Friday, September 18, 2015

Transformed



“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
 Romans 12:2 (KVJV)

               These words, written by Paul, speak of a way to alter our outlooks. I like the way he used the words he chose.

               Transformed: gives a meaning of a radical change. We need to see our world positively transformed for Christ.

“renewing:” making something better, refurbishing, improving.

               We make our minds into the states we want to be. Some people believe what they hear when they hear disparaging remarks about others. Others think it humorous to talk about perverted subjects. However, God is not glorified in these types of discussion.

               God is only glorified when we radically change for Him. In our 21st Century, we truly need a radically changed world. A prayer group I participate in is praying for revival for our world. We realize that revival begins in our hearts. It begins with confession of our sins.

               Confession, based on humility, creates the basis of transformation and renewal of our minds.


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Striving for the Prize



   
                 
wwwgcdaily world.com
“This one thing I do. Forgetting which are behind,

 and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

               Paul gives us some sage advice here. He tells his readers how he handles difficult memories of their pasts. He relates that he strives to ahead and expends his time looking ahead rather than what is behind.

               There is excellent advice in these words. We, as a society, tend to hang our hats on something that happened 25 years ago.

               Warren Wiersbe explained the meaning as. “Forget does not mean erase from memory but it means that a person is no longer bothered by the memory.” (1)

               A dear friend preached a sermon on “Living in the Moment.” It got me to thinking differently about my different past experiences, especially the difficult ones. I find myself less weighed down than I have ever been.


1.)    Warren Wiersbe Study on Philippians. I am sorry I do not remember the name of this book.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Perfect Peace

Jesus and the Children. cll4him@sbcglobal.net
 


“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.”
 Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

               ”Thou wilt keep him. . .” The prophet Isaiah speaks these words to God. He states a certainty; he believes in these words. He does not say “Thou might” or “Thou should” He tells the LORD. “Thou wilt.” This is the beginning of a faith statement.

               “. . . in perfect peace. . .” Did you hear it? Isaiah says perfect peace. How many things in our lives are perfect? The LORD is the only perfect person ever to walk this earth. I know there is nothing in my life, except my relationship with Jesus, comes close to being perfect, but Isaiah tells us we can have perfect peace. 

               “. . . whose mind is stayed on Thee.” This is the secret to having peace in our daily lives. When things bother us, we look at others; we become upset, nervous, or even angry. We do better in this area if we look to Jesus.

               This is a learned response. It is not in our human nature to look to the LORD. Our human heart tells us to get angry and strike back at the other person or persons. For us to fall into this habit is to allow the enemy to guide our lives.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...