Having a Made-Up Mind

Title:  Having a Made-Up Mind

Scripture:  Romans 12:1-2 -  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Proverbs 23:7 -  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

II Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Many of us struggle with the way we think.  Pastor Cockrell has said many time “Do you think about what you think about.”  If you want to grow in the things of the Lord, you have to control your lingering thoughts.  It’s important to evaluate and have victory over your thought life – realizing that you are responsible for what you think about.  Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”  What does that mean?  Your thinking determines, proves, shows and establishes the person that you are .  Lord, please help us all.  Romans 12:1-2 says “-  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” When we invited Jesus Christ into our lives –  receiving the Holy Spirit at salvation, and we want to grow spiritually after salvation, we can change our thinking, mindset, and what we continually ponder over.  We should never say that we can’t help doing something that is wrong.  You can’t stop bad thoughts from coming, but you have to control lingered thoughts with the word of God.  II Corinthians 10:5 says “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”  The applying of this scripture is imperative in having victory over our thought life.  Some of us say that we don’t have time to read God’s word daily.  You can’t grow spiritually without the word of God, prayer, and yielding to the Holy Spirit.  

I’m so grateful that we have a helper in our lives to aid in controlling our thought lives!  The Holy Spirit indwelled within us enables us to have victory with our thoughts – as we choose to yield to Him.  

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father:  Thank You for giving me what I need to have victory over wrong thoughts.  Help me to apply completely the word of God that I read daily.  With Your help, I can consistently have victory!  All this I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)