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Can We Really Change and Control Our Thoughts? Devotional Reading June 14, 2023

Have you ever looked at your situation and come to a premature conclusion about possible outcomes? Many individuals struggle with this internal battle, yet, it is not humanly possible for us to predict the future. Attempting to guess the outcomes of a situation results in mental and emotional distress which affects our relationship with God.

Fearful and pessimistic thoughts easily cancel our belief and faith in God. The dilemma that we place ourselves in from negative thoughts rapidly develops into a mindset of hopelessness. Thinking the worse is usually a consequence of learned behaviors and habits from others. We know people who always think of the worse possible scenario.

Our cognition and perception of life change when our thoughts focus on negativity. We begin to lose sight of the goodness in life and we begin to seek only negative sensory input.

Sensory input has the greatest impact on our minds. Through the programs we watch and the news we listen to, we have been persuaded to view life from an “it is what it is” perspective. If we choose to always embrace the “what went wrong” outcomes then we are automatically drawn to the programs and people which reinforce these counterproductive thoughts and behaviors.

Despite the prevalence of criminal behavior and corruption in our societies, there are still individuals who choose to think positive thoughts by upholding godly morals and values. They steadfastly refuse to cross the line into the unrighteousness of counterproductive thinking. How is it possible to keep one’s thoughts from becoming pessimistic?

Before considering the mindset of our family and friends, it is imperative to start by examining oneself. We possess the ability to choose happiness and peace, both of which are gifts from God, who holds Sovereign power over His world. God’s Divine Character is love.

As devout Christians, we must emulate Christ’s love that He demonstrated toward others. Negative thoughts lead to unfavorable conversations, which indicate a lack of confidence in God’s abilities and promises.

“The earth belongs to God! Everything in all the world is his!” —Psalm 24:1, NIV

Even in harsh trials and living in these last days [as described in 2 Timothy chapter 3], we are required to have loving hearts and the characteristics of joy, peace, and hope. How can we change our perspectives and thoughts when we are constantly bombarded by the worldviews of cynicism and pessimism? What if our emotions are already ruling our lives?

The inability to control one’s thoughts and perceptions based on the situation has presented a challenge since the creation of humanity. Historically, even the strongest of believers have let presenting circumstances produce wayward thoughts. Elijah the prophet is a perfect example of not thinking rationally and letting his emotions of fear overpower his sound mind.

Although God proved His mighty power at the Mount Carmel showdown [1 Kings chapter 18] Elijah ran to the wilderness when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. God is aware that when we face life’s challenges our emotions will immediately escalate. Our thoughts easily become out of control because we fixate on the situation instead of our All-Powerful God.

“So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ And he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.’ ” —1 Kings 19:13-14

As we think deeply about God’s compassionate reply to Elijah, we discover that our Heavenly Father has a deep love and concern for not only our spiritual needs, but also our mental, emotional, and physical well-being as humans.

Stopping Wayward, Negative Thoughts

1. Immediately acknowledge the thought. Why am I thinking this way?
2. Pray. Ask God to forgive your negative thoughts. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life.
3. Our character on earth must be transformed into a character that has the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23].
4. Study the Bible. Replace your thoughts with God’s promises.
5. Make the conscious effort to think, “God is in control of the outcome.”

Scripture Reading: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:4-7

Prayer: God, we pray for the deliverance and victory over negative thoughts, doubt, anxiety, and worry. We acknowledge Your love for us and Your Sovereign power. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps2successwithsolutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Accepting God’s Perfect Guidance Devotional Reading June 12, 2023

The street surveyor asked, “Do you believe that heaven exists?” The man’s answer: “I have created my heaven on earth. My life, family, house, and car are heaven.”

Most Christians who hear this answer would think, “You can tell that he is an unbeliever.” Whether the man believes in heaven where God, Jesus, and the angels reside does not indicate he is an unbeliever in God. If you disagree then reflect on your life. The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Reflection: Are you directing your steps in life? Do you allow God to make the decisions in your life?

“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

Despite God’s instructions to surrender our lives to Him, there are a mass number of Christians who exclude God from their lives every day. When we fail to surrender our will to God in obedience [which is our highest form of worship] then we have the same character traits as unbelievers [in God]—disbelief, distrust, and disobedience.

Something isn’t right! The Creator God of all humanity who knows from the beginning to the end, we do not trust Him with our lives? With the same distrust that Adam and Eve manifested in the Garden of Eden, we inherited minds that naturally rebel in disobedience against God.

As we make plans and bring them to fruition without God’s blessings, we create a human-made paradise on Earth. Whether our happiness is from purchasing tangible items or engaging in unconsecrated relationships and marriages, our elation from the seemingly perfect results of our decisions eventually causes unforeseen consequences including total separation from God. It is imperative to remember that relying solely on ourselves is not the right approach to serving God.

No one can receive the spiritual transformation that is required for heavenly life without the human effort of surrender and obedience. God requires a clean heart to receive the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit who enables us to stay on the Path of Righteousness. Fulfilling our heart’s desires always places us in opposition to God.

By rejecting God’s ultimate authority and living according to our dictates, we show a lack of respect for His Sovereign authority. Christian believers, our lives are not our own! Refusing to surrender to God impacts our destiny! Either we obey and pray for God’s wisdom and guidance or we create an earthly paradise based on our desires.

Despite the internal battle, we must exhibit self-control, surrender, and seek God’s wisdom and perfect guidance to attain the ultimate reward of immortality in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Scripture: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule [stubborn], Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.” —Psalm 32:8-9

God’s plans are based on His love and wisdom. He will always give us the best guidance with perfect victorious outcomes! Amen.

Prayer: God, we have excluded You from our lives by relying on our thoughts, strategies, and plans. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. Thank You for loving us so much that You desire the best for us. We pray for Your Divine guidance in our lives. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps2successwithsolutions.com and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Developing a Listening Heart Devotional Reading June 7, 2023

There was a time that 100% of my prayers involved asking God for the desires of my heart. I always started my prayers with gratitude for a new day and thanked God for protection from physical danger and spiritual warfare, but focused more on asking for the things that I thought would improve the quality of my life. Now as I reflect on how I used to pray, I don’t look down on myself for those times because I realize my spoken words reflected spiritual immaturity.

I recently heard an inspiring story shared by Dr. Charles Stanley during one of his last sermons. He shared an experience during his time at Seminary College, where he faced many challenges. He had planned to go to California with his wife for a mission trip from June to August and was eagerly waiting for summer break.

One Saturday morning, after their luggage was packed, he awakened after a restless night and realized something was wrong. He told his wife that he felt the need to pray and went to his study, which was a converted spare bedroom. He spent the whole day fasting and praying from 9 am to 6 pm.

Afterward, Dr. Stanley informed his spouse that he received a divine message from God to cancel their planned mission trip and instead visit his parents’ cabin in the North Carolina mountains. They heeded God’s guidance and changed their itinerary from California to North Carolina. A gentleman came to their door a week later, asking Dr. Stanley to preach at the nearby church on Sunday. Dr. Stanley consented and gave multiple sermons throughout their summer sojourn in North Carolina.

The members were elated to have the Stanley’s and immediately expressed that he would make a great pastor. The church committee was also impressed and offered him the position of pastor, which he accepted. However, he made it clear that he could not start until he finished the last year of Seminary, which began in September of that year. The church committee agreed to this and appointed a temporary pastor in the meantime.

Because of his desire to obey God, he had a pastoral position waiting as soon as he graduated. While a student in the Seminary, he learned that one must separate themselves and diligently pray and fast when seeking God’s guidance and blessings.

How did God speak to Dr. Stanley? And how did he know that it was God speaking to him?

We pray—the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers to—Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor.

God gives us biblical instructions for praying: “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” —Jeremiah 33:3

The mystery of the Holy Spirit is to be everywhere to everyone who prays at any time of the day or night: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever…” —John 14:16

Have you ever been in a dilemma and prayed for help? You were given the answer of spiritual wisdom by the Holy Spirit who spoke to you through your thoughts or the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit Helps Us in Our Weaknesses and Intercedes for Us
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people by the will of God” —Romans 8:26-27

The Holy Spirit is Our Source of Revelation, Wisdom, and Power
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except for their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” —1 Corinthians 2:10-12

One of the roles of the Holy Spirit: “The Holy Spirit reveals God’s thoughts, teaches, and guides believers into all truth.” christianity.com

How do we know that it is God speaking to us? “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” —Jeremiah 29:12

Jesus is Our Heavenly Intercessor: “Romans 8:34 says that Jesus ‘is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.’ In 1 John 2:1 we read that Jesus is our ‘advocate with the Father,’ and from Hebrews 7:25 we learn that Jesus ‘always lives to intercede’ for us.” todaysdevotional.com

God tells us in the Holy Scriptures that every prayer is heard and presented to Jesus, our Heavenly Intercessor by the Holy Spirit. We can pray anywhere at any time for Divine Help! Watch out for stumbling-blocks to answered prayers!

Red Flag: Praying and then falsely discerning your thoughts as God’s answer. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

Another Red Flag: Sometimes we may seek Divine guidance through prayer, but if our requests are not immediately granted, impatience can set in. It’s important to resist the urge to take matters into our own hands and rush ahead of God. Even though it may not seem like disobedience, such actions can have negative consequences that significantly affect our lives.

Is it God answering my prayer? First, we will clarify that Satan has limitations that are imposed on him by God. He does not have the freedom to crush the righteous! [Study Job Chapter 1].

Prayer immediately places us in the presence of the Most High God. Evil cannot exist in the presence of God’s holiness! We also have guardian angels who fight off the spiritual warfare of evil angels who can never exist in the presence of the person who prays.

Take the Time to Put God First: Most importantly, your times of daily worship should be unhurried and at least twice a day in solitude [this is aside from family worship]. Pray and ask God to speak to you. Meditate and read a chapter of the Bible. Incorporating soft Christian instrumental music or a worship song creates an atmosphere that invites the presence of the Holy Spirit who will initiate your heart to discern and respond to the presence of God.

Cultivating a heart that listens requires the daily habit of intentional and meaningful worship. This level of worship shuts out all distractions and allows two-way communication between us and God. From our commitment, we receive spiritual guidance and restoration. And our love for Christ intensifies!

Although there are times when God remains quiet, it is essential to understand that He cherishes the moments we spend praying, praising, and worshipping Him. If we persevere with obedience during the quiet times then we will receive the much-awaited blessings that God has for us.

Endurance produces faithful and steadfast believers who live and think as Christ did in His earthly life, to always pray for God’s will to be revealed.

Time with God is never wasted. By learning to listen and hear God’s voice, whether through our thoughts or the Scriptures, our worship elevates to a higher level, and our lives are transformed. Moreover, this practice prepares us for the life that awaits us in the New Heaven and New Earth—worshiping the Creator God.

Prayer: God, we need to hear from You. Our lives are not going as planned. Forgive us for not spending the time with You that You rightfully deserve. We give You all the honor, glory, and praise and thank You for Your love, grace, and mercies. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps2spiritualsuccesswithsolutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God Ministries

Becoming Aware of What Defines You? Devotional Reading June 6, 2023

If you have ever been put on the spot to verbalize how you feel about a topic or situation, it may place you in a very uncomfortable situation. Without knowing “What defines you?”, we have to react spontaneously, [which usually results in compromise], and may not reflect our true beliefs.

Take some alone time away from the noise of electronic devices, social media, newscasts, and even family members to answer the question, Who Am I? What are the conflicts, injustices, and criminal activity that I would take a stand against? With the endless distractions in our lives, many individuals do not know their morals, values, or belief system.

Belief System: a set of principles that together form the basis of a religion, philosophy, or moral code. The Christian belief system is defined by God’s Righteous Principles and Laws.

Let’s take a look at butter. Yes, the butter that we cook with or just eat on a slice of bread. I read an article on “How Butter Works: why recipes call for it cold, soft or melted.” The three consistencies of butter produce different effects and outcomes, tenderness and lift [fluffiness], crisp, flaky layers, and soft, dense textures.

In the same manner, the consistency of butter produces different outcomes, as free moral agents, the different buttery worldviews impact the way we think. The acceptance of those worldviews along with our logical deduction and our emotional feelings defines our position on religious, political, social, and economic issues. Are we conservative, liberal, middle-of-the-road, or neutral?

The toughest battle in life is for Christian believers. Why? The world we live in is a dangerous place. Not just mentally, emotionally, and physically, but we also face Spiritual Warfare every day that unbelievers know nothing about. Satan has created worldviews that attempt to delude, deceive, dumb us down, and shape us according to his never-changing erroneous concepts.

If you are a follower of Christ and chose a position of conservative, liberal, middle-of-the-road, or neutral then the different buttery consistencies of the various worldviews have resulted in defining you as being a lukewarm Christian. Study Revelation chapter 3, verses 14-19.

Scenario: At lunchtime, a group of coworkers is laughing and having a good time when the question is asked “Doesn’t everyone have the right to be treated fairly and with respect?” Everyone verbalizes in agreement a resounding yes. But then the next question is directed at you, the only Christian in the group, “Can gay couples become members of your church?”

Unless you have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ and have a biblical view from praying, diligently studying the Scriptures, and relying on the Holy Spirit for wisdom every day, you will not know how to answer this question. This is not the time to express your personal beliefs. Quickly think of the silent prayer, Holy Spirit, Help!

Last year, one of my neighbors—a young man who lives an alternative lifestyle asked if he could talk to me. He asked me how did I feel about the fact that he was gay? During our conversation, he expressed that he was severely wounded by Church Hurt and rejected by his Christian family because of his choices. When I explained how much Jesus loved him and I expressed that I loved him too, his tears flowed like a river.

It was not my place to preach to him about his lifestyle. When we tell others that Jesus is love and that He commands us to love everyone, we have fulfilled our duty as disciples of Christ. Study Matthew chapter 28, verses 18-20. Let the Holy Spirit work on their hearts and cleanse them from their unrighteousness. We usually only have one opportunity to demonstrate Jesus’ love to those who are hurting.

In our earthly lives, we are constantly tested in our spiritual walk with Christ. This should help if you are ever confronted with the warfare of conflict. Best Answer: Put your entire focus on Jesus, His love for everyone, and that all are welcome in the Church in which Christ is the foundation. Be courageous and let others know that Jesus is love! Do not give any personal opinions. Just give the facts and do not engage in a lengthy conversation.

Christ has never-ending and unchanging love for us. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34).

The church belongs to Christ. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone…” (Ephesians 2:19-20).

Christ died for all. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2).

What defines us? Having the love of Christ! The Scriptures give us God’s Righteous principles. With prayer, we ask for the Divine Help of the Holy Spirit who transforms us into the Character of Christ and redefines us as Christ’s Disciples.

Jesus, Our Lord and Savior describes Himself to us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Scripture: “And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].” —Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible

Prayer: God, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and anoint us with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for a spiritual makeover—that we love one another as You love us. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.