Sunday, August 9, 2015

Taking thoughts captive is critical for us as we live godly lives daily

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

For past two or three days, I've found myself using the scripture, "Take no thought for the morrow ..."  Mt. 6 ... and disciplining myself throughout the day when my mind would be thinking on something in future or what might happen in future.

It is amazing how often we think of tomorrow.  That is where the perceived problem lurks, tomorrow.  Where we need to focus is today, resisting all temptations to let our mind think of "tomorrow".

Mt. 6, Jesus says ... 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air:for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Of course if you have fear of something ahead, or dread, you need to take this to God in prayer and talk seriously with God about the fear or dread, pouring out your heart to God as you have done in past with a mate or best friend.  The difference between doing this with a mate or best friend is God is able to help us perfectly in exactly the spot of our mind where we need help for God always knows all things.

Then once you have something that you believe to be from God, you can keep that before your mind until the fear or dread is broken up.

There are times God doesn't show me anything that I know of but the burden still lifts when I pray and sometimes it is as if I even feel a weight come up from my shoulders.

This is taking thoughts captive and is critical for us.  We do need to have constant awareness of what our mind is doing.

Paul explains this as follows:   4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  II Cor. 10

The people of the world often deal with troubles or fears by shopping, by cleaning out closets, and by other fleshly things.

But we have a sure solution.  We talk to God about that fear or concern and allow HIM to work with us concerning all things.

I told this to Pam Padgett and she said she had been doing same thing with the scripture, "Be not wise in thine own eyes."  Prov. 3  Pam said she had been thinking about this scripture on and off for several days, disciplining her mind when she engages in various activities.

We cannot afford to be lazy or slack in bringing thoughts into captivity, making those thoughts conform to the word of God.  This has to be a developed way of life for us if we are to overcome.

And concerning overcoming, Jesus says:

Revelation 3 ... 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Consider how important it is to have Jesus "confess our name" before God and HIS angels!  When we overcome through taking the problem to HIM in prayer and through dealing with that problem with the Word, we overcome through Jesus who is The Word.

Thoughts just come into our minds and often they go in opposite way of God.

Whatever scripture God calls to your attention is important to keep before you.

You might consider the last scripture you recall hearing from God and start with that and think upon it.

Also to help with discipline, you might consider writing scripture down when you hear a scripture, when you are reminded of a scripture, and keeping it before you for a "season".