What does it mean to renew our minds, in a practical sense?
Romans 12:2 says, “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.”
I have to constantly ask myself how (not if) I’m conforming to the superficial values of this world. Then, I have the choice whether or not I’m going to continue to be in compromise of what I know is not God’s best for me. Or, through the power of the Holy Spirit to do what Paul says here in Ephesians 4:21-24:
“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
According to God’s Word, we’re in a partnership with the Holy Spirit Who lives within us. One of our key roles in this supernatural and dynamic relationship is to let Him renew our thoughts and our attitudes.
Paul says in Colossians 3:9-10, “You have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
To help answer our original question of how we can renew our minds in a practical sense, look at what Jesus says here in John 17:16-18 as He’s actually praying to the Father for each one of us:
“They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
As we go to God’s Word and intentionally develop our understanding of the truth in Scripture … our minds will be renewed and changed by the Holy Spirit.
May our lives consistently reflect the reality of Christ’s love to those around us, along with His literal never ending presence within us!
Seeking Biblical satisfaction
One way to guarantee we’ll experience dissatisfaction in our lives, is to unduly want what we don’t currently have. It would be wise to stop thinking that satisfaction is going to come from having more.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”
The following definition of contentment is in alignment with what the Bible tells us: “A state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction, often characterized by a sense of being fulfilled with one's current situation and a lack of constant striving for more.”
It is possible to sincerely want and actually be content with what we already have! However, it’s totally counter cultural as we’re constantly bombarded by “The grass is greener mentality,” which goes something like:
‘Other people's lives or situations are significantly better than mine, leading me to a persistent feeling of dissatisfaction and a desire to change my circumstances … and believing that my ultimate happiness is certainly just beyond my current situation.’
Watch what happens when you intentionally want for less … and commit to stop comparing yourself to others … and truly be grateful for how the Lord blesses you.
May we take to heart what Jesus said here in Matthew 6:24-26:
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
How should we Biblically ‘vet’ our thoughts as they enter our brain?
We spend a fair amount of time here at MWM, discussing and trying to better understand how to honor the Lord by first of all, being committed to having our baseline for identifying truth, to be Jesus.
We all can probably agree that whatever comes to mind should not necessarily be deemed to be true. So, what’s a viable game plan regarding our thought life, or a process that will help us to ultimately land on objective reality … or truth?
Consider dynamically asking yourself as thoughts come in, does this please God, and does it fit His perfect will? Remember that we’re not our thoughts … it’s what we do with our thoughts that matters!
It will truly be a matter of disciplining our minds to not allow untrue or random thoughts to attach to our brain.
If we look at our brains as the hardware to our soul, meaning it’s programed with our thoughts … no doubt most of us would admit there’s plenty of room for improvement surrounding the vetting process we currently have in place.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].”
“We all live in glass houses,” so I’m speaking to myself as much as I’m trying to help others by recommending we all seriously take inventory of what we allow into our heads.
The old adage, “Garbage in, garbage out,” is a truism that if we take it to heart, and hold ourselves accountable to how we think … will certainly help us achieve a much more consistent mind-set that will ultimately glorify our Lord to the max.
Do you truly realize just how much God loves you?
Let this truth surrounding our Heavenly Father’s love for us from Psalm 103:10-13 sink in:
“He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.”
“For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear and worship Him”
“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
“Just as a father loves his children,
So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him”
For all follower’s of Christ, the reality that our sins are forgiven and will never come back to haunt us … as well as having our fellowship with our Creator restored, should make us jump for joy.
For those who have thus far in their lifetime rejected Jesus, and His offer to pay the price for your sins, and save your soul … this message of eternal hope, love, & forgiveness, should motivate you to reconsider your decision, and choose to surrender ownership of your life to Christ.
An eternal relationship with God truly changes everything here and now!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you have, as we would love to help you in your faith journey any way we can.
What is the baseline that Jesus uses to identify truth?
The Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was interrogating Jesus before passing judgment on Him in John 18:37-38:
“Pilate said, “So you are a king? Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
Then Pilate said, “What is truth?” I think that’s a question we all have to wrestle with!
Even though Pilate went on to say that he found no guilt in Jesus, and no crime or cause for accusation, he handed Him over to the Jewish leaders to be crucified.
In John 14:6 Jesus responds to a question Thomas had about where He was going, and He said this, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
The law of non-contradiction (If something is true, then the opposite of it is false) … is a very valuable tool to help us land on objective reality. For example; if I propose that a circle and a square are both a circle, I’d clearly be wrong.
In a day and age in which it’s popular and acceptable to define our own truth (surrounding just about everything) … we would be wise to follow Jesus’ lead, and accurately identify HIM as our baseline for objective truth!
May we all continue to search the Scriptures, and let them be our guide. It won’t mean our lives will become easier or more comfortable, but it does mean we’ll have what’s necessary to discern how we should go about living our daily lives based on what Jesus said of His followers …
“All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
Biblical communication principles
I don’t know about you, but I really dislike being put on the defensive. Consequently, I try to keep the “Golden Rule” on the forefront of my mind, which oftentimes helps me from putting anyone else on the defensive.
In Matthew 7:12 Jesus says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Another good reminder, especially while in the context of a conversation with someone that can easily cross over to one or both becoming offended … it would be wise to have a plan in place to filter your thoughts through, rather than just saying whatever pops into your mind.
As a follower of Christ, consider having a brief conversation with the Holy Spirit who lives within you, and ask Him if what you’re thinking about saying is true. Then, follow His prompting.
Next, ask the Holy Spirit if whatever your thinking about saying is necessary in the moment to share. Then, proceed according to however He leads you.
The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:15 to, “Speak the truth in love.”
Without having a rock solid communication plan in place, it’s all but guaranteed that we’ll regret saying things that end up being hurtful and unnecessary.
Conflict resolution from a Biblical perspective has to do with us becoming more spiritually mature, by allowing the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us moment-by-moment.
Next time you’re tempted to lash out with words that you know won’t ‘land well’ … give yourself a brief time-out, check in with the Holy Spirit, and trust the next words that come out of your mouth will be kinder and more effective than whatever you would have said prior to seeking His counsel.
What does the Bible mean when it says someone becomes justified?
The Apostle Paul says this in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
We can accurately view justification as being acquitted (being found innocent in a court of law) of the sinful nature we were all born with.
God declares us blameless before Him, and it’s the ONLY way to experience the joy of becoming reconciled with Him due to Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
God does not force anyone to become justified, yet it is necessary in order to be saved from eternal separation from Him.
Romans 3:22-24 says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”
In order to be saved and justified and heaven bound, we must first acknowledge Jesus as God’s Son, and put all of our trust and faith in His finished work on the cross!
Jesus says this in John 3:35-36, “The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand. He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”
If you have yet to surrender ownership of your life unto Jesus and be liberated from the penalty of sin, please consider today’s message from God’s Word to be a ‘lifeline’ specifically for you!
God’s desire is for everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That includes you, no matter what you’ve done or how unworthy of His love and grace you may feel right now.
All you have to do is say “YES” to Jesus, and God will immediately declare you justified and set you free!!
It’s important to know Who we are grateful to!
I believe gratefulness that stems from a Biblical frame-of-reference keeps our hearts and minds in a right relationship with the giver of life Himself!
James 1:16-17 says, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
God should always be the central focus of our gratitude, as He is perfect and never changes! Our feelings can certainly change, as well as our circumstances changing constantly … yet, we can rely on the fact that God will never leave us or forsake us.
I’ve found it helpful to dynamically go through a mental list of very specific things I’m thankful to the Lord for. Especially when I’m tempted to complain and grumble about something I wished was different.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always and delight in your faith; be unceasing and persistent in prayer; in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
Being thankful to the Lord should be a way of life for us as believers, and it would be great if it naturally flowed from our hearts and minds … evidenced by our actions.
In order for this to be a reality for me, I have to prayerfully go over items on my list and thank the Lord personally for each and every one of them.
That’s when I experience inner peace, along with a changed perspective that surpasses understanding.
May God be glorified as we respond to His everlasting presence with hearts of praise and thanksgiving!
What’s a Biblical way of testing our love for Christ?
Jesus says this in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
The crystal clear message from Jesus is, IF we love Him, then it won’t be any kind of a burden to live in obedience to what He’s shown us.
This is especially true for you and me, since the prophetic part of his statement came true after His resurrection from the dead … when we received the Holy Spirit after surrendering ownership of our lives to Him the moment we were saved.
We’ve been provided a supernatural Helper, and Comforter, and Advocate, and Counselor, and Intercessor, and Strengthener … Who is always available to help us overcome each and every situation and circumstance we face.
The Apostle Paul explains it this way in Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.”
I’m so thankful for the way in which the Lord has chosen to communicate to all who will listen, just how He will help us by literally living within us!
We can overcome everything the world and our adversary the devil throws at us, IF we choose to obey the One who chose to die on the cross for our sins … so that we can live with Him forever!!
Our habits decide our future
The Apostle Paul says in 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.”
We must first identify and become aware of those habits that are holding us back from God’s best for our future (as well as for the present!), before we can overcome them with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Colossians 3:9-10, Paul says, “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
It takes more than just our will power, or behavior modification, or some 5-step program to break free from the ‘customs of this world!’ When we surrender everything to the Lord, He will be faithful to help us change the way we think.
Jesus provides us with the answer for how to change our thinking, and ultimately our life here in John 14:23 when He says, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him.”
Now, it’s ultimately up to us … if/how we respond to this truth!
Is experiencing God’s peace conditional?
The Apostle Paul answers this question in Philippians 4:6-9 when he says, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.”
What’s the risk for us to work on and discipline our minds to ‘think continually on these things’ that Paul exhorts us to focus on?
Changing bad habits (being anxious and worrying) is never easy, but when we consider the rewards, like God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus … what in the world are we waiting for?!
Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” It’s up to each one of us to come to know God through His Word and to talk with Him in prayer. When we habitually do those two activities, our thoughts will more readily align with His, and so will our actions.
What happens when we commit to making God’s word a daily priority?
We can’t grow closer to the Lord through osmosis … defined as, “The unconscious absorption of information, rather than active learning or studying.”
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Even though God’s love for us is unconditional, He’s given us the responsibility to search the Scriptures, and then allow them to guide our thoughts, and our actions, and develop our character.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
If the Bible is truly given by God’s divine inspiration, then we should love the fact that He provided us with such a detailed ‘owner’s manual’ for us to study, and to obey, and ultimately to trust. Also, If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority surrounding every area of our life.
1 Peter 5:6-8 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
The fact that God gave us the Scriptures, is evidence of His love for us. The Bible contains everything we need to know about God so we can be in right relationship with Him.
Jesus says in John 13:31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” The reality that God’s holy Word will live on with us for all eternity … should be a huge motivating factor for all of us to thoroughly dig into it now, and allow His words to guide our steps day-by-day.
The first sentence in the Bible is the biggest miracle of them all!
Have you ever been asked by someone, “Who created God?” I think it’s a super valid question, even though it may be kind of a ‘gotcha’ moment coming from someone who doesn’t believe there is a God.
Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Consider this next time you’re asked about where God came from, as He literally created everything from nothing! Which means God has always been, and was never created by anything or anyone.
The God of the Bible is not affected by time … by space … or by matter! If He were affected by any of these, then He wouldn’t be God.
The Bible answers this oftentimes seeming dilemma surrounding where He came from in the above verse:
1) In the beginning (Time!)
2) God created heaven (Space!)
3) And the earth (Matter!)
Time is past, present & future.
Space has length, width & height.
And matter has solid, liquid & gas.
The reality is that the God who created them, has to be outside of them. If He’s limited by time, He can’t be God. The God who created the universe has to be outside of the universe.
It will be helpful to remember next time you’re asked where God came from, that the person (whether an atheist, a skeptic, or just someone sincerely curious) … is assuming a limited God.
Which should be a perfect segue to share how the personal relationship you have with Jesus has changed everything for you in your life, as well as for your eternal future.
The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Our God is certainly not limited by man’s opinions surrounding what He can or cannot do.
Rest assured that if you choose to put your faith and trust in Jesus, that He will literally be with you through all the ups-and-downs that this life here and now is sure to present you with.
What does it mean to find our identity in Christ?
It’s safe to say that everyone desires a life filled with meaningful purpose, a clear sense of perspective, and real peace of mind.
I believe these characteristics can only be achieved and experienced if we choose to accept that every human being has been created in the image of God. Here’s what Genesis 1:27 says:
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
It’s imperative to see ourselves accurately and truthfully, the way God sees each and every one of us. We are all born with value and purpose … but because He created us with free will, it’s up to us to choose to put our faith and trust in God as our Savior.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17, “So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way. Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
For Christians, having our identity in Christ means that we find our sense of self-worth, purpose, and value in Jesus. This means that our identity is not defined by our accomplishments, status, possessions, acclaim, popularity, or any other external factors … but only by our position as beloved children of God. John 1:10-12 says this about Jesus:
“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
How about you? Do you recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life? Or, like His own people … have you rejected Him and His free offer to pay for the price of your sins?
Look who Jesus prays for prior to His crucifixion!
Jesus prays for His disciples who He spent the previous three years with, here in John 17:6-8:
“I have manifested Your name to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word. Now they know that all You have given Me is from You. For the words which You gave Me I have given them; and they received and accepted them and truly understood that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.”
It’s almost beyond comprehension what Jesus prayed in verses 20 & 21, when He asked the Father for us (all future believers) to become one with Him:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Rather than being overwhelmed by such a realization that we in fact can become one with the Creator of the universe … may we also recognize the massive responsibility God has called each one of us to.
Because of our witness, and through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, it’s possible for those around us to believe without any doubt that Jesus was truly sent by the Father to save their souls for all eternity.
We’re all missionaries right where we are, as well as ambassadors for Christ to a lost and dying world around us! The big question is, “Will we step up, and surrender complete ownership of our lives unto Him, in order that many will repent of their sins and put their trust in the only One who can save their souls?”
May we be both motivated and extremely encouraged by what the Apostle Paul tells us what Jesus is doing right now, here in Romans 8:34 says:
“Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Thank you Lord for this high calling to represent Your truth to those who need Your saving grace! And thank you for continuing to intercede for us from heaven, as we trust Your guidance and direction with every divine appointment You allow us to have each day.
Do you ever look at faith in Jesus as a “Touchstone Proposition?”
Consider a definition of what a touchstone proposition is to be something like, “A fundamental principle, standard, or test used to evaluate the quality, value, or genuineness of someone’s worldview.”
If identifying the truth surrounding a person’s convictions was based on how they choose to live their lives … what would objective reality say about your worldview?
I think it may help to personalize these kinds of questions as we consider ways in which we come up short in our behaviors … along with specific actions we can take to daily grow closer to the Lord.
As it relates to motor skill acquisition, and let’s just say for example changing a bad habit in your golf swing … the reality is that behaviors don’t change without awareness! How is our profession of faith in alignment with our lived-out observable actions?
Back to the original question as we consider a proposition to mean, “A statement that can be either true or false, and its truth value can be determined.”
Jesus says in Matthew 7:16 & 24-27 “You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
What we decide to do with Jesus changes everything!! Putting our trust in Him will certainly change how we act throughout our lifetime, as well as change our eternal destination.
If Jesus is in fact the very foundation of your soul (the essence of who you are) …. truly a touchstone proposition … then there will come a day when you will live with Him forever in heaven! According to Scripture, there will literally come a day when there will be no more tears, no more suffering, no more estranged relationships, no more financial hardships, no more physical limitations … and, no more death!
May we all, here and now, take inventory of those areas that are within our control to change, in preparation for the goal of hearing Jesus say when we meet Him face-to-face, on that glorious day … “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things … Now, enter into the joy of your lord!”
Scriptures to help us be better listeners
I sincerely admire the handful of people I personally know, who ‘listen with their eyes!’ Way too often, I’m guilty of preparing my response in my head while whoever I’m talking with is sharing from their heart.
James 1:19 says, “Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words} and slow to anger.”
Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who answers before he hears [the facts]—It is folly and shame to him.”
Proverbs 2:2 says, “Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding.”
Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
If you’re at all like me, I need to constantly work on being a much better listener. Not only when friends or family are trying to communicate with me … but also when the Lord is speaking to me through His Spirit as well as through His word!
How to respond to one of the most destructive habits we all (at times) struggle with
Follower’s of Christ are not exempt from worrying! However, we do possess the antidote for overcoming such a common habit that we can fall into when distressing circumstances arise.
One of the best practices I’ve found to handling difficult situations that can easily overwhelm me, and rob me of my peace … is to go to God’s word for guidance.
You may consider choosing to memorize specific passages, or have some prepared as your ‘go-to’ verses whenever the storms of life hit.
I promise you won’t regret having a plan in place that focuses on the only One who can truly bring relief to your troubled mind.
For example …
Jesus says this in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.”
Paul says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Peter says in 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the appropriate time, casting all your cares on Him, for He cares about you.”
King David says in Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you, He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
The prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].”
Paul said in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Rather than defaulting to worrying about something that is outside of our control … let’s pay attention to what is very much within our control by giving it to God!
Next time you find yourself in a state of worry … try putting God to the test and remembering what Paul says here in Philippians 4:6-7:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Our worldview will determine how we deal with suffering
If your baseline for identifying objective truth is found in the Jesus of the Bible … then this is what the Apostle Paul says about suffering in Romans 8:16-19:
“The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”
I don’t know about you, but delayed gratification does not come naturally to me! That’s why the assurance from God’s word is such an integral part of my day-to-day life. I know that I can rely on the fact that He always knows what’s best for me. Especially during the times (and even seasons) when I wish my circumstances would be more comfortable & much easier than they are.
1 Peter 4:12-14 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy. If you are insulted and reviled for [bearing] the name of Christ, you are blessed [happy, with life-joy and comfort in God’s salvation regardless of your circumstances], because the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you [and indwelling you—He whom they curse, you glorify].”
Since the reality of suffering is unavoidable as we all live in a fallen world … it all boils down to where we put our trust!
For those who have thus far chosen not to trust in the Lord with all their heart, and who decide to lean on their own understanding, and who choose not to acknowledge Him in all their ways … I encourage them to challenge God to reveal Himself to them while there’s still time. May you open up your heart and your mind, as it’s the Lord’s desire that everyone would be saved, and all will come to the knowledge of the truth!
For those of us who have placed our trust and our faith in Jesus, may we view each trial, and every hardship, and all the times of suffering, as temporary times of testing that we can embrace and know that we’re never ever alone. God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us!
Are we responsible for our God given abilities?
The short answer is “Yes!”
We find a very revealing and very specific Biblical example given by Jesus in the “Parable of the Talents,” in Matthew 25:14-30. Jesus uses stories and scenarios to uncover literal principles (or truth claims) surrounding subjects like … our accountability for the gifts God gives us.
The big takeaway, along with the literal reality surrounding these questions is found in verse 29 when Jesus says, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”
We would do well to pay close attention to what the Lord communicates to us through His “Owner’s Manual.” He clearly wants us to value and utilize to the max all of our individual abilities that He’s instilled within us.
It’s important to recognize that it’s not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ or ‘cookie-cutter’ accountability that we’ll all face on judgment day. The outcome will be commensurate with what we did based on what He provided us with!
We should look forward to someday reigning with Christ in the New Heavens on the New Earth! For now though, may we be good stewards of his many personal blessings.
Ultimately, may we remain faithful in preparation for the eternal rewards & responsibilities that will be bestowed upon us (or taken away) based on the choices we make here and now.