Posted on February 6, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

Sleep

Toggle navigation 7 Types of Verses for When You Can’t Sleep: Find Peace for Your Soul Debbie McDaniel iBelieve Contributing Writer 2021 6 Feb Middle of the night. Darkness surrounds. Stars shining brightly. All is quiet. All should be at peace. Except for one problem. We can’t sleep. Thoughts are swirling, anxieties pressing hard. Peace feels far away. Fear seems to be bigger in the dark. It’s hard to see or think with clarity. Too many things can keep us awake. Wide awake. If you’ve lived long enough, you may have found yourself there. Worry or stress, money problems, deep loss or grief can steal away precious hours of sleep. Illness, disease, or pain that we or our loved ones might be facing, can cause true rest to be a constant battle. Sometimes even the pain of broken relationships brings great heaviness to the soul. Unforgiveness, resentment, and anger, make it difficult to turn off our thoughts and rehearsed scripts, to find rest again. Recently when our family walked through a very difficult trial, I found myself there. Night after night, I was awakened by the deep hurt and pain in my heart. I prayed, I cried, I longed just to sleep again. But often, the only thing I found that could bring peace and comfort to my spirit was God’s Word. I would say out loud every verse that came to my mind, praying His powerful reminders back to Him. Sometimes I would read chapter after chapter, until sleep came again. I would awaken, the Bible still laying open, right over my heart. It didn’t make all our problems go away. It wasn’t a magical, instant solution. When I woke up, the pain was still there. But through time, I realized this: my mind, heart, and spirit were being renewed day by day, night by night. His peace, healing, and comfort were washing over me every time I spoke his words, believing them to be true. I was desperate for help. And God was there. He still is. His words are living, active, and powerful. They are the only thing that can bring us true peace in this life, whether it be through the brightness of day, or in the darkest of night. 1. Verses for peace. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8) “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9) 2. Verses to calm your anxiety. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:33-34) 3. Verses to ease your fears. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear…Be still, and know that I am God…the Lord Almighty is with us.” (Psalm 46:1-2, 10-11) “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3) “When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24) 4. Verses for comfort. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6) “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) 5. Verses to trust in the Lord. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’ He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:1-2, 4) “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” (Isaiah 30:15) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8) 6. Verses for strength. “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11) “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans 8:26) 7. Verses to rest in the Lord. “I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber, indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you…the Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life…” (Psalm 121:1-8) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) “…for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2) Sleep in peace. Know that He is with you. Close. He will never leave you or fail you. Our God never sleeps or slumbers, He holds all things in His hands, even you. So you can rest, and get some sleep. Peace. Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor’s wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead’s facebook page, DebbieWebbMcDaniel, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also at Web Site and Twitter. Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com How To Entirely Empty Your Gut Each Morning (Do This Daily) Nature’s Digestion Sponsored by Revcontent Find Out More > 65,030 NEXT: 7 Reasons Singing Is Essential to the Christian Life About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Crosswalk App California – Do Not Sell My Personal Information California – CCPA Notice

Posted on February 5, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

Respecting The Power Behind Authority

Touching Lives with James Merritt DAILY DEVOTIONAL EMAIL Subscribe to receive the daily devotional from Dr. James Merritt right into your inbox SUBSCRIBE Respecting The Power Behind Authority February 5, 2021 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’” (1 Samuel 24:9-10) Let’s continue our discussion of the story of David and Saul that we began yesterday. As a reminder, in our key passage of Scripture, David is not yet king and being hunted by the king at the time, Saul. David didn’t have a high view of Saul the man. He didn’t have much respect for Saul the person, but he had a supremely, extremely high view of God and the power of God that put Saul on the throne. Did Saul personally deserve much respect? Not at all. But it wasn’t Saul’s character that was on the line. It was David’s. He didn’t focus on what Saul had tried to do to him. He focused on what God had done for Saul and would do for him. There is something we can all know about every ruler who is ruling anywhere, anytime, anyplace. Whether that ruler realizes it or not, behind every ruler is the sovereign power of God. He is the power behind all power, and David was not going to replace what God had put in place. He was not going to dethrone what God had enthroned and since God was the one who put Saul in, God would be the one to take Saul out. Remember this. Disrespectful people will always try to drag you down to their level. But just because someone chooses to disrespect you does not mean you have to disrespect them. Let us respect the God who sent Jesus and let us give others the respect that God has given us, whether they’ve technically earned it or not. Dear Lord, I want to be respectful not because other people have earned respect, but because I respect you and want to honor you. Help me to remember that you are the power behind all power and the leader behind all leaders. In Jesus’ name, amen. Topics: Respect Bible Reference 1 Samuel 24:9-10 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ About Contact Us Jobs Pastor Resources Prayer Request Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Touching Lives, Inc. | 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097 | United States | 770-982-0168 Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

Posted on February 4, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

The Principle of Authority

Touching Lives with James Merritt DAILY DEVOTIONAL EMAIL Subscribe to receive the daily devotional from Dr. James Merritt right into your inbox SUBSCRIBE The Principle of Authority February 4, 2021 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. (1 Samuel 24:8) There is a story of a man in the Bible who one day would be king, who had every reason not just to disrespect the one who was king, but to destroy him and bring his kingdom to an end. But the fact that he did not and the reasons that he did serve as a great reminder over 2500 years later why respect is so important and what it looks like. This story teaches us a tremendous lesson that we need to not only learn, but desperately need to pass on to the next generation, and that lesson is to abide by the principle of authority. David lived in a kingdom. He was under kingdom authority. Saul, as the king, was the embodiment of that principle of authority. That is so important to grasp. You don’t live your life by popularity – that is what everybody else thinks is right. You don’t live your life by practice – by what everybody else is doing. You live your life by principle – by a conviction of what is right. David perfected the principle of authority. Saul was still the king. David was still under his authority. What set David apart from his men was he understood that what is right is not what we think is right at the moment or how others feel is right at the moment, but what God says is right at the moment. One of the marks of maturity is the willingness to abide by the principle of authority even though you may not always agree with how that authority acts. It doesn’t mean that we support wickedness. It doesn’t mean that we approve of evil any more than David approved of what Saul was doing, but it does mean that we respect all authority unless that authority asks us to do something that is immoral, unethical or unbiblical. So let’s take David’s story to heart and follow his example as we learn to respect the principle of authority, even when it isn’t easy. Dear Father, anyone in authority has been placed in their position by you. Therefore, I want to be respectful of whatever authority you have placed over me. Help me to be more like David and to abide by the principle of authority in my own life so that I might honor you. In Jesus’ name, amen. Topics: Respect Bible Reference 1 Samuel 24:8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. About Contact Us Jobs Pastor Resources Prayer Request Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Touching Lives, Inc. | 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097 | United States | 770-982-0168 Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

Posted on February 3, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

1st Thessalonians 5:19 And What It Means to All People?????????

1^st Thessalonians 5:19 and what it means to All People?

By: Anthony Joseph Hopkins/ March 6, 2020

Praise The Lord Saints!! Praise The Lord Everyone!! How are you doing today? Fine, I hope. I would like to ask everyone a very important question. What does 1^st Thessalonians 5:19 Mean?

The word quench means to put out as of a fire. The word quench also means to drown. I want to say that for 18 years, I was solely responsible for quenching my Holy Spirit by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. I am beginning to realize that my Holy Spirit, which is inside of me, is very important. It enables me to know the truth from Jesus Christ. I will admit that I was hearing voices that were not the Holy Spirit for the past 10 years.

Next, I want to inform all of you that it is not very easy hearing voices that are not the Holy Spirit. This actually means that you are losing your mind. I know that; the voices that I have heard for 10 years were principalities, and powers. I know that I was not aware that I was hearing voices.

I know that it is not very easy hearing something that consists of curse words, and other vulgarities that are from an unknown spirit. I know that this is not very easy to deal with right now. During the time that I was involved in active addiction, I was putting out the Spirit’s Fire. I know that I still have a whole lot to learn. I still have a very long way to go in my Christian Walk right now.

Further, I want to say that I love people. I love everything that God has created with His Word. Everything was spoken from the Mouth of God. He even knew my own existence. He knew me when I was inside of my Mother’s womb. He knows everything about me more than man himself. If someone tells you that they know all about you, they are telling a lie. If this person knew me, then, they would actually know my own existence. Back to the subject at hand, I was smothering my Holy Spirit by drinking beer and wine on a daily basis for 18 years.

Moreover, I want to inform all of you that my life has not been very easy growing up in the streets of Dayton, Ohio. My mother and my stepfather used to drink alcohol on a daily basis. I did not know any better because I actually started drinking at an early age. My own family members do not even know exactly what I was doing at the time. I have kept things to myself. I rarely drunk anything in front of my younger siblings. I did not like for my nieces and nephews to drink alcohol.

In Addition, I was responsible for quenching my Holy Spirit by drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. This is the truth because I graduated from high school 3 years late. I was solely responsible for being a Juvenile Delinquent. I will admit that I was anti-social by all means. At that time, from 1979 -1986, I was very anti-social. I was a follower of the streets. I did whatever the world was doing. I am telling the truth because I do not want my nieces and nephews to follow my footsteps in life.

Also, I want to inform all of you that I earned bad grades in school. I really hated math. I hated authority. I want to inform all of you that my nieces and nephews are following my footsteps. Therefore, this message is for them. This message is for everyone who is living in darkness by choice. It is not very easy for people to attend church, and adhere to the New Covenant. I know that there a millions of people are getting tattoos and piercings on their bodies. This is very sad!! God does not like it when we defile and destroy our own bodies.

Finally, the Holy Spirit is very important to all of us. The Holy Spirit that is inside of all of us, is solely responsible for helping us. The Holy Spirit is not supposed to be quenched over our own foolishness. Please take care of yourselves. God loves you and so do I.

Faithfully Submitted,

Anthony Joseph Hopkins

1^st Thessalonians 5:19 and what it means to All People?

By: Anthony Joseph Hopkins/ March 6, 2020

Praise The Lord Saints!! Praise The Lord Everyone!! How are you doing today? Fine, I hope. I would like to ask everyone a very important question. What does 1^st Thessalonians 5:19 Mean?

Faithfully Submitted,

Anthony Joseph Hopkins

Posted on February 3, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

1st Samuel 23:16-18 And What it Means to All People????????

1^st Samuel 23:16-18: And What it Means to All People

By: Anthony Joseph Hopkins August 14, 2020

16. Then Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David in the woods and strengthen his hand in God.

17. And he said to him, do not fear, for the hand of Saul, my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.

18. So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

This is a story about two good friends, King Saul son Jonathan and the anointed king David son of Jesse. I am going to place emphasis on the 16^th verse of 1^st Samuel 23. It specifically states that Jonathan arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. Jonathan was a very loyal friend to David. Even though, Saul his father tried to kill David because David was anointed King over Israel.

David was only 12 years old when he was anointed King over Israel by Samuel. The word strengthen means to give strength to or nourishment to another person. Jonathan appeared to David inside of the woods, and he strengthened his hand in God. This means that he encouraged David at his time of need. This is simply because David was in danger at the hand of Saul; Jonathan’s father. Therefore, Jonathan indicated to David do not fear. For the hand of his father Saul will not find him.

Therefore, Jonathan and David were very good friends toward each other. Jonathan encouraged David to be strong, and do not fear. Eventually, the two of them made a covenant with each other. The covenant was made in blood from each other. This was made by using a knife to cut into their flesh, and the two of them were friends until Jonathan and his father were killed in battle. However, Saul committed suicide by falling on his own knife. Jonathan showed compassion toward David. Frankly, I have shown all of my enemies’ compassion from 1972 to 1990. I did not like fighting my friends, even though they were fair weather friends.

Both of my grandmothers told me not to fight any of my friends. My fair-weather friends had beaten me up for 18 years. Even though I did not like fighting anyone. I prefer playing football and basketball with my fair-weather friends. I will admit that I was all by myself as a child growing up because of my aggressive friends. I remember attending church with my grandmothers. I remember the Beatitudes that are located inside of the New Testament in the Book of Matthew the 5^th Chapter. When it pertains to the story of Jonathan and David, it was Jonathan and David who had compassion towards each other.

I was filled with compassion as a child. Do you agree? I will admit that I used to get beaten up as a child by my fair-weather friends considered me as a very weak person. I was not a weak person. I suffered from depression all of my entire life. I was abused as a child by my stepfather and my friends.

I did not consider my friends as fair-weather. My fair-weather friends used to oppress me for 18 years. They used to intimidate me and take my lunch money from me. Currently, I suffer from depression for the past 23 years. From July 15, 1997 to the present day, I have consulted with therapists and psychiatrists on a regular basis.

In order to strengthen someone, you will have to show compassion for the next person. You need to become transparent. You need to become honest, truthful, and respectful toward other people. This is my personal interpretation of 1^st Samuel 23:16-18, and what it means to all people. My name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins, and I love all of you very much. Please take care of yourselves.

Sincerely,

Anthony Joseph Hopkins

1^st Samuel 23:16-18: And What it Means to All People

By: Anthony Joseph Hopkins August 14, 2020

16. Then Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David in the woods and strengthen his hand in God.

17. And he said to him, do not fear, for the hand of Saul, my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.

18. So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

Sincerely,

Anthony Joseph Hopkins

Posted on February 3, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

1st Kings 2:2 And What it Means To All People?????????

1^st Kings 2.2: And What It Means to All People by Anthony Joseph Hopkins October 16, 2020

1^st Kings 2:2 Says I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore and prove yourself a man. David was conversing with his son Solomon, who would eventually become King of Israel, immediately after his father’s death. David told his son that he goes the way of all the earth.

This means that he (David) is getting ready to die, and be with God. Therefore, David stated to his son Solomon in confidence to be strong, and prove yourself a man. What this Bible verse mean is to grow up and assume the responsibilities as a King. The word maturity is a factor because it is a physical, mental, emotional, and psychological advancement in a position in life.

Anyway, what does it mean to become a man? A man is a person who assumes a position or level in life. A man is a person, who is older in age. A man is a person whose mind is prepared for advancement. A man, literally understands his responsibilities for a person in his age bracket. 1^st Corinthians 13:11 says; when I was a child, I spoke as a child. I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

When it comes to the meaning of 1^st Corinthians 13:11; it has a whole lot to do with maturity. Just like Paul says: when I was a child, I thought as a child. I thought as a child, I reason like a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. Paul explained that when we became men, we put childish things away. A real man knows how to behave like a man. This means that a man’s actions make him become a mature adult, or a person, who does not know how to become a man to begin with. A mature man knows how to speak, act, think, and behave like a man.

In the 21^st Century, meaning the present, men are the leaders inside of their homes. Men are fathers, brothers, uncles, and mentors inside of their communities. Men are also leaders inside of their respective churches. A man has to be taught as children how to become leaders that exist inside of their communities. A real man has respect for women and children. This is the reason why it takes a village to raise one child. A man knows how to have respect for God. A man was created first then woman.

What does 1^st Kings 2:2 really mean? It means that a complete behavioral change has occurred inside of both mean and women. Genesis 1:27 says; so, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female; He created them. Everyone must learn how to find their own process. When it comes to 1^st Kings 2:2, a man, who assumes a very serious position has to have the maturity level, and the mindset to handle the position such as King. A man has to be trained by its successor to become a King of Israel like Solomon did.

Posted on February 2, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

Deep Roots

Touching Lives with James Merritt DAILY DEVOTIONAL EMAIL Subscribe to receive the daily devotional from Dr. James Merritt right into your inbox SUBSCRIBE Deep Roots February 2, 2021 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 Avoiding cracks on the sidewalk, not opening an umbrella indoors, never breaking a mirror or walking under a ladder…these are just some of the ways that people try to avoid “bad luck.” There are countless other superstitions that people all around the world adhere to in order to try to minimize “unlucky” events in their lives. Such silly thinking has no place in the minds of those who profess faith in Christ. Many suggest that things as superstitions and good luck rituals are harmless fun. But are they really? Or do they hint at doubt tucked deep in the crevices of our hearts? Do we truly trust in the goodness of God no matter what? Do we know in the depths of our being that His grace is sufficient in all circumstances? Are we willing to praise Him in both victory and defeat…in both joy and sorrow…when we are both pleased and disappointed? Are we willing to follow wherever He leads, or are we perhaps trying to manipulate the outcome of our lives behind the guise of “harmless fun?” Living life fully dependent on God is a thrilling adventure. The twists and turns are inevitable…but so is the joy. Yes, there are valleys; but it is in these valleys that the roots of our faith grow deeper. Most people busy themselves, trying to accomplish things in their own strength and control things in their own ways. Some succeed, while others fail miserably. As Christ followers, our lives should not look like this. When people see how we live, they should see a steadfast faith, an abiding peace, and a deep gratitude in all things. When we choose to depend on Christ continually, our whole perspective will change. We will see His handprints in even the smallest things. Instead of making wishes in the wind, we will whisper prayers in bold faith, and in humble acceptance. Instead of seeing “coincidences,” we will see God’s sovereignty. Just as we received Jesus in faith, we will learn to live every day with that same dependent faith…knowing it is not what we can do for ourselves, but what He has done for us that matters most. It is then that our lives will be transformed, rooted deeply in faith and overflowing with gratitude. Dear Lord, I want to live my life in total and complete dependence on you. I want to be deeply rooted in your Word, so please give me the humility and the diligence to put down those roots and to fully surrender to you. In Jesus’ name, amen. Topics: Faith Bible Reference Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. About Contact Us Jobs Pastor Resources Prayer Request Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Touching Lives, Inc. | 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097 | United States | 770-982-0168 Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

Posted on February 2, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

Praying in Private

Touching Lives with James Merritt DAILY DEVOTIONAL EMAIL Subscribe to receive the daily devotional from Dr. James Merritt right into your inbox SUBSCRIBE Praying in Private February 1, 2021 “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 It is interesting to note that when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he first taught them where to pray. This may seem strange as we all tend to believe we can pray anywhere at anytime. But Jesus teaches us to pray in private, which is something we should learn as believers. In the first century, the Pharisees (ultraconservative, fundamentalist legalists who see God in terms of rules, regulations, and religion) loved to pray in two places–the synagogue and the street corner. And their timing was always impeccable. At the same time every day, a trumpet would blow that would signal it was time to pray. Wherever you were and whatever you were doing, you were expected to stop and pray. The Pharisees loved to show how pious and holy they were, and they realized this was a great time to showcase their spirituality right in front of everyone. Jesus teaches that real prayer, attention-getting prayer, God-honoring prayer, and heaven-satisfying prayer is prayed secretly and sincerely. Jesus even says what you do in secret will be rewarded because He is teaching that secrecy fosters sincerity. God knows when you take the time to go to your secret place and get alone with Him. When you are in that secret place, there is no applause and nobody is clapping for your religious performance. It is just you and God alone together, which is the essence of Jesus’s teaching on prayer. Dear Lord, help me to remember the teachings of Jesus when I pray today. Remind me of the value and the importance of praying in secret and praying sincerely, rather than praying for performance and recognition. In Jesus’ name, amen. Topics: Prayer Bible Reference Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. About Contact Us Jobs Pastor Resources Prayer Request Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Touching Lives, Inc. | 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097 | United States | 770-982-0168 Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization

Posted on January 31, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

Romans 12:2?

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What Does the “Renewing of the Mind” Look Like for Christians?

Matt Tommey| Contributing Writer202131 Jan

What does the “Renewing of the Mind” look like for Christians? That’s the question most Christians struggle with and have had very little teaching on during their life as believers. Consequently, they are left feeling unfulfilled, frustrated, and confused when it comes to actually living the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10 NLT where he said “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” That rich and satisfying life manifests in the life of believers through one simple, life-changing strategy: the renewing of the mind.null

What Does Renewing of Your Mind Mean in the Bible?

Simply stated, renewing your mind according to Romans 12:2 means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rather than through the lens of your experience, woundedness, trauma, preferences, or the opinions of others. It’s a fundamental shift toward seeing the world, yourself, others, God, and especially what’s possible from a Kingdom perspective. It’s making a daily, moment by moment choice to choose the Mind of Christ which lives inside of us as new creations rather than operating from our soulish mind the way we did before we were saved.

Why Do Christians Need to Renew Their Minds?

Unless a Christian learns to renew their mind, they will continue to walk in defeat, struggle, and confusion, as they desire to experience a Spirit-led life yet, have no understanding of how or tools with which to see that life manifest. This is the predicament of most believers who live lives of religious obedience and obligation yet void of any real Spirit-led power. Without renewing your mind, the only two options are to wait, hope, and beg God to change you or to work, sweat, and strive on your own to achieve the results you so long to experience. Neither is God’s best.

Renewing your mind aligns your mind with the truth of God’s Word by learning to recognize the lies of the enemy, replace them with the truth of God’s Word and then reinforce that truth every time the enemy comes at them with those same lies. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV, God’s Word teaches us that “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” Taking a thought captive literally means to capture or conquer that thought as you identify it and compare it to God’s Word. Does this thought agree with God’s promises over my life or not? If not then I cast it away—rejecting its influence in my life – and I plant in its place one of God’s promises from His Word.https://13a924605150065109854d210ad7fa19.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

In 2 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Did you get that? It’s through God’s precious promises that we participate in the divine nature.

Renewed thoughts resulting in new beliefs help you engage with God’s plan for your life because thoughts fuel your beliefs. Godly Kingdom-Focused thoughts are great fuel for your godly beliefs, while ungodly, fear-driven lies and half-truths fuel ungodly beliefs.

Renewing your mind is not just a spiritual process, but a physiological one as well. When you intentionally change the way you think to align with God’s Word, it literally creates new connections and pathways in your brain to make that process easier and more preferred over time. Through the process of neuroplasticity, your brain can literally be reconfigured to align with the truth of God’s Word and thus create the solutions, strategies, and opportunities that best align with God’s plan for your life. Remember, in Proverbs 23:7 KJV “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Your thoughts (which ultimately create your beliefs resulting in your actions) literally create the boundaries of your life. If you want to experience a different life—the abundant life Jesus promised—you must learn to intentionally renew your mind.null

Ways to Renew Your Mind Today

Recognize: Intentionally “capture” each thought that comes into your mind and compare it to God’s Word and His promises for your life. Ask yourself “Does this thought that I’m having right now reflect what God’s Word says about this situation or does it reflect a lie that I know doesn’t represent God’s heart for me?”

Replace: If the thoughts you’re having don’t agree with God’s Word, then replace them with promises from God’s Word. It can literally be as simple as asking the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance a scripture that is opposite of the lie you may be faced with currently. You can also just do a quick internet search for scripture verses based on the lie you’re trying to replace. Remember, thoughts are like seeds and whatever you allow to be planted in the garden of your heart will bring forth a harvest in your life. Choose your seeds wisely.

Reinforce: Every time you are flooded with those same types of thoughts that don’t agree with God’s best for your life, simply reject and replace them with God’s Word. One way you can accelerate this process is to write down your newly created Biblical affirmations on note cards, laminate them and carry them with you for easy access. You can also post them in places that you see often like your office wall, your desk, your car, or even your bathroom mirror. This can feel tedious at first, but as you do so in the context of gratitude, faith, and expectancy God’s presence will infuse this process, making it become more and more natural.https://13a924605150065109854d210ad7fa19.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Visualize: God created you with an incredible imagination to see, sense, feel and create new realities in your mind before they ever come into the physical realm. It’s one of the primary ways we co-labor with the Holy Spirit to release His Kingdom in and through our lives. As you are replacing and reinforcing new thoughts based on God’s Word, imagine in your mind’s eye what it would look like, feel like to experience life within this new reality. This further stimulates your brain and accelerates your own ability to come into agreement with God’s best for your life.

Affirm: Create affirmation statements based on God’s Word that, along with your visualization exercises, continue to reinforce the truth of God’s Word inside your heart. Over time, your subconscious mind will become convinced of the new truth you’re aligning your heart with, rather than the old way you’ve been living.

You can absolutely live the abundant life Jesus promised if you master the process of renewing your mind including recognizing the lies of the enemy, intentionally replacing them with the truth of God’s Word, and reinforcing that truth through visualization and affirmations. As you do, you’ll be amazed at the double doors of favor that seems to instantaneously appear in your life simply because you came into agreement with God’s design for your life, rather than trying to make it happen all on your own.

Matt Tommey is an artist, author and mentor to thousands of Christian artists around the world. His passion is to help artists thrive spiritually, artistically and in the marketplace. You can find out more about Matt, his books and the mentoring work he does at www.MattTommeyMentoring.comnull

This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture’s context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God’s Word in relation to your life today.

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Posted on January 31, 2021 by anthonyhopkins33

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