Week 3 – Day 18
Dear Friend,
Have you ever thought of the power within the spoken word? We can be concentrating on work and someone can utter the word “donut” and our mind immediately pictures our favorite donut. We might even imagine we smell its sweetness. That donut could be created in our imagination and we do not even get up to see if it is in with those others mentioned in the break room. As we find ourselves on the road three days later we pass a donut shop and our mind will recall that moment, triggering the craving response, which steers our car to the parking lot. Soon we are standing at the counter seeking out that very treat.
Nutritionists and diet gurus tell us that we have to capture those thoughts that are planted by others around us unintentionally. We have to stay focused on our goal and not let other’s decisions determine our future. If this is proven in the natural, how much greater is this proven out in the supernatural God-walk? Second Corinthians 10:3-5 actually tells us to grab every thought that wants to create an imagination that lies about who God is and what He has promised us! Grab it and kick it out of your thinking, it is trespassing because you belong to God and you have His mind!
We agree with the scripture and want to obey it, but find ourselves back at that donut counter picking out our favorite worrisome thoughts. We nestle with those thoughts on the drive to our next appointment and then spend the rest of the day kicking ourselves for thinking them in the first place. How do we stop this cycle? How do we get enough willpower to bypass the worry (donut) shop all together?
- First of all, God never intended for us to do this under our own power at all! He gave us grace (HIS Supernatural power) to give us the strength to follow our “want to”.
- Secondly, it isn’t always about never pulling in the parking lot or standing at the counter. It is noticing where your habit took you, choosing not to condemn yourself for arriving there and recognize you have the power to walk away from that worry counter at any moment.
My favorite way to do this is to speak to myself and the worry being handed to me.
- “These are not my thoughts, I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of God’s heart. I choose not to take those thoughts in Jesus’ name. You do not have a right to be here! Emotions—calm down. You be at peace and be still in Jesus’ name.”
Thoughts are shadows, not prophecy. They appear real and create a “feeling” of fear, but that doesn’t make them true!
- Remember what God told us in Psalm 23 about shadows.
- Ask yourself, “What is the real truth according to the Word?
- Capture those thoughts and refuse to accept them in your life.
- Speak what you believe out loud to the atmosphere and create your future.
What took place in another person’s life is not your story’s ending. Do not let God’s power in your life be determined by other people’s opinion or circumstance. The enemy will oppose you when you begin to step into more freedom and faith, but he has been defeated.
- God disarmed the enemy and triumphed over him through the cross. (Colossians 2:15)
- The enemy doesn’t have the power to create in your life, only YOU DO! Use your words to speak your faith and change your circumstance.
- His lies are only suggestions, smoke and mirrors. We don’t have to accept them any more than we have to accept a donut over the counter or even continue eating it once we are in the car.
Have you ever taken a bite of something and don’t like it? You throw it in the trash, right? Well, do the same thing with thoughts that other’s people situations, TV or your past experiences try to feed you. Even if you throw it away at the last bite, you still win because YOU controlled what you accepted and the enemy loses ground and God’s peace floods your soul.
Embrace who God calls you and imagine the future your amazing Father has planned for you! He is a good, good Father!
Love,
Jen
Meditation:
1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMP)
For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Common English Bible (CEB)
3 Although we live in the world, we don’t fight our battles with human methods. 4Our weapons that we fight with aren’t human, but instead they are powered by God for the destruction of fortresses. They destroy arguments, 5and every defense that is raised up to oppose the knowledge of God. They capture every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Psalm 23:4-6 (AMP)
4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.Mark 11:22-24 (AMP)
22 And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].
23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.
24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
Colossians 2:15
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through [a] the cross.
Journal:
You have probably noticed some scriptures have been repeated often. Remember the danger of skimming? The repetition is mean to highlight these scriptures importance. Our goal is to know these scriptures at a moment’s notice.
When you are developing a relationship with someone intimately, you remember everything they say to you. You reread their texts, you share with their words with others. It is time to do the same with these scriptures. Commit them to heart and fall in love with the Holy Spirit and His Words of promise.
