Thoughts running rampant,
Thoughts running free,
Headed for disaster,
Can’t catch me.
This is what my ego scream when it tosses toxic thoughts in the air of my mind. The thoughts catch wind and drift, sail, free fall and course freely through my stream of consciousness.
But God.
He calms the wind. He calms the seas. When our minds are staid on Him, He keeps us in perfect peace.
He teaches me to ARREST the thoughts on the spot. He reminds me that those imaginations must bow down to the Truth. He reminds me I have the power to take every thought captive and make it obey Him.
Minute by minute I must renew my mind. As the ego seeks to feed and preserve its selfish longings, I must continue to flex my spiritual muscle, strengthening the inner man. This is metanoia.
Metanoia μετάνοια, ας, ἡ
To change one’s heart and life by the renewing of the mind. When used most frequently in the bible, it is translated as the word repentance. But its connotation runs much deeper. Not only does it mean to have sorrow and turn away from, even more so it means a conversion, a changing of the inner man.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
Because I am a Believer, the mind that is in me is the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5).
Like the leaves that are now changing color here in the Northeast, the pigments of yellow, red, and orange have been there the whole time. But it takes changes in the environment to ignite changes in the leaves. The same can be said for the transformation of the mind. As a Believer who has the mind of Christ, His thoughts, His pure, true, lovely, praiseworthy thoughts are in my mind. But I must call them forward. And I do that by continuing to strengthen my inner man. I do that by reading and hearing the Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
So when my mind screams:
~You coach countless parents but your own children are acting up
~You’re doing all this working out. And for what? You’ve still got that roll on your back.
~Everyone around you is prospering and growing. What’s wrong with you?
~You can’t speak on that topic with authority because you don’t have the credentials.
~You’ve tried before in business and failed. This time won’t be any different.
~God why are you doing this to me right now? I can’t take another thing!
I must effect change like the leaves turning their vibrant hues and reply with:
~My children honor their parents for it is the first commandment with a promise.
~My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I will glorify God in my body which is His.
~I rejoice with those that rejoice. I do not covet. His promises are Yes and Amen for what He has already reserve with my name on it.
~The Holy Spirit has come upon me and I have received power. Now I can go and be your witness in the sphere of influence You’ve given me.
~When I obey You shall make my way prosperous and I shall be a good success.
~Lord I thank you for equipping me for every good work. Through it all you’ve never left nor forsaken me.
[bctt tweet=”Like Jesus responding to temptation in the wilderness, I must stand on the Word.”]
I see myself having been raised with Christ. I set my mind on things above and am not consumed by temporal things that soon fade away. I see the beauty of the kingdom of heaven here at hand. I put to death my selfish ambitions and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
So join me in the sacred space of metanoia where the inner man is transformed by the renewing of the mind. It’s All In Your Mind. There is definitely a war being waged friends, and you know where that battle is taking place: The Battlefield of the Mind. But we are fully equipped in our armor and will stand steadfast on the Solid Rock.
I am victorious!
You are victorious!
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
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Happy to connect with these friends sharing the Good News Grace&Truth, #DanceWithJesus