Tag: mind

A Steadfast Heart

A Steadfast Heart

Steadfast means committed, unwavering, reliable and trustworthy.

He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  (Ps 112:7, underscoring added)

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.  (Pro 1:33)  Wisdom is speaking in the passage.  When we obey wisdom, we obey God.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  4 Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yahweh, the Lord, is everlasting strength.  (Isa 26:3-4)  When we are focused upon the Lord, with absolute trust, our hearts will be filled with the peace that passes all understanding.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  (Joh 14:1) Jesus is speaking in this verse, and He’s encouraging us to believe in Him.  He’s inviting us to rely upon Him and to have confidence in Him.

The point of these verses that I’ve shared is that under all circumstances, even in the midst of challenges and painful trials, a believer knows the beautiful character of Jesus, and is able to trust Him effortlessly.  Why?  Because Jesus is a good and loving Savior.

The Lord’s plans for us are good plans intended to give us a good future.  We can see the only person who can prevent those plans from coming to pass when we look into the mirror! 

If we don’t cooperate with the Lord, if we don’t trust Him and place all of our faith in Him, then we cannot blame God for whatever mess in which we eventually find ourselves.

Place all of your hope, faith and trust in the Lord.  Yield to God’s plans and His ways, and you will be blessed.  Hallelujah!

Being Kept in “Perfect Peace”

Being Kept in “Perfect Peace”

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  (Isa 26:3)  Our inner peace is supported by and dependent upon our complete trust in and focus upon God Himself.

But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  (Lk 10:5)  We can share the glorious peace that resides in each one of us with others!  How wonderful!

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (Joh 14:27)  Jesus is speaking in this passage, and it says that He gives each one of us His own peace.  What a precious gift!

Jesus was so filled with peace that he was able to SLEEP in a small boat in the midst of the sea during a fierce storm!  (Mk 4:35-39)  Jesus commanded the sea to be still, and it obeyed Him.  Jesus literally spoke the peace that was within Him into the sea.

What does it mean to be kept in “perfect peace” as mentioned in Isaiah 26, above?

This is referring to a peace that is not dependent upon our circumstances at all.  Rather, it is entirely and completely reliant upon knowing—with complete assurance—that God loves us wholeheartedly; and that He is with each one of us ALWAYS.

Bear Grylls writes in his autobiography, ‘Faith in Christ has been the great empowering presence in my life, helping me walk strong when so often I feel so weak.’  Bear is a former member of the UK Special Forces, and his TV adventure series Man vs. Wild has reached an estimated 1.2 billion viewers in over 180 countries.

God’s presence in our lives should be a constant reassurance to us.  The knowledge of His unfailing love and His plan to bless each of us at all times is designed (by our Creator) to fill us with peace.  This peace is a deep, abiding sense of tranquility and calm within us.

As we rest in the loving arms of Jesus, having the certainty of His goodness and His good plans for us, we are made strong and powerful.  Knowing that the Lord has already purchased our victory, we are inspired to live our lives of faith courageously.  Be bold in the Lord for you are blessed!

Wisdom of this World

Wisdom of this World

Is there any true wisdom in this world?  Here’s what the Bible has to say about worldly wisdom: 

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness;” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”  (1 Cor 3:19-20)

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  (1 Cor 1:20)

According to the Word, there is no true wisdom that exists in this world, apart from Godly wisdom.  How do we, as believers and disciples of Jesus, obtain God’s wisdom?

  1. Ask the Lord for it. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  (Jas 1:5)
  2. Grow up into Christ—speak the truth in love. So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ . . . (Eph 4:14-15)
  3. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  (Rom 12:2)
  4. Study the wisdom from above. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  (Jas 3:17)
  5. Understand and come to know the Lord—then boast in Him! Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”  (Jer 9:23-24)
  6. Set your minds on things that are above. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  (Col 3:2)  That means we need to think about heavenly, godly things.  Meditate upon the Scriptures and the goodness of God.
  7. Do not love the world or the things of the world. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.  (1 Joh 2:15-17)
  8. Fear the Lord. By “fear,” I mean to respect and reverence the Lord.  When we fear the Lord, we put His opinion about everything and His instruction to us in first place in our lives. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is  (Pro 9:10)  This fear of the Lord will establish us securely on the path to learning of and receiving the wisdom of God.

Spiritually Minded

Spiritually Minded

. . . to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (Rom 8:6b)

What does “spiritually minded” mean?  Definition:  having the mind set on spiritual things: filled with holy desires and purposes: spiritual.

Being spiritually minded may refer to the structure and outlook of our minds. This is when the Spirit is shaping our mind-(attitude)-set according to His own. It exalts Christ and values God.  It cherishes the Word of God and sees people and things with a relentless God-consciousness.

Reading the Bible every day will assist us in training our mind and thoughts.  A constant feeding upon the Word of God will actually renew our minds so that they’ll be in agreement with the Holy Spirit. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (Rom 12:2)

. . . and be renewed in the spirit of your mind . . .  (Eph 4:23)

Invite the Word of God to transform you so that you may be spiritually minded and enjoy a peaceful, blessed life.

God Is Jealous Over You

God Is Jealous Over You

So glad that you’ve joined us!  Did you know that God is jealous over you?

. . . For I the Lord your God, am a jealous God. . . (Exodus 20:5 NKJV)

. . (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God) . . .  (Exodus 34:14 NKJV)

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?”  (James 4:5 NKJV)

The Lord LOVES you and yearns jealously for a deep relationship with you.  He wants your mind, heart, emotions, will, and your worship.  He is your Beloved, and wants to have time with YOU. 

Make time to seek, praise, and listen to Him today!