I sincerely hope you found Days 1 and 2 of this week’s study quite empowering ~ contrasting the “views” from the old perspective and the new! What a powerful thing our minds can be, and that power can be used to glorify and praise the Lord or can be used as a tool of manipulation by Satan.
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” ~Isaiah 26:3
In the King James Version, it says “whose mind is stayed on Thee”. I want my mind to stay on Jesus; don’t you? I want the peace that comes with focusing on Him rather than my sorrows! Steadfast, “to lean upon”. To trust. Beth states toward the end of Day 1 that “the steadfast believer chooses to lay her hand on God’s Word and know that it’s the truth.” That statement alone struck every chord in me, as so many times I have been given the opportunity to choose to believe and trust, and yet I have chosen to fret and worry and let my emotions control our situation. Oh, how I desire to change that and make a conscious effort to choose Christ, both in the valleys and on the mountain tops!
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” ~II Corinthians 10:5
Again, I can completely identify with the reference to strongholds we have created for ourselves, as Beth discusses on Day 2. I have built those fortress walls around myself, foolishly thinking I was controlling circumstances, emotions, and the actions of others by literally boxing myself in from the world.
“…Inevitably,…these fortresses become prisons. At some point, we realize we no longer control them. They control us.” ~Beth
I feel as though that statement quite possibly sums up my entire adult life. My perfectionistic behaviors and my efforts to control every minute detail of our lives… all have equaled nothing more than a prison, for myself and for those around me. And in all the great pains taken to control, I have in all actuality lost control.
My goal for this upcoming week {and the rest of my life} ~ to “take captive every thought” and to “make it obedient to Christ“, not me! I need to surrender my pride and give every thought and every circumstance over to Him!
In reading through Day 3, did you find yourself convicted over any high places in your life? For me, the thoughts of the never-ending daily To-Do List of responsibilities and details to manage have become my high place. I would never intentionally choose those things over the Lord or my time with Him, but in essence that is what I have done anyway. My obsession with control has most definitely “outgrown my thoughts of God.”
I love the illustrations Beth shared on page 202 for the various stages of giving over our captivating thoughts! If you were convicted of a high place in your life, which of those five stages are you working toward today?
- Recognize the Captor.
- Stand in agreement with God.
- Tear down the lies.
- Put up the Truth.
- Bow thought to the Truth.
We can identify the high place or the strongholds in our lives, but true freedom from their captivity will only come once we have identified the lies involved in keeping us there. The lies have to be recognized and erased, with Truth put in their place! I have no control over today or tomorrow; there are constant reminders of that throughout Scripture. Yet I have believed the lie that it was possible to seek perfection in life and prevent bad things from coming my way. As I give that captivating thought over to God, I am replacing it with the Truth that God makes no mistakes, that He is ever present in my time of need, and that He knows both the needs of the sparrow and of me. I am a fool to think my wisdom and my power supersede that of an Almighty God!
As you concluded this week’s study, did you create some “Truth cards” to carry with you? Deciding we want to be free from these captivating thoughts does not mean they will just magically go away tomorrow! The believer in the illustrations was able to get her thoughts to bow to truth by believing, speaking, and applying Truth throughout her life!
I would love it if you would share some of your Truth cards here, as an encouragement to others! God says His Word will not return void ~ share what He’s doing in you, and He will make you a blessing to someone else!
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I am living proof of how the Lord can take a broken life and turn it into something beautiful. Although I am still very far from perfection, I am still a work of His art. My heart's prayer is that "Brokenness into Beauty" will be a source of inspiration and encouragement to all! There is hope, and there is healing on the horizon.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello there,
I found you through someone else’s blog. I just loved your story about you and your husband! We serve such a mighty, miracle working God don’t we!
I feel I can see your heart and love what I see. I became a follower. Thank you for sharing.
Have a beautiful day!
Thank you, Kristen! So glad you found us!
I appreciate your kinds words!