The devil brings thoughts to try to trouble us, to try to trouble other people through us, basically to steal, to kill, to destroy us and others, if we allow it.
We need to take each troubling thought to God in prayer.
When we fail to do this, we can trouble other people needlessly with our fear.
Recently I made this error.
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My cat lives in my bedroom with me. She enjoys getting on window and looking out when curtain is open.
We have ordered shutters for this room.
The thought came: When shutters are installed, cat will not be able to sit in the window.
I failed to take this problem to God in prayer. Had I done so, I believe God would have settled me.
Instead, I asked Pam to see if we could cancel the shutter order.
When she called, she found the shutter should arrive at the store on Monday.
Later I noticed the cat standing on bed with hind feet and front feet on edge of window looking out. I realized I troubled everyone for no reason, without praying!
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One characteristic of wisdom that is from God is "peaceable".
Those troubling thoughts need to be investigated through prayer. God might show us a problem to get us to reevaluate. But that thought that troubles us is often from our own flesh or devil. If only we remember to talk it over with God, HE will establish us.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Paul instructs:
II Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
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 (The Word);
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One of the first things God taught me after I was born again in 1975 is the concept of taking thoughts captive.
Tap on the following link to see one of the books I have written on this subject: Taking Thoughts Captive
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We are commissioned by God to take every thought captive to determine whether or not that thought is from God.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
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Even with the many problems (real problems or imagined problems), peace comes as we talk to God about our concern.
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