Guard Your Mind

Written by Beverly Richardson

Well, just this morning I felt like giving up on my God ordained assignment. I start thinking about every reason why I should not be on the assignment. Why God, did You choose me for this job? It is so hard, I cannot do it. I do not have time. I began thinking about how far I had to drive. I watched the daily news that said the price of gas was going to increase. I tried to think of all kinds of excuses why I wanted to quit my assignment before the assignment was complete. I had allowed these thoughts to fill my mind. Fear and worry set in, and I had no reason to be fearful or worried about anything. Then I realized that I had not spent enough time with God, in His word lately. I had to cast all of my cares on God because he cares for me.  I repented and asked God for forgiveness, and then I as able to get back on track.

We should be well aware of the various ways in which Satan works. He attacks believers when he thinks it will be to his advantage. Especially after a great experience, or right before someone is going to begin a new opportunity. He also attacks when believers are vulnerable physically or mentally, and when Satan believers when are alone. Christians, therefore, must always be on guard.  How do we guard our minds against the attacks of the enemy:

Action 1: Pray

Our first response to a spiritual attack should not be panic, but prayer. We can’t fight effectively in our own strength. But when we ask God for help and seek His power we experience victory.

Action 2:  Speak And Believe The Truth

Jesus personifies truth. In John 14:6 Jesus says I am the truth. Satan is a liar. Jesus said this about him: He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars (John 8:44). Satan’s native tongue is deceit. One of the best ways to combat his untruth is to surround ourselves, our families, and our minds with truth.

Action 3:  Choose Not To Fear

The natural reaction to a spiritual attack is first fear, then worry. If we stay in that place of panic, we forget to do the first two actions: pray and speak the truth. And if we camp in fear’s tent, we shrink back from the joy and power Jesus wants to give us in the midst of the battle. Ultimately, this comes down to a question of our trust in God. Do we believe God is bigger than our worry? Than Satan’s attack against us? Than the fears that keep us up at night? We have a choice to give into fearful thinking or surrender it to God, and trust His word.

Action 4: Let Go Of Control

When we encounter a spiritual battle, we tend to want to make everything right immediately. We want the fight to stop, so we try to fix the situation. We can’t micromanage stressful situations. We can’t orchestrate outcomes. We are not God, yet we can utilize the guidance, strategy and grace that He liberally provides.

We must always be aware of the thoughts that travel through our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. In Proverbs 23:7 we read For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

To stay free, we must vigilantly guard our thought life and choose to give our burdens to God.

Dirty to Daughter

My dad loves to grow hot chili peppers and jar them for the winter. If you’ve ever worked with hot peppers before you understand how important it is to use gloves. The oils from the peppers seep deeply into the skin and can cause burning and tingling. Yes, I am telling you from a bitter experience. Once you have these oils on your hands everything you touch becomes subject to its potency.

It can be the same with our mistakes. If we don’t know how to walk forgiven and in freedom we can continue to allow it to taint every goal and dream for our lives. It’s that one moment that should have cancelled our call, stopped the gift or removed the position but thank God for Jesus! I’m not talking about living in B.C. (before Christ) but while you have lived this Christian life. I look back at times when I taught things out of ignorance, when I gave up on the inside and made horrible decisions or when I was full of anger and strife all the while attending church every Sunday. I had to learn to clean up and continue learning even when everyone was watching. Don’t ever assume a person should be beyond sin. No one is ever too holy, too godly or too Christian to not make a mistake or sin. We are only too empowered to live in it. We sometimes only see what others want us to see and may not know the hidden struggles of people that we see every Sunday. When a person can’t tell a trusted person their weakness or themselves then they too have only blinded or chained themselves to it. Part of conquering sin is confronting sin. Every person should be able to identify their own strength and weakness in order to conquer what needs to be confronted in their life.

We can not allow these moments of failure, set back or sin to seep so deeply that we live a limited life with a limited view of our future. 

The Woman with the issue of blood takes us on a journey from Dirty to Daughter.

And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:24-34 ESV)

The only thing standing between her and Jesus, were people.

Are your decisions are based on People or Purpose?

Is it because of where God is taking you or because you don’t want others to think less of you?

Religion serves to please people, Purpose serves to please God.

The People who stand in between:

The people who think you don’t deserve the call or position.

The people who don’t mind pushing you down so they can rise.

The people who only see your issue not your call.

The people who gave up on you along the way.

She was a woman who understood disconnection and loss. By law she was to stay separated from people and considered unclean (Leviticus 15:25). She was defined by her issue. Have you ever been defined by your issue? Jesus took away that label on the cross and we need to leave it there. There is not one issue in your life that you are not empowered to loosen from your life.

When Faith is the connection to reaching Jesus

In one moment of faith she went from dirty to daughter. She had only “heard” of Jesus and believed even before He arrived. She knew she could trust Him to heal if she could just touch Him. Jesus had never called a woman daughter anywhere else in the bible but here. He chooses the woman who was an outcast, who was separated and unclean. Reminding us that there is no sin or failure that can keep us from reaching out to Christ in faith and Him not respond.

Understand her life was at risk. It was not legally allowed for an unclean woman to touch anyone especially Jesus. She had to have touched many others in her quest to touch Jesus. The law says that anyone who touches an unclean woman is now considered unclean. Thank God, you are never too dirty to become His daughter. There is nothing too dirty that God can’t wash away completely.

This story is a reminder of His great compassion to stop, listen and respond to our hearts. He responds to faith not our issue. So instead of telling Him your issue, which He already knows, reach out to Him in faith. Take what He has made available to you which is freedom. He is waiting for someone to reach out to Him and know that He is the only answer.

Because of her faith she went from Dirty to Daughter. It’s what you believe about yourself as to how you think God views you. The freedom is in your faith! Jesus has already conquered the issue in your life.

You are a Daughter or Son not the issue, not the struggle and not the label.  Reach out to Him in faith and He will respond with freedom and wholeness.

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The Middle

I was a daring, and nearly fearless child, raised on a farm. I would pick up snakes, climb trees, and distress my Grandmother. Concerned for my safety, she went through great lengths to instill a tremendous fear in me of snakes and heights. To this day, I am still a little wary of both.  I have asked the Lord to help me overcome these fears because I know that I am strong in the power of His might, and fear is not of God according to Ephesians 6:10 and 2 Timothy 1:7.

I know God helps me overcome fear because Psalms 34:4 reads: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” I eventually touched a snake again and even rode roller coasters. Just as God helped me with those fears, I am confident He is healing and moving me past my deep hurts and issues as I consistently pray to Him.

Everything we undertake in life has a beginning and an end, therefore we should aim to start strong and finish well. Typically, we are excited at the beginning of an opportunity such as a relationship or a new venture; and we’re also happy in the end when we can celebrate our achievements and taste the satisfaction fulfilled desires.  The middle is another story because somewhere between the beginning and the end we face our greatest challenges.

The middle is where we develop the determination necessary to overcome and grow. We learn to finish what we start, and we become increasingly grateful that we don’t have to endure alone! Whenever we find ourselves frustrated, tired, or facing the temptation to give up, we can ask God for His strength and wisdom. We can decide in our heart to take authority over every fear that attempts to creep back in when we face difficult situations.

What fears are you struggling with today? Perhaps the fear of financial security? Fear of failure? Fears concerning your children? Is the fear so intense that you are hindered from experiencing the abundant life Jesus promises to His followers? Fear stands for: False Expectations Appearing Real. What unreal expectation are you living under that is keeping you in fear?

Get in the presence of God and trust Him. Don’t be afraid for He is your strength and song. His power is unlimited! When we are completely surrendered to Him it draws His power into our needs. However, fear can block the flow of His strength into us. Concentrate on trusting Him fully.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “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.”

Start strong, continue trusting, and finish well.