Condemning Thoughts

...He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources,

for he is a liar and the father of it.

John 8:44 (NKJV)

Do you ever question if you’re good enough? Are you more likely to dwell on what’s wrong with you than what’s right?

Me too. One day I was scrutinizing myself to find out what my problem was, but the more I picked myself apart, the more it dawned on me: Another voice was egging me on. It was the voice of the enemy, Satan. As I listened to his lies, they zapped my sense of worth and security.

For a long time, I didn’t recognize the enemy for who he was. The negative thoughts and deceitful suggestions sounded like my own voice.

Now I see that from the start, Satan’s goal has always been to trick and deceive God’s people. The Bible opens with a serpent who slithered into the lives of Adam and Eve and filled their heads with lies they believed, lies that separated them from God. John 8:44 tells us Satan "was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

This liar also tempted Jesus. Our Savior was always ready, though, to defeat the evil one. In Matthew 4:1-11, He did it with the Word of God, countering Satan with, “It is written …” (NIV).

We, too, have this weapon in our arsenal. As we fill our hearts and minds with Scripture, we can defeat the lies we tell ourselves and the lies Satan and his dark forces whisper in our thoughts.

When I compare my negative thoughts to God's Word, the differences amaze me:

I think, I’m lost.
God’s Word says He watches my paths and establishes my ways
(Proverbs 5:21; Proverbs 4:26).

I think, No one loves me.
God’s Word says He loves me more than life
(John 3:16).

I think, I’m ugly.
God’s Word says I’m wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14).

I think, I’m alone, and no one understands me.
God’s Word says He will never leave me and He has plans for my life
(Deuteronomy 31:6; Jeremiah 29:11).

I think, I’m just not good enough.
God’s Word says I was created in His image
(Genesis 1:26-27).

When the enemy tries to slither in with false accusations, we must be ready to combat him with what God’s Word says about us. To get started, evaluate your thoughts and pray for wisdom to distinguish the voice of the enemy. Condemning thoughts that steal your confidence in who you are in Christ aren’t from God.

Let’s commit to renew our minds with the Word of God each day and replace those worn-out, destructive lies with His Truth.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your life-giving Truth. Please fill me with Your Word so I can live in freedom and confidence! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Melissa Taylor
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

When You’re Clinging to the Dust

My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.

Psalm 119:25

I was overwhelmed - thrown into the most difficult and desperate time of my life. I had trouble concentrating without tears welling up, my mind drifting, every thought leaving me more unsettled. I couldn’t picture the future, and I kept fixating on the worst possible outcomes.

Maybe you can relate to those feelings. Your painful season may look different from mine, but the heartbreak is often the same.

Everything unraveled right after my husband unexpectedly left our family, leaving me bewildered. I thought he loved me. I thought his distance was because of work. But now, as I sat sobbing in my closet, everything was uncertain. I couldn’t string a coherent thought together. My kids were confused and angry. God felt distant, and I didn’t know how to connect with Him.

Talking to friends was helpful, but I felt defensive when questions came up. And most of the time, there was no one to talk to. Everyone’s lives were busy, especially when I felt discouraged.

When no one was available to process things with me, I’d reluctantly settle for talking to God. I’d wander over to the table where my Bible and journal waited for me. I rarely wanted to open it, but I knew that, like medicine, this would be good for me. Honestly, it felt more like flossing than feasting - it was something I needed to do even if I didn’t feel like it.

Sometimes I would read and reread the same passage, my mind drifting to my problems instead of the words in front of me. I’d been in Psalm 119 for days, and the words were all blurring together. I couldn’t relate to the psalmist’s continual praise of Scripture.

Then I read, “My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25).

This I could relate to. That’s how I felt. My soul was beaten down, and I needed revival. So I prayed that verse - really prayed it. God needed to renew me because I couldn’t muster up anything myself.

As I kept reading, I sensed a surprising lightness as the words of Scripture came to life. God was reviving me as I watched my outlook, my hope, and my peace begin to change. The words that days earlier felt flat suddenly became vibrant.

That transformation was over 15 years ago, and Scripture has continued to meet me. It began with my desperate need - leaning on God’s Word to change me and waiting expectantly for Him.

If you’re walking through something difficult right now, the last thing you might feel like doing is spending time with God in His Word. But, friend, that is the very thing that will renew your soul, transform your perspective, and give you lasting hope. God is waiting to meet you in His Word - will you join Him there today?

Lord, I know Scripture has power, but sometimes reading it feels like a chore. Give me a desire to read Your Word, and transform me through it. Revive me according to Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Vaneetha Rendall Risner

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Meme: Be Ruled By God's Word

Quote: Billy Graham

Meme: Satan Target's Your Mind...

Hebrews 4:12-13

The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon's knife, God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God's Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our life.

The lesson he had just taught from the Old Testament Scriptures was not a mere historical tale. Instead, as had already been made clear by much he had said, it was powerfully relevant to his audience. For the Word of God is living (zōn) and active (energēs). Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than any double-edged sword and reaches the innermost being of a person so that it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In doing this, it is able to discriminate successfully between what is spiritual in man and what is merely “soulish” or natural (it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit), and does so even when these often-contradictory inner elements are interwoven as closely as joints and marrow. The inner life of a Christian is often a strange mixture of motivations both genuinely spiritual and completely human. It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh. The readers might think that they were contemplating certain steps out of purely spiritual motivations when, as God's Word could show them, they were acting unfaithfully as did Israel of old.

Resources:

"Life Application Study Bible" by Tyndale House Publishers
"The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck

Where Is Your Head At?

Scripture:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. - Philippians 4:8

Reflect:
What is the value of following Paul’s advice and focusing on “these things?”

I don’t know about you but what I am thinking about has a significant impact on me and the people around me. For example, if I’m thinking about how much I have to do and how little time I have to do it, I am more likely to snap at my kids for interrupting me. If I am hyper-focused on all of the what-if’s, I am likely to feel anxious. If I am focused on everything that I don’t have, I am likely to feel discontent. If I focus on the flaws of the people around me, I am less likely to love and appreciate them.

The same principle applies to sin. In Luke 6:45, Jesus said “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Basically, what is in our hearts eventually spills over into our actions. So how do we get good into our hearts?

In today’s verse, Paul gives us the answer and it’s really quite simple. If we want good to come out of us, we have to put good things into us. We can positively influence our actions by safeguarding what we put into our hearts and minds.

First, we should immerse ourselves in the truth. Jesus told us in John 17:17 that God’s Word is truth! If we want truth to come out of us, we need to spend more time soaking in the truth of His Word and less time soaking up the lies of this world.

Then, Paul said to think about things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise-worthy. Would you consider the last show you watched to be “pure?” Would the lyrics of the music you listen to be considered “praise-worthy?” Are the images you take in “lovely?” Is the content of the books you read “commendable?” If the answer is no or usually no, are the messages you are surrounding yourself with bringing you peace or anxiety? Do they have the potential to positively impact your spiritual life or negatively impact it? Is what you are taking in appealing to your sin nature or your new nature in Jesus Christ?

Where is your head at? Are you concentrating on commendable things? Are you focusing on His holiness? Are you taking in messages that are true and lovely? How are you storing up good treasure in your heart so that goodness can overflow? We tend to do what we think. So set your minds on “these things” and “these things” will overflow into your life.

Pray:
Jesus, You are the only One who is truly honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Help me to set my mind on things that glorify You and conform me into Your image. I know that what I put into my head and my heart eventually overflows into my actions. I want my thoughts and my life to glorify You. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

Spiritual Famine

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,

“That I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine of bread,

Nor a thirst for water,

But of hearing the words of the Lord.

Amos 8:11

The people had no appetite for God's word when prophets like Amos brought it. Because of their apathy, God said he would take away even the opportunity to hear his word. We have God's Word, the Bible. But many still look everywhere for answers to life's problems except in Scripture. You can help them by directing them to the Bible, showing them the parts that speak to their special needs and questions. God's Word is available to us. Let us help people know it before a time comes when they cannot find it.

One way God communicates is through silence. The Israelites blatantly ignored and rejected God's Word to them, and God responded by sending a famine. This famine was far more severe than a shortage of food and water. Instead, they were deprived of His words of life.

God's silence may be hardly noticeable at first. You may still remember times when God spoke to you, but you gradually realize you've not heard His voice for a long time. If you realize you are in a “drought,” immediately seek God and ask Him what adjustments your life requires so you can once again enjoy fellowship with Him. It may be that you disobeyed His last instructions to you and that He is waiting on your obedience before giving you a new direction. It may be that there is unconfessed sin in your life or that you have a damaged relationship (Isaiah 1:15;1 Peter 3:7). It is possible that you have done too much talking in your prayer times and that He wants you to listen. God's silences can be powerful times for Him to communicate with you.

God is God! Because He is God, when He speaks, He expects a listening ear and an eager response. He will not be mocked! (Galatians 6:7). When we ignore Him, He may withhold His voice until we repent and get right with Him. The prophet Isaiah assured King Asa, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

The Condition of the Heart

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Luke 8:11-15

At any time, the receptiveness of your heart will determine your response to God's Word (Luke 8:5-18). If your heart is like the trampled ground, hardened by the sin of bitterness and unforgiveness, you will be unable to accept a message from God. Though you hear the words of the message, you will remain unchanged. If your heart is like the shallow soil on top of a rock, you will accept God's Word in your mind, but the truth will not penetrate your heart to make a difference in your actions. A heart like thorny soil is a life that is distracted by the cares of the world; the pursuit of earthly pleasures prevents God's Word from taking hold and producing righteousness. The heart that is like good soil receives a word from God, applies it, and brings forth fruit in due time. This is the heart that Jesus desires in us, for the fruit will be a Christlike life.

Any time you hear a word from God, whether through Bible reading, prayer, or worship, the way you respond will depend on how you have cultivated your heart (Hosea 10:12). How do you develop a heart that is like good soil? Repent of any bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness that is hardening your heart. Meditate on God's Word until it enters deep into your heart and not just your mind. When you read or hear a word from God, apply it to your life and let God bring His word into reality in your life (Galatians 6:9). Protect your lifestyle. See that you don't devote all of your energy to worldly concerns, rather than to pursuing your relationship with God. The condition of your heart will vary, depending on how you cultivate it. If it was receptive to a word from God yesterday, this does not guarantee it is receptive today. Daily prepare your heart for the word God has for you!

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Jesus Wants You To Know...

"Hold tightly to My hand - by talking to Me, by reading My Word, by praising Me. I will not only help you face your troubles, but you will grow stronger because you have faced them. There will be times when you feel tired and weak. Don’t think this means I’m unhappy with you. It’s simply part of living in this broken world. Remember that you are not alone. I am always with you."

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me."  - Psalm 138:7

- "Jesus Today for Kids" by Sarah Young

Meme: Your Life Is NOT Ruled By Fear...

 

Catch Your Breath

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.”

Psalm 119:92-93

Standing on the edge of the pool, I looked over at my sister, who was maybe 4 or 5 years old at the time. She was splashing on the steps of the shallow end.

I’m done with the shallow end, I thought. I’m 9 years old - old enough to jump into the deep end.

So I jumped. The cold water enveloped me. My body fell until my toes touched the bottom, and I pushed myself back above water. It was exhilarating.

One day, it occurred to me I could take my sister with me. I could let her get on my back and half-walk, half-bounce down that slope between the shallow and the deep.

Surprisingly, she was hesitant when I unveiled my plan to her. It took great convincing on my part and lots of promises not to go any farther than where she felt safe.

Finally, she got on my back and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I walked slowly to the slope. One baby step down. Two steps. Three.

At the third step, I slipped.

We both went under. My sister’s hands slipped from my shoulders to my throat. It felt as if she believed the only way she could be saved was to hold my throat with increasingly intense strength. My mind got foggy. And I couldn’t figure out which way to go to find safety. The only thing I felt sure of was that I was drowning.

As crazy as it may sound, I can’t remember how we were saved. Maybe it’s because we made it to the shallows, and it wasn’t as dramatic to everyone else as I remember it. But that moment is one I think about often. And every time I think about that panic or feel it rising up in me over something I’m facing, I try to remember panic usually doesn’t save anyone. Signaling we need help can be lifesaving. But most of the time, panic hinders rather than helps.

Meme: No Room For Satan's Lies

 

Changed Through Meditation

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2

Meditation means “to think deeply and continuously about something.” For a Christian, this means remaining in the presence of God and pondering each truth He reveals about Himself until it becomes real and personal in your life. This takes time. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus accused certain would-be followers of calling Him “Lord” and yet never doing what He told them (Luke 6:46). They had the correct truth in their heads, but it had never translated into obedience. When you meditate on Scriptures, the truth moves from your head to your heart and results in obedience. As the psalmist said: “Your word have I hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

When you know God's Word in your mind but not in your heart, it means that you have learned the principles and concepts and doctrines of God, but you have not come to know Jesus personally. You can reject a doctrine, or ignore a concept, or challenge a principle, but it is much more difficult to ignore a Person. You can have Scripture in your mind and still sin against God. There are those who can recite long passages of Scripture and yet live ungodly lives. However, you cannot have Scripture fill your heart and continue to sin against God. When God's truth is allowed to touch the deepest corner of your soul, the Holy Spirit will transform you into the image of Jesus Christ. Don't just read your Bible; meditate on God's Word and ask Him to change your heart.

Ask yourself how you should change so you're living as God wants. Knowing and thinking about God's Word is the first step towards applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what he says.

- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Prayer: The Gift of God's Word

 

Growing Spiritually: You Never Outgrow the Word

Scripture:
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, - 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)

Reflect:
Prayerfully consider how much you’ve grown spiritually in the past year. What did you consume that contributed to your spiritual growth the most? What do you think hindered your spiritual growth the most? 

When my children were babies, I read a lot of research about the benefits of a mother’s milk. It is astonishing to me that a mother’s milk contains everything a baby needs to be well-nourished. Even if a baby is only nursed for the first few days after birth, they receive powerful antibodies that give their little immune systems a strong foundation for life. 

The fact that I found most amazing is that a mother’s milk changes and adapts as a baby grows and his needs change. For example, if mom or baby is fighting an illness, mom’s body will release more immune cells into the milk. I even discovered that some researchers believe milk content changes based on the time of day with evening milk containing relaxing components to prompt sleepiness! The more I learned, the more I stood in awe of our awesome Creator - His design is perfect! 

In today’s verse, the apostle Peter urged believers to be like newborns and “long for the pure spiritual milk” (the milk being God’s Word). But here Peter wasn’t calling all of them immature “baby believers”. He was reminding them that we never outgrow our need for the perfect, sustaining nourishment of Scripture. 

All three of my babies instinctively sought out milk almost immediately after birth - it was their strongest desire. Likewise, God’s Word should always be our strongest desire because it meets our greatest need - fellowship with God. 

Dr. Wayne Grudem wrote: “To drink the milk of the Word is to ‘taste’ again and again what he is like, for in the hearing of the Lord’s words believers experience the joy of personal fellowship with the Lord himself.” 

I have been abundantly blessed to have grown up in a Christian home because I was exposed to God’s Word even from a very young age and that had a profound impact on my spiritual development. Still, I can attest to the fact that it doesn’t matter how long we’ve been believers or how much we have grown spiritually. We will need the perfect nourishment of Scripture our entire lives. 

Now, the content of a mother’s milk may change to meet her baby’s needs, but the content of the Word of God never changes. Still, regardless of my season of life or my circumstances, Scripture provides just what I need in that stage of life to grow and develop spiritually. 

If I need encouragement, comfort, or hope I can find it in His Word. If I need wisdom and guidance for life, I can find it in His Word. If I need to be challenged to think and grow, I can find it in His Word. If I need to be rebuked or convicted of sin, well, THAT seems to find me in His Word. Most importantly, if I am seeking truth and want to know who God is and how I can be made right with Him, I can find it in God’s Word. 

While a mother’s milk perfectly meets the nutritional needs of their baby, babies eventually grow and mature beyond their need to be nursed. But believers never outgrow our need for “the pure spiritual milk”. We should never think that we don’t need to open our Bibles anymore because we’ve already read it or because we’ve graduated from seminary or because we memorized verses as a kid or because we hear a message from it every Sunday. If spiritual growth is the goal, Scripture provides the nourishment that drives that growth. May we always long for “the pure spiritual milk” no matter how old we are. 

Pray:
Lord, thank You for Your Word. I have tasted and I have seen that You are good (Psalm 34:8)! I have trusted in You for salvation. Now, help me to grow up in that salvation. Use the nutrition of Your Word to transform, renew, strengthen, and sanctify me so that I can develop and mature in Christ. Keep me longing for Your Word because my greatest desire is fellowship with You. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")

Quote: Chuck Glover

Application of God's Word: John 17:17

Verse: John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Application:
Just as Jesus did not belong to the satanic world system, so believers do not. They belong to the heavenly kingdom (Colossians 1:13) because of their new births (John 3:3). Jesus had prayed for protection for His disciples (John 17:11). Now His second petition for them was for their sanctification (Sanctify means “set apart for special use). A believer is to be distinct from the world's sin, its values, and its goals.

The means of this sanctifying work is God's truth. The truth is communicated in the Word, which is both personal and propositional. As the message about Jesus was heard, believed, and understood, the disciples' hearts and minds were captured. This change in their thinking resulted in changes in their living. The same is true of believers today. As they appropriate God's Word to their lives, they are sanctified - set apart for God and changed in their living in order to honor God. God's message set the apostles apart from the world so that they would do His will, not Satan's.

Quote: Rick Warren

Application of God's Word: Psalm 1:2

Verse: Psalm 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

Application:
This "law" means all of Scripture. The more of the whole scope of God's Word, the more resources we all have to guide us in our daily decisions.

You can learn how to follow God by thinking about his Word. This means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so you're living as God wants. Knowing and thinking about God's Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what he says.

A godly person is influenced not by unrighteous people but by his meditation on the Word of God. Such meditation necessarily involves study and retention. This is possible only if he has a desire to do so, here referred to as a delight. The psalmists found direction, not drudgery, from the Law of God.