THOUGHTS!

The weather forecasts last night and throughout the morning today, have all been predicting thunderstorms with a strong chance for severe weather conditions, beginning early tonight and continuing through the evening hours into the morning.  Right now, the main concern is for large hail… but with the warmer temperatures and accompanying high winds associated with these types of storms, there is always an opportunity for a tornado to form!

So as one might imagine, there have been plenty of opportunities to take hold of anxious and/or fearful THOUGHTS concerning what “might” happen tonight.  But hold on a minute here… what does the Bible – God’s Word – say about this?

Well, with those thoughts attempting to grab a foothold in my mind this morning, I instead, turned my attention to God and a verse found in 2 Corinthians 10:15 suddenly made an overriding presence in my THOUGHTS.  In this letter to the church at Corinth (as well as to the world-wide Christian church today), the Apostle Paul encourages his readers to “Cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ” (KJV) 

So, that sounds pretty simple right?  Well, it’s simple if you KNOW (not just with your head but in your heart), BELIEVE (that the Word of God is true for you) and then (because of your trust in Him and of your intimate knowledge of His love for you) ACT (in faith believing that you received what) the Word of God says is yours as a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian.

In this same verse, The Passion Translation brings out the importance of the actions that we should take against the THOUGHTS that are contrary to God’s Word and therefore contrary to His love for you and me by saying, “We (that means you and me!) can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.” 

That’s pretty strong language, wouldn’t you say?  I believe that it brings out the harsh realities of the unseen forces that surround us in our daily lives.  Those that are out to destroy any and all works of God… FOR us, IN us, and THROUGH us, in the aid of others in need!

The Apostle Peter uses almost the same terminology in 1Peter 5:6-9 when he talks about the need to, “humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety (ie; your anxious/fearful THOUGHTS) upon Him, because He cares about you.  Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour.  (but) Resist him, being steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (EMTV)

And so, while there may be all kinds and varieties of anxious/fearful THOUGHTS attempting to get into you head on a regular basis… as we inferred with our last blog post (“VOICES” 5/1/21)… don’t give them a VOICE in your life.  Following the lead from today’s scripture promises, take those THOUGHTS captive to the obedience of the truth of Christ as is plainly written in your Bibles, and CAST all those anxious THOUGHTS upon HIM because He cares FOR you and ABOUT you!

Let me give you a little insight here… This kind of regular response doesn’t happen overnight.  You have to work at it… to PRACTICE taking anxious/fearful THOUGHTS immediately captive as they assault your mind.  While this reaction tends to happen quickly with me today… I still have times where I purposely have to stop and make myself think about which way I am going to let a certain thought, or a certain piece of information affect me. 

That break or pause helps me recall and/or look up the correct verse of scripture that I am going to stand on… and once I have it, I verbally speak it out and then decide that IT (ie; what God says about the matter before me) is what I CHOOSE to believe… and well… then, that repulsive, negative THOUGHT has to flee from me!

Let me tell you... this is some of the best advice you can get!  Have a great week, and as you do, keep EXPECTING God's best for your life.