Adonai

Prayer Focus for the Week of 6-16-13

O Adonai (Lord), You are a merciful, compassionate God, slow to anger and rich in grace and truth. I commit my works unto You, Lord, and my thoughts shall be established. 

God of my life, I choose to believe what You say about me, and not what man says. According to Your Word, You made me in Your image and likeness. I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart. I am blessed beyond measure – healed spiritually, physically, and financially. I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath, blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out. I am a son of God, a super-conqueror through Christ Jesus, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Lord, Your Word also says that I am what I think. Forgive me of any doubt and unbelief I have as I continue to renew my mind and transform the image I have of myself to the way You see me. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But you, Adonai, are a merciful, compassionate God, slow to anger and rich in grace and truth.” (Psalm 86:15 CJB)

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Psalm 16:3 KJV)

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27 KJV)

“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.” (1Corinthians 2:16 AMP)

Read Deuteronomy 28:1-13 (KJV)

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14 

“No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us.”‘ Romans 8:37 (CJB)

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phillippians 4:13 KJV)

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

“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.” (Romans 12:2 KJV)

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 KJV)

Mind Renewal

Mind Renewal

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

For the most part, a lot of people would like to believe the decisions they make pose no real threat to their well being.  

The Bible says otherwise in Proverbs 14:12.  

How we view things in life determines how we make our decisions.  If we make bad financial decisions, how do we view money?  Is money something we are a slave to or should we have command over it?  Whether it is finances, relationships, work, or health every Christian needs to have their mind renewed to what the Bible says about these topics.  



Of course, those are just a handful of topics I mentioned and the Bible addresses every issue one needs to know to live a full and successful life. 

If given a choice, people do not want to live in misery.  Jesus said, in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 



 Jesus did not come to give us a life of misery.  He came so we may have life and have it more abundantly.

 In order to have that life, our decisions have to line up with God’s Word.  We need to see, think and act like Jesus and the only way to do that is meditate on His Word.  This is beyond just saying what would Jesus do and coming up with something that isn’t even scriptural.  We need to have our minds renewed to His Word.  When our minds are renewed to His Word we can see what Jesus would see.  We can think like Jesus would think and we can act like Jesus would act.  Does this sound impossible?  It really isn’t.  

The Bible says in Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

 Note what it says here, “His law doth he meditate day and night” and “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”.  

That law the Bible is speaking about is God’s Word.  If I were to meditate on God’s Word it means I would ponder, imagine, speak, study, talk, utter, converse with myself, declare, muse, pray, speak, and talk with God in prayer about it. This process literally changes your mind to think like Jesus.  

If you know anything about the Bible, Jesus never made bad decisions.  It is time that we start mediating on God’s Word in areas that are holding us in captivity.  For example, if you are having trouble forgiving others, meditate on Matthew 6:14 because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  And also Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  After some time, your thoughts will turn to forgiving whoever wronged you so you won’t live in bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.  That decision will free you from a life of bondage.  

We all need to make right decisions but in order to do that we need to renew our minds with the Word of God.



                                             

Change

Change is Good.

As we approach our church wide day of prayer on September 29^th .   I have been examining myself for areas where God wants me to make changes.  The basis of this is really wanting a closer relationship with God. Growing up, I had always heard change was a bad thing. I developed the mindset that resisted change.

Recently, I heard a story of a snake that escaped its cage at a local school. Despite efforts by school officials and the animal control agency to find the snake, it was nowhere to be found.  Someone decided to leave the cage door open and turn the heat rock back on. The snake returned.  Many times, we behave the same way. We find a comfort zone and park ourselves there. We may venture out but usually return to what is familiar or comfortable.

The Bible teaches us that God wants us to change to be like Him.

Ephesians 4:22 – 23 says : That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 The word renewed in verse 23 means to “renovate”.   I have to examine the way I think, my beliefs and behaviors. If they don’t line up with the Word of God, I am are required to change.  That is serious renovation or change.

So how did I begin the process? During Sunday church service we were told to routinely say,” I believe God, I belong to God, I serve God”  I also added “ I love God.”  We were also instructed to start saying, “Without Him, I can do nothing, know nothing, have nothing.”

I began to say those things, then I would ask God to show me where I had pride in my life that would prevent me from seeing areas that needed renovation.  I would sit quietly and listen for instruction.  God started showing me where I needed to change. 

 Changing a lot of times is simply saying, God you’re right, forgive me, I repent of that. Instead of that wrong behavior or belief,  I replace that with Your Truth and the power of your Holy Spirit then I move on. 

The change brings peace, freedom, and a closer relationship with Him, the Creator of the universe. All because He loves us and gave His best for us.

He wants us all to be more like Him.  Let’s step out of our comfort zone, and live recklessly for God.