. Christ then sent His angel with the message to His servant John.

Young's Literal Translation: A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to Him, to shew to His servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and He did signify it, having sent through His messenger to His servant John,

Matthew 23:11

New International Version: The greatest among you will be your servant.

New Living Translation: The greatest among you must be a servant.

English Standard Version: The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Berean Study Bible: The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Berean Literal Bible: But the greatest among you will be your servant.

New American Standard Bible: "But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

King James Bible: But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

I did not come to be served, but to serve.

Time and Place

Each is directly connected. 

"When and where?" we ask a friend when we plan to meet for coffee in the future. Reason gives us the ability to plan the future.

When we ask, "remember when", we are referencing a time and a place from our past. Memory gives us the ability to remember the past.

Time and place, when and where...

We exist, and live our life, and have our being, in the "HERE AND NOW".  

God's presence is revealed in the praises of his people!

Psalm 22:3.  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Blameless? God's ultimate call to Righteousness.

Definition of Blameless: innocent of wrongdoing.

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

"The quality of blamelessness is both a positional benefit of salvation and a moral character to be achieved."  William E. Brown (Bakers Evangelical Dictionary) 

The Righteousness of God Through Faith: Has 2 forms. The word “Believe” is essential for both.

 Gen. 15:6 "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him Righteousness.

1. Imputed Righteousness called Justification: by Grace
Righteousness as a “status”, not a quality of religious/moral perfection.

This righteousness “is a righteousness that we receive from God.” it means we are in a right relationship with God when we simply receive the imputed obedience of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through faith.

Romans 5:18-19 “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

2. Applied Righteousness called Sanctification: by Faith
Righteousness as an “Act of Faith” (Trust and Obey).

This righteousness is an act of trust and obedience that, by faith (See Faith Session), is put forth in our day-to-day relationship with the Holy Spirit. To live Coram Deo is to live one’s entire life being aware of the presence of God, submitting to His guidance, all for the glory of God and His Kingdom…

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work* of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” *present, future continuous tense

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” –

Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” –

Phil. 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

These two forms of Righteousness are reflected in the “Complete Gospel” by the words “Savior” and “Lord”.

The Gospel of “Salvation” and the Gospel of the "Kingdom", which Jesus preached and demonstrated, make up the Complete Gospel. Gospel means "Good News".

“You are saved (2Timothy 1:9). You are being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18). You will be saved (Romans 5:9-10)”*

Spiritual Authority?

Responsibility and accountability

MATTHEW 28:18-20  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

"God calls us not only to receive His life through faith but also to maintain His authority through obedience. He counsels us, who are in the church, to obey the authorities He has established—in home, school, society, and church—as well as to obey His direct authority. It is not necessary to point out specifically which person you should obey. It simply means that whenever you encounter God’s authority, directly or indirectly, you should learn obedience."

                                                        Watchman Nee "Spiritual Authority" chapter 6

To Have authority you need to be under Authority

Matthew 8:5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed,(B) suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Hebrews 13:17 (Accountability)  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Peter 4:10  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

1 Peter 5:3  Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 3:2  When they see your respectful and pure conduct.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

1 Timothy 5:1-2 (All Children of God.)  Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Philippians 2:1-4 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

1 Peter 3:8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore” (RSV).

The "here and now" and God's presence

The "here and now" is the only "time and place" we experience the manifest presence of God because the here and now is when and where we exist and have our being.

Hebrews 4:7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

To recognize God's presence, you must be conscious of the here and now. It means more than just occupying space in a given situation but actually paying attention. It means being fully engaged in the now. Not distracted by memories of the past or worries of the future.

Seasons of Faith.

Heb. 12:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Her. 29:13. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.

2Chron. 16:9. For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

Immanuel, God with us.

Learn to live/operate from and within the presence of God (relationship) as opposed to merely living/operating according to the principles of God

Stand up, Step out.

GIVE! Give of your time, give of your perspective, give of your resources. Bless as you have been blessed. Freely you have been given, freely give!

A responsive God!

God is responsive to our situation when we believe what?

Hebrews 11:6

New International Version And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Berean Study Bible And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Berean Literal Bible And without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For it behooves the one drawing near to God to believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder to those earnestly seeking Him out. King James Bible But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Contemporary English Version But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him. Holman Christian Standard Bible Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. New Heart English Bible Now without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

The Great Deception.

It's not one lie, it's many. They come from every direction. Don't focus on the lies! There are to many to comprehend.

Know Truth Himself, you'll see the lie every time...

Proverbs 29:18 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

Eschatology... Hmm.

Choice presumes Freedom!

Choice finds it's root in the substance of truth.

Truth can set us free from the determinism of "cause & effect".

Freedom is the foundation of creative expression.

Ecclesiastes?

As I read Ecclesiastes to the two sons of my old age. Hudson shared his joy in discovering that the Bible expressed how he felt. My surprise was that his response was exactly like mine when I first read Ecclesiastes. Why, because I was so "not churched" and he is so "churched".

For some reason, I think about "the futility of chasing the wind and the importance of loving God".

Sanctification?

It's like the 40 years in the wilderness. God killed off all those who had unbelief.

CALAMITY will be our wilderness. 

Define Context!

Give God a pile of ashes. He takes and compresses it into a charcoal pencil and begins to draw.

Beauty from ashes.

Our story is told in "Context".

Our history can not be separated from "Now". Context is found in the now. It gives hope because the context reveals forgiveness.

Scriptures?

39 You search the Scriptures because you think in them you have eternal life. These are they who bear witness of Me. 40 Yet you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Scriptures? = Authoritative!

Who knew the scriptures better? I'm just asking.

Arguing with God

How is it possible that Moses changed God's mind about destroying Israel? The implications make my brain hurt.

Exodus 32: 7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. 10 Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.”

11 Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.

Stretched and Strengthened.

Gosh. "Stretched and Strengthened"? Yes, there is a story to be told... Not a story, a "testimony" to be shared. It's beyond me to tell. I wait on Him.

What we know gets in the way of what we need to know

Our willingness to learn is diminished by the success of what we know because we think success is proof we have attained. Intellectual security is based in pride, it guarantees calamity because God loves us.

Choices and Decisions.

We all have a path we are walking. It's a unique path that no one else has walked. When Jesus says "narrow is the way" He is speaking about the path I'm on and how narrow it is. The guard rails are the same, but the lessons to learn are uniquely different. Yet my testimony will be a prophetic glimpse that God wants to work in your life.

Rest in the Lord...

You can only "Rest in the Lord" when you understand that anything more you do will only get in the way of what God wants to do. It is directly related to "Be Blameless".

STRENGTH & POWER = Blameless?

The Strength of Being Blameless. 

BLAMELESS:  /ˈblāmlis/

adjective:    innocent of wrongdoing.

Knowing no accusation is true. Being free of guilt. Allows the possibility of being regret-free.

Caution

Guilt is a function of the spirit. You can "reason" away your sin (the mind), but guilt remains.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (RSV)   For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show his might on behalf of those whose heart is blameless toward him.

2 Samuel:23-25 (RSV)      For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes, I did not turn aside. 24 I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. 25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.

Psalm 119:2–3.  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3. who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 

WE CAN ONLY BE BLAMELESS IF AND WHEN WE ARE 

WALKING BY FAITH AND BEING SPIRIT-LED

The Power of Repentance.

metanoia (repentance)

Original Word: μετάνοια, ας, ἡ

Part of Speech: Noun,

Transliteration: metanoia

Phonetic Spelling: (met-an’-oy-ah)

Short Definition: repentance, a change of mind

Definition: repentance, a change of mind, change in the inner man.

Here is the verb form:

metanoeó: to change one’s mind or purpose

Original Word: μετανοέω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: metanoeó

Phonetic Spelling: (met-an-o-eh’-o)

• Short Definition: I repent, change my mind, change my ways
• Definition: I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.

REPENTANCE: Acknowledging the accusation and accepting responsibility, with (Godly) sorrow that leads to a desire for forgiveness and reconciliation/restoration of relationship.

accusation. [ak-yoo-zey-shuh n] noun.  1. a charge of wrongdoing; imputation of guilt or blame.

2 Corinthians 7:9 (ASV)   I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Adam and Eve in the garden

1 John 1: 5-6 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in Him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

potential

1. The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.
2. Something possessing the capacity for growth or development.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR IDENTITY it is important to understand that God sees us from a perspective of our potential. He knows who He created us to be.

It is this potential that is the foundation of His love, commitment, long-suffering and hope for us.

With insight and understanding of our God-given potential, He rebukes, chastises, encourages and disciplines us with exhortations of humility, honesty, and demonstrations of unconditional love.

He calls us to be over-comers, blameless, willing to admit our mistakes, dependant on His guidance. Willing to serve His purposes. In this light, we should make our decisions! When seeking God’s Will we shouldn’t be asking what does God wants me to do. We should be asking who God wants me to be. It is then He will show us who we are.

Jurisdiction

SYNONYMS FOR jurisdiction...
administration, arbitration, authority, command, commission, control, discretion, district, influence, power, vrule, scope, sovereignty, territory, dominion, orbit, province, range, reach, reign, sphere, sway.

The Threshing Floor.

Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

What's the Point?

A changed life!

Sign of the Times? Or just Current events?

Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  25 Behold, I have told you before.

2 Thes. 2 :1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Strength in Weakness

Matthew 26:41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

2 Cor. 2:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Christian Mystics and Now!

I've enjoyed the books of several Christian "mystics". Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee, and A.W. Tozer. These are people that God gave spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear. And they shared God's heart and mind, how God felt, and what He thought to their generation.

Their asceticism was simple and did not bring glory to themselves. They knew God, and the things of the world had little appeal to them.

Now...
The mysteries of the believer's union with the Father through the Holy Spirit are being made clear to all of us.

Hebrews 8:11. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 

Acts 2:17-18 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Revelation 19:9. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

1 Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

VOICES.

A multitude of voices! Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Snapchat, all telling me the truth??

A new season is upon us.

Each of us goes through seasons in our life. That is not what I am talking about. The season upon all of us is Global. I'm only one pointing down the path I have yet to take.

Relationships? Who can fathom the complexity?

I know I can't. I am lost. Wait, I know the one that can! I will trust in his guidance, provision and care.

Conviction

First be a man of humility, then be a man of conviction. Because you know what you believe and why you believe it.

Correct a wise man and he becomes wiser still.

Being led by the Holy Spirit

What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit?

Romans 8:14 All that are led by the Spirit of God they are the children of God.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

Deuteronomy 1:30 'The LORD your God who goes before you, will Himself fight on your behalf.

Psalm 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

What does "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" mean?

Can we be led by the Holy Spirit without following? What does it mean to follow?

Is walking by God's principles the same as walking by the Spirit?

Does 2 Chronicles 16:9 have anything to do with being led by the Spirit?

For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him.

Psalm 51

11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Leadership

In the Economy of God's *Kingdom there is no leadership but that of the Holy Spirit.      *Household

Peace

There is no peace for the liar, especially when he lies to himself.

Ain't No Devil Gonna Tread on Me | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible

Ain't No Devil Gonna Tread on Me | Devotional Reading Plan | YouVersion Bible:

When Jesus Christ came, he crushed the head of the devil. Join We The Kingdom on their 5-day devotional, inspired by their song 'Don't Tread On Me', in which they emphasize the declaration of the truth of God’s Word in the face of the lies of the enemy.

Download the "youversion"  Bible app to most easily go through the reading plan...

https://www.youversion.com

Here's the We The Kingdom video...

https://youtu.be/o4KEgwLDLHw

Evidence that the Spiritual Battleground is our Mind

Cognitive Dissonance? Cognitive Distortion?

Cognitive dissonance may be defined as the state of having inconsistent or conflicting thoughts, beliefs, attitudes or behaviors, which, in turn, produce a feeling of discomfort within the individual.

Cognitive distortions are simply ways that our mind convinces us of something that isn't really true. These inaccurate thoughts are usually used to reinforce negative thinking or emotions — telling ourselves things that sound rational and accurate, but really only serve to keep us feeling bad about ourselves.

Some Distortions:

• Always being right
• Blaming
• Disqualifying the positive
• Emotional reasoning
• Fallacy of change
• Fallacy of fairness
• Jumping to conclusions
• Labeling and mislabeling
• Magnification and minimization
• Overgeneralizing
• Personalizing
• Making "must" or "should" statements
• Splitting (All-or-nothing thinking, black-or-white thinking, dichotomous reasoning)

It's not whether a thought is positive or negative or a "thinking error". The question is whether the thinking is based on truth, which stirs conviction that leads to hope, or on a lie which concludes condemnation which leads to hopelessness.

Renewing the mind...

Taking every thought captive

Pray without ceasing

It All Works Together!

The present "Here and Now", the Presence of God, Led by the Spirit, Authority, Power, The Battle, Righteous Peace and Joy, Kingdom of God, Alert, Awake, Seeing Eyes, Hearing Ears,

Personal Relationship?

Do you have a "personal relationship" with God?

"I am the good shepherd". I know My own sheep, and they know Me,...

The Book of John Chapter 10
1.“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
6. Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
9. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
13. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15. just a the Father knows me and I know the Father (John 17)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. (The Gentiles) I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd (The Church/Bride).
17. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”...

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,

26. but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 

27. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

28. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

2.9 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 

30. I and the Father are one.”
31. Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 

32. but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33. “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34. Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”? 

35. If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 

36. what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 

37. Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father... 

40. Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 

41. and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 

42. And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Faith is not...

trust, or belief, or confidence, or conviction, or credence, or reliance, or dependence, or optimism, or hopefulness, or hope, or expectation, or any attitude or principle you can put into practice.

John 5:39-40 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40. yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

FAITH IS A RELATIONSHIP! With God the Father, by the Holy Spirit, because of the sacrifice His Son Jesus.

In this relationship, we grow in;  trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence, optimism, hope, expectation, and anticipation.

Hyperfocus: The Ability to "Pay Attention"??

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperfocus

An ability to "Focus" to the exclusion of distractions.

How is this an attribute of someone with ADHD?

"Deficit" of Soul?

God's will is that your balance sheet be balanced!

Deficit: short·fall  /ˈSHôrtˌfôl/  noun: shortfall; plural noun: shortfalls

a deficit of something required or expected.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFICIT  By N., Pam M.S. 

Any cognitive, emotional or behavioral performance of an individual that is below average.

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a developmental disorder
• Cognitive deficit, any characteristic that acts as a barrier to cognitive performance.

-------------------------------------------------

Laying in bed tonight I ruminated on the past week; Live in the 'Here and Now", "Be Present", "Be awake/Aware", "Listen/Pay Attention", be led by the Holy Spirit. The word "Deficit" came to mind.

I was reminded of...

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

And realizing the truth of...

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Tonight I realized God was going to make a deposit into my account (My Soul)!

He said "As iron sharpens iron, be ready to get your axe sharpened".

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Vagaries? GOD IS NOT SURPRISED!

noun - plural noun: vagaries
an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior.

The vagaries of life are unexpected and therefore cannot be anticipated. But God is not surprised! 

The same is true of "vicissitudes".

"When you talk of the vicissitudes of life, you're referring to the difficult times that we all go through: sickness, job loss, and other unwelcome episodes. No one can escape the vicissitudes of life"

Vocabulary.com

Patterns of behavior.

Identity, Self-conception, interpretation, and a unique perspective.

Patterns of behavior are a result of who we perceive ourselves to be, our sense of identity. Our conception of self is derived from how we interpret our unique perspective that exists in the now but choice gives us the ability to break patterns of behavior.

Stop relying on your memory and reason alone. Embrace the Lover of your Soul's guidance. Discover who He created you to be, and overcome the lies that have led to destructive habits.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

John 8:31 Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

And behold, I Am with you always,

There is never a time that the Holy Spirit is not present in our lives.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Luke 12:32  “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Present Moment

I call it the Here and Now.

The present moment is "where" and "when" we exist and have our being. Our understanding resides with our thoughts in the present moment. Our experience is informed by our "perspective" which is derived from a combination of our five senses, our memory of the past that validates the present moment, and our ability to reason, which anticipates the future. Because of this, each individual has a "unique" and limited perspective.

Our perspective, is limited by the laws of physics and the nature of our inertial frame, which is our physical body. This is why the truth of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 is so important to understand. And why being Spirit-led is an essential aspect of every believer's walk.

If we are born again, we are conscious of the Holy Spirit's presence. According to His will, the Holy Spirit "informs" our perspective and therefore increases our understanding so that if we trust and obey, we can participate in what He is doing in the present moment (Revealing the Kingdom).

The present moment, the here and now, is the only place where a child of God is led by the Spirit of God. It's where the Holy Spirit reminds us of His leading in the past: John 14:26. It is where He speaks prophetically to us about the future. John 16:13 

The present moment is the only place where we can exercise Biblical Faith as we trust and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in the here and now!

Jesus said, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees, present-tense, the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. Jn 5:19

Jesus also said, "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10

The "Here and Now" and the Presence of God

The "Here and Now" is where we pay attention. To pay attention means to consciously focus on one aspect of that which we are aware.

We can be aware of many things in the here and now and still not pay attention to them.

Definition: the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others.

"Attention is the behavioral and cognitive process of selectively concentrating on a discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective, while ignoring other perceivable information"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention

"Attention is the cognitive process that makes it possible to position ourselves towards relevant stimuli and consequently respond to it. This cognitive ability is very important and is an essential function in our daily lives."

https://www.cognifit.com/attention

"Attention is a complex cognitive function which is essential for human behavior. Attention is a selection process for an external (sound, image, smell...) or internal (thoughts) event which has to be maintained at a certain level of awareness. It is not a stable but rather, fluctuating skill."

http://www.happy-neuron.com/brain-and-training/attention

From all this information we begin to understand that paying attention takes conscious effort.

Two Bible verses come to mind…

Romans 8:14 All that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God.

John 10:27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

And this one…

Matthew 10:19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

These verses speak of the present-tense indicative verb of paying attention to the Holy Spirit in the here and now. Not just acknowledging God's presence but recognizing Him and "choosing" to pay attention and to engage in your relationship with Him.

The enemy does not want you to do that. He will use distraction by trying to get you to focus, not on the present situation I call the "Here and Now" but on the past using condemnation/hopelessness or the future using speculation/fear... Or both.

Reality does not exist in the future or in the past.

We exist and have our being in the "Here and Now". It is where we make our choices and decisions that will shape our future. Do you trust in your limited perspective and understanding in your situation, or will you choose to pay attention to the Lover of your Soul and trust in His Guidance and Counsel? "Now" is the time, and "here" is the place we create the future God wants us to have.

Philippians 3:12 (NLT) I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Proverbs 3:5 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

Choices

Choice is all about your ability to choose. If you say "I have no choice" than you believe a lie. In the old testament, God says "choose you this day, a blessing or a curse". Fundamentally, those are the two choices we have.

In The Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks about making choices...

Matt 18:9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

If your flesh causes you to sin, well you have a choice. From the hyperbole in the Sermon on the Mount to Paul's practical advice from his own experience...

Rom 8:12-14 "Therefore Brethren we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if you through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the children of God."

Galatians 6:7-8  ESV  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Col. 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Know this...

1Cor. 10:15. No temptation has seized you, except what is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will also provide with the temptation the escape, to be able to endure it.

The only thing you have no choice about is about making choices.

You have a choice! Sow to the flesh and reap the curse. Sow to the Holy Spirit and reap the blessing.

Learning to overcome our fleshly nature through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, this is the process of sanctification. God's will is for us to be overcomers.

Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Romans 14:17 For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

PEACE

JOY

Play it by ear?

To play it by ear is to act according to the situation. Playing it by ear means you work with what you get.

The original meaning of this term was to play music without sheet music, meaning you improvised from what you heard and did your best to bring everything into harmony with a melody that everyone would appreciate.   Hmm?

Jesus said "I don't do anything except what I "see" (Present tense) my father doing.

I believe this is what it means when Paul said "All that are led by the spirit of God, they are the children of God"

Matthew 10:9 (Luke 12:12)When they bring you to trial, do not worry about what you are going to say or how you will say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you will say.

The natural state of our spirituality?

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to know the Father except through me.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God they are children of God.

John 14:16. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. 17. the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.…

Colossians 3:15  "The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make;"

Compared to...

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Matthew 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

ADDICTIONS

Ad·dic·tion - noun: the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity.

We are all addicts of something...

• Alcoholic: addicted to alcohol.
• Workaholic: addicted to work.
• Chocaholic: addicted chocolate.
• Spendaholic : addicted to spending money.
• Sportsaholic : lives to watch or play sport.
• Talkaholic : Incessant talking.
• Tweetaholic : Addicted to tweeting.

The one addiction that trumps them all is the “addiction to self-will”.

"I'm going to do what I want to do!"

It began in the garden of Eden and continues to this day. We are aware of Good and evil and seem to instinctively know when someone has trespassed against us. We don't pay heed to God's guidance and counsel and instead we "trust in our own understanding" as we respond/react to those who have done us wrong. Thus the cycle of self-will reaps ill-will in our hearts and our relationships. And we find all sorts of ways (other addictions) to ease our unhappiness for a moment!

All this happens because we listen to, and believe the lies the enemy of our Soul tells us. He speaks these lies in our thoughts and tries to convince us of "who" we are.

The enemy uses Pride or Condemnation.

1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

This spiritual battle manifests itself in our thought life. The enemy of your Soul can use your self-will addiction to make you believe you have it within yourself to be "happy" and encourage thoughts of self-confidence/righteousness. The enemy of your Soul would be content to leave you there. But…

This addiction to self-will manifests itself in an infinite number of ways. In our pride, most of us never come to realize the destructive consequences that self-will has in our lives. We "manage" the turmoil in our relationships by practicing "self-actualization" and make ourselves feel better by blaming others for our situation. But…

If you trust in your own understanding, sooner or later you will make mistakes. Then the enemy of your Soul changes his tactics. From thoughts of pride to thoughts of condemnation. These thoughts of pride or of condemnation, the enemy uses them with one goal in mind, your destruction.

Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sick and need to change the way they think.

Stop believing lies about who you are and embrace the "Lover of your Soul" He created you and He has a better plan for your life.

Seek Him out with all your heart!

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart don't lean on your own understanding, recognize God in all of your ways and he will direct your paths.

Read this...

https://www.gotquestions.org/seeking-God.html