Category: ThinkAbout

Did you ever pause to consider how limiting it is to be inside your own head, totally constrained by your own thinking habits?

Einstein is reputed to have said that it is impossible to solve a problem using the same thought patterns that got you into the problem in the first place. Think about that! If our inclinations, prejudices, beliefs about the world and its people, and our behavior patterns create a set of issues that we are not happy with, we seek to fix them using the same flawed mental processes that brought them to us. How awful. We simply cannot , on our own, conceive of what else we might do!

We may have certain feelings about ourselves, others, or events that come from parental and family influences, educational influences, our past experiences, etc. We are inclined to see things or people either negatively or positively. We attribute certain motivations to people based upon previous experience or observation. What unfortunate tendencies.

Did you ever wonder how a highly successful person may see a seemingly negative circumstance, compared to how the average person may see it? Does the success oriented person view negative circumstances more as opportunities in disguise, or as the “end of the world”? How would Jesus view them?

A good step in the right direction is to take a Biblical view of yourself if you are a child of God. Remember that God loves you and you are special to Him. Remember that He said to believe the best about others and to forgive quickly. Remember that He said a soft answer turns away wrath. He said not to fear anything except God. He said to work hard and be diligent and honest. He said to watch your words.

He urges us to be humble and thankful and to wish for others what you would wish for yourself. He speaks of sowing and reaping or as people say “what goes around, comes around”. Finally he says the most important thing is that you keep the communications channels open with people in order to share the gospel with them.

Surely Jesus would be most concerned with attitudes that pleased His Father; that led others to God; and He would seek to save the lost rather than to judge them. He would use kind and encouraging words. He would speak only that which had a kingdom purpose. He would be tough on behaviors that were against scripture; and He would model behaviors that obeyed the laws of God and demonstrated God’s love.

There is much Biblical truth we can seek to help us in tough circumstances, and one can also seek the input of others who are Godly and mature in order to get properly oriented in difficult situations. The Bible says that with two or three counselors there is safety.

Matthew 12:36-37: (KJV) “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”

An idle word is a word or statement that has no biblically based purpose. It amounts to nothing and often is destructive. Be careful and measured in what you say. Your words affect your outcomes by influencing yourself with “self-talk” and by influencing others by what you say to them and what they think of you.

Following is an excerpt from my book “Biblical Principles for Successful Living”.

In order to move forward, stop engaging in idle speech. To help create
a good future for yourself and your loved ones, make your words count.
Do not spend time talking about other people or gossiping. Avoid wasting
your time complaining. It would be much more useful to pray or be calm
and quiet. Do an analysis of your speech, and it will reveal what is going
on inside of you, inside your heart. Angry words may reveal fear; idle and
wasted words may reveal a person without purpose or vision; and critical
words reveal self-condemnation and fear.

Don’t thwart the creative power that God gave you in your thoughts
and words by allowing Satan to use his ideas to defeat you. Jesus utterly
defeated Satan. Therefore, we have defeated him on every count. We are
not helpless victims. If Satan troubles your mind, refuse to speak those
things out loud. Do not verbalize your fears and worries. Instead, pray
and speak the Scriptures against those outcomes. One of my favorites is
Psalm 91 — a protection Psalm. I also like Isaiah 54:17, which says that
no weapon formed against us can prosper. Christ conquered death, hell,
and the grave. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We conquer
by using words spoken in faith that agree with the Word of God. Why
would you believe something that God Himself has said in the Bible, yet
not believe there is power in those same words if you speak them? The
Word of God works, no matter who speaks it.

Many situations in life are ambiguous. If you find you don’t know what
to say, the best advice is not to say anything. If you wish to receive anything
from God, remember that thanksgiving and praise, not murmuring, are
keys to victory. The Bible is replete with passages regarding the power
of continually offering praise and thanksgiving to God. Make your
words count and let that be your trademark. God spoke the world into
existence. You are made in His image and likeness. What will you speak
into existence? Words are seeds. You can use your words to build up and
encourage yourself and others. You can use your biblically supported words
to prophesy your future and improve your self-image and expectations.

You can use your words to improve every area of your life and the lives
of those around you. They can be an encouragement to you and others.
They can share wisdom from Scripture with those you are associated
with. They can demonstrate faith. Perhaps, most importantly, you can use
your words to lead others into an eternal relationship with God through
Jesus. All of this can be done by speaking what God says in His Word. Use
His promises as lights to guide and encourage your thoughts and words.
Following are verses from NKJV.

Proverbs 21:23: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul from troubles.”
Proverbs 10:19: “In the multitude of words sin is not
lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Proverbs 25:11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in settings of silver.”

Were you ever tempted to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone you really knew would respond, but you just did not know how to do it? An easy way to do it is to use what is called “The Romans Road” which is a set of verses from the book of Romans which lays out the plan of salvation in simple terms.

Romans 3:23 KJV “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”. Everyone is a sinner! If they don’t believe it you can take them thru the 10 commandments and ask if they have ever violated any of them… especially using Jesus words that show how impossible it is to not violate these. An example is “did you ever commit adultery?” If they say no, just point out that Jesus said “if you even looked upon a woman (or man) with lust, you committed adultery!!”

Romans 6:23 KJV “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” For a perfect God Who cannot look upon sin, if you committed even one sin you are worthy of eternal damnation. Very difficult truth!!

Romans 5:8 KJV “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Seeing how we could not possible keep His law and how we were/are worthy of death, God sent His only begotten son to live and die and be raised again to pay OUR penalty for sin and let us avoid the punishment.

Romans 10:9 KJV “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” We must believe on Jesus to be saved. That means to commit, trust and obey.

Romans 10:13 KJV “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Using your mouth to call upon and to confess Jesus as Lord will demonstrate your conversion. This is also true for water baptism.

Romans 8:1 KJV “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Once we are in Christ by faith, the Bible tells us His blood continually cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We are saved and are His children, once for all.

Romans 8:38-39 KJV “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No sin can separate us from the continually cleansing blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We are commanded to let His love shine through us and to let His spirit guide us into all truth. It is a wonderful lifetime journey.

Politicians have an adage that goes something like this “a criticism that goes unanswered is seen to be a valid one that will stick, therefore you must counter all criticisms”. Now it would seem to me that one should admit something if it is true, but I don’t suppose that is how one gets elected.

The point however is clear. It is important to counter something before it “sticks”. This is especially true when dealing with ones own mind and thoughts. Our minds and thoughts create a world more “real” to us than the one we live in. Our thoughts and assessments of others always go unchallenged because it is not natural to “argue with oneself”. What we see we assess and pass judgement upon. We also do this about ourselves. Self talk is the most potent type of input I am told. And unfortunately most self talk is quite negative.

How then can we answer ourselves truthfully to counter the constant lies of the enemy of our souls (Satan)? What is strictly true about us?

The message is: Believe what God says about you, not what you tell yourself. In reality your own thoughts are quite limited and normally prejudiced against yourself, but the scripture is not. Believe what it says about you.

If you are a child of God by faith, these are the things you can believe about yourself, and many more!! Following are some NKJV verses that apply.

For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:16-17.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will …” Ephesians 1:4-5.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.

For God so loved that world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

It is the most potent tool of evil these days – FEAR.

Anger is fear manifested; hatred is fear manifested; violence is fear motivated. What do people fear? They fear loss of someone or something; they fear the competition of others in the workplace; and they fear death. What a world it would be if we could conquer our fear. How is fear conquered? it is conquered in the mind. Refuse to fear!! But on what basis and on what authority can one legitimately not fear? It is only on the basis of faith. Here are some verses from the King James Bible instructing us not to fear. There are literally hundreds more. If you trust in God you need not fear death for you will be with Him forever. you need not fear bad tidings because God will help and protect you. You need not fear being wronged, because God will make it right at some point. All following verses are from the King James Bible.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9

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. Philippians 4:6-7

Romans 12 tells us: “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:6

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:1

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15