8 replies to this topic

[Thinker]

We might not think of our minds as a playground, but the Devil likes to play with our minds. As a matter of fact, he likes to manipulate and control our thinking. Why is this strategy important to him? The simple answer is that our thoughts determine how we live our lives. In Proverbs 23:7, the inspired author points out this truth: "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...." Because of "the fall," our minds are easily taken over. This is why our minds have to be renewed. The only means of renewing our minds is to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and then learn to put our thoughts and emotions through the filter of God's Word. Only the Spirit of God, using Scripture, can show us clearly the source of our thoughts and emotions. Only by implementing God's principles and commands can we escape being victims of Satan's strategies. Richard W. Adam's hymn, "The Bible Is a Brilliant Lamp," speaks of Scripture's role: "The Bible is a brilliant lamp, given to light up our way, to show our feet the way to tread, to turn darkness into day. To teach to us the Father’s love, and the Evil One’s cruel hate, to show the path round many snares, the way to the pearly gate. Given to all who truly seek, for wisdom, meaning and love, instruction in life’s mysteries, the way to Heaven above. And once you grasp the lamp, do not hoard that brilliant, precious light, but share with all, the radiant beam, and watch it conquer the night!" Selah! It's our responsibility to be under the discipline of God's Holy Word; failure to submit will bring serious consequences. Letting the Bible be "a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path" brings wonderful blessings! Thinker (Ron)

[bob wire]

late in the midnight  hour when  my mind is racing  and sleep seems fargone   your  word o Lord  quiets my soul  like nothing  else

[Tkulp]

Your thoughts are full of Truth!!! They encouraged me to look a little further into Proverbs 23.

I always like to see the field in which the treasure of Truth is hidden. The field from which your treasure of Truth is hidden is Proverbs 23:1-9. The field contains a number of warnings to deliver us from harm from others.

I am a farmer and I use fences to help control my cows. If I am a good farmer, I use those fences to protect and care for my animals. The cows, if they wanted, could really walk through those fences. A willful bull will do that. He must be confined to a bull pen or removed from the farm.

God’s people come in many different flavors, from the very humble to the very willful. The submissive and tender hearts will heed the warnings, stay away from the fences, and sit at the feet of the Master.

You are so “right on” in regard to the light and darkness. A problem arises when people are deceived; and, what they consider to be light is really darkness. ‘Light’ being ‘understanding, clarity, etc.’; and, ‘darkness’ being ‘obscurity, confusion, deception, etc.’ They feel no need or desire to find the Light. The Light is a mystery for them that can not be solved, so they continue to walk in the darkness that their eyes have grown accustomed to, experiencing no deliverance!

 

If only people, who are hurting and really want to be set free, could grasp the treasure of Ephesians 2. We are delivered by the ‘kindness and gentleness of God, especially by His divine influence on our lives and will see the reflection of that influence, in our lives, including gratitude’ (from Strong’s definition of ‘saved by grace’)!

 

We daily choose exactly what we want to be in our hearts, minds, and consequently our actions, by what influences we place or allow to be before our eyes, in our meditation!  What we feed on is what we are and what our minds meditate on is how we act and talk! Garbage in! Garbage out!

Draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you! Jesus is knocking, can we turn off the world and its pleasures long enough to hear Him and open the door and sup with Him. Stay around His influence! Jesus will change our lives if we daily walk in obedience to His Spirit, thinking on His ways, day and night!!

 

The choice of deliverance is ours, the debt has been paid!! Who do we want to hang out with? We can accept or reject His Influence!

[Tkulp]

Please excuse me if I make one more comment!

 

I was reminded today of a recent devotional by A.B. Simpson for October 14. I really do believe that he is trying to tell us that we should not let Satan have any control in our minds. The following is a quote from that devotional.

 

"Satan can stand anything better than neglect. If we ignore him he becomes disgusted and disappears. Jesus turned His back upon him and said, Get thee behind me, Satan. So let us refuse him, and we shall find that he will be compelled to act according to our faith."

 

I am learning to not only 'neglect' Him by refusing to allow Him meditation time on things of the flesh that have been put to death, but to, as I have inferred, not allow Him or any of those that are listening to Him, become an influence in my heart/mind, etc.! Jesus and A.B. Simpson did not have the media influence that we have today! Most of what comes over that media is from Satan's workers or those who are greatly influenced and repeating Satan's partial truths.

 

Eve choose to reason with Satan when He spoke a ridiculous statement. Would things have been different if she had turned her back on Him? Jesus did not reason with Peter when he was under the influence of Satan as Satan was effecting Peter's emotions. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness Jesus was full of the heart of God and the truth of His Word, thus Jesus was able to correct/rebuke Satan's erroneous use of the Scripture with the Truth of the Scripture, 

 

We must be full of the Light!!! The Light of His Word and the Light of His Spirit!! That takes daily dedication(intimate relationship), as much as a concert musician or professional athlete! They spend hours! The Word says to pray with out ceasing, meditate on His law day and night, hide God's Word in our hearts, etc. The very best are those that are dedicated from the strongest affection for what they are doing!

 

May we all have a living thirst and hungry to sit at His feet rather than at the seat of the worldly TV, Internet, Smartphone social media, etc.; that our minds will not be a plaything or playground for Satan!

 

We can be Delivered and Protected!!!

[Tony Davison]

Even though avoidance of Satan and sin is great we could start to think that "I am good because of my strength I have to avoid these things". We have to remember that it is our position by being in CHRIST that gives us the Victory. Christianity is not DO this and Don't do this religion, or it would be just that another religion. Being a believer  in CHRIST is a Done religion, because He did it all "It Is Finished" was his response on the cross.

[Jesus_Lolly]

I agree that the environment we place ourselves in can play a big part. For instance, if we take a canoe out onto a gentle lake, we aren't accosted by much stress. However, if we choose to purchase a raft and daily decide to challenge rapids, we face more opposition.

 

Likewise, we can enter the mainstream, where news organizations and social media, accost us with things--in opposition to the Spirit, or we can remove ourselves.

 

Jesus prayed that we would remain in the world but remain out of Satan's clutches (John 17:15). Hence, we are to be influencers rather than being influenced. It's difficult to do that today because many churches opt for relevancy instead of being an opposing force against evil. Thus, we must rely heavily upon the Holy Spirit, and we must be careful how much spiritual stress we place upon ourselves. And yes, it is true that we must cling hard to the righteousness given to us by Jesus.

[Tkulp]

Thinker, Ron,

 

Your post was, rather unusually, brought to my attention this morning.

 

I felt that I was to thank you once again for your expression of such a valuable truth.

 

It was your writing which first caught my attention, giving me a desire to become part of the C&MA forums. That too, was unusual that I noticed the title of your post listed in the same location as the Tozer devotionals, which I had been lead to start reading.

 

It was very encouraging to read from someone else that was seeing how critical our heart and mind is.  How we must carefully screen what we allowed to happen in our minds; our hearts!

 

The Truth that you expressed can not be repeated enough.

 

Those that are willing and choose to follow all that the Word of God has to say about guarding the mind and feeding, meditating on His Word, will experience a radical change in their lives.

 

It is the Word of God, as taught by the Holy Spirit, that brings life!

 

Satan, as an Angel of Light, will exert his best to water down, twist and confuse the Holy Spirit's still small voice. He wants all to believe that what is darkness, is the light, rather than allowing a personal, intimate, life changing relationship with the Light.

 

From the Amplified Bible:

 

BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. [Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 3:1-29; 2Ti. 3:16]

 

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. [Jer. 17:7-8]

 

Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God]. For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God's will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).   Psalms 1:1-6

 

Tim

[Candice]

Even though avoidance of Satan and sin is great we could start to think that "I am good because of my strength I have to avoid these things". We have to remember that it is our position by being in CHRIST that gives us the Victory. Christianity is not DO this and Don't do this religion, or it would be just that another religion. Being a believer  in CHRIST is a Done religion, because He did it all "It Is Finished" was his response on the cross.

Yes, agree to this simple truth.  We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.

 

I like Tozer's thought for today:  "Thought.  There is head knowledge, head and heart and just heart knowledge. In knowing God (not just about Him) the heart must be involved."