A Prisoner of Thoughts

I think often of a statement that was made to me during a conversation about a year ago; at which time someone looked at me and said these words, "I will never change the way that I think!" My first reaction was one of surprise, because who wants to live a life of no change. I mean, if there is no change in thinking, how can it bring about a change in being? After a while, it dawned on me that that statement was one of the saddest statements I had ever heard! I immediately though of a prison cell. Only a prison cell would yield such a statement. A place of no return; of no hope; of no promises! This person had been sentenced to life, by one statement! "I will never...!" This person is still captive of negativity and thoughts of their past. A prisoner of lies, that the enemy has surrounded with prison bars! 

Although God gave us the ability to think; He also gave our minds the ability to receive thoughts. Good AND bad! However, He also gave us plenty of scriptures that cover what we should do with those thoughts in the event that they are not of Him. Unfortunately, the enemy does most of his dirty work at the level of the thought process. Our thoughts can be persuaded and influenced by the enemy to bring plenty of pain and confusion! It can take you from a place of laughter to a place of depression; It can take you from a place of winning to a place of losing; It can take you from a place of fulfilling your purpose to becoming a prison of your past! 

Ever been plagued by thoughts of your past? Where the thoughts of what used to be, what used to happen, what didn't happen, what should've happened, and what could've happened, all rush in like a flood and seem to drown out everything in you that wants to succeed? When thoughts of your past bogart into your mind like a thief, with no warning? and no respecter of scriptures such as Romans 12:2 that tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, OR Philippians 4:8 that tells us to think of true, noble, pure, lovely, and admirable things? Thoughts that seem to tear down
2 Corinthians 10:5, that tells us to take captive every single thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God!  Have you been there? We don't even see them coming; the negative thoughts just lets themselves in...and we find ourselves locked in battle!  

I don't know who I'm writing about, other than myself, but I'm supposed to tell you that those thoughts of your past are the enemy's last resort to try and keep you on the wrong side of your purpose! You keep waiting for your past to bid you farewell; but the thoughts of your past will never bid you farewell because they want to keep your mind from changing locations! Listen, the enemy knows that you're getting close to your season, ...I'm sure he can feel the atmosphere around you changing! Problem is...he's not in control of your atmosphere! God is!  I'm sure that he can feel the change in the ground that you are standing upon...how it used to be shaky, but now it's solid! but he can't do anything about that! He's not in control of the ground in which you stand...God is! 
Let the devil know that he is too late! Let him know that when Jesus died on the Cross, your past sins and mistakes were put to death with Him! And that on the 3rd day He got up and sealed your future! 

Final thoughts: 
We have got to start reminding the enemy of his fate! Every time he attacks our thoughts, we need to remind him of his future! There is nothing that can slow up our future like, holding on to our past! We can't enjoy the change that is taking place in our atmosphere because we are buying into Satan's lies about who we are and where we are going! We have got to stop giving life to thoughts that God is trying to put to death! The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy...and he's starting with the minds of the saints! We need to pray every scripture that we can on that which comes against our right thinking!

Satan can only speak to your past! He has no authority over your future! That is God's territory! He only knows about your past, that's why he uses it against you! He lacks in fresh new material! It's the same song that he plays in hopes to discourage us away from our faith walk! Even if there is truth to what he throws at you; you keep reminding him of your future that is secured by God's plan for your life...and then remind him of his future and God's plan for him!

Are You Ready For the Front Line?

2 Peter 1-3, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Psalm 144:1, Blessed be the Lord, my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.

In the spirit of Resurrection Sunday I am reminded of a Savior who came and conquered sin and death completely so that you and I could live victorious lives that bring him glory.

Victorious means achieving victory by way of winning a battle or a struggle, so what I had to ask myself is this: Am I winning the battles that I am faced with? Have I been victorious in the struggles that I face daily? If God calls me to the front lines, am I prepared? Am I ready?

We carry our Bibles, we wear our nice crosses, we have all kinds of visual keepsakes that Pastors have passed  out during sermons so that we can be reminded of who we are. I have a huge nail as a reminder of the fact that Jesus died for my sins; I have a bag of rocks to remind me that I can slay, not one giant; but many giants. I have blessed oil and I have a stick that represents the problems that I need to throw down so that I can trust Jesus. I have books and I have bible apps...all for the intention of helping me fight the good fight! Am I prepared if Jesus calls me to the front line?

In this race, I have been instructed in Ephesians 6:13 to put on the whole armor of God, but why is that? It is because I can be summoned to battle at any time. I know what you're thinking! God will fight our battles right? Well that is true. However, there is something that we must do. There is a part that I must play. God has my back defensively, but I have been called to an offensive battle, therefore I must prepare to fight.  I have my armor but am I ready to use it? Whenever you suit up for any type of battle, you better be ready to fight. A person whose suited for battle and cannot fight is ineffective. 

Let's check to be sure that we are ready!

Have we checked to see that we have on each piece of armor that we were instructed to have on. (the pieces aren't free. We must do something to earn those pieces) For example: I cannot have my feet shod with the Gospel if I never open my Bible. I cannot put on a breastplate of righteousness if I don't care about the type of lifestyle I'm living. Do you have all of your pieces?

Have we received clear battle instructions? Are we listening for God's orders when trying to do battle? 

Are you well rested? Or has God stamped you with a sticker that says "Marked Drowsiness can occur?" "Wake up, oh thou that sleepeth"  God can't count on you in battle if your are not alert and energized. 

How is your eyesight? Are your eyes on God, so he can help you with the blind spots and attacks from behind? Satan doesn't fight fair! And he knows when you are partially suited. He knows when you have weapons that you don't know how to use! What good is a weapon in your possession right now? How can you take something by force if you have no strength or power?

What if God calls you to the front line?

We must do better at preparing to do battle. We make a lot of claims that we can't back up and Satan will always be there to remind you of your empty words and your careless attack attempts.
Did you really mean it when you said that you wanted to "get your stuff back" from the Enemy??? What is your strategy? Do you have a reputation for winning battles? How would Satan describe your reputation? How would he describe your battle plans? Would he say that you're a tough cookie? Or would he describe you as being inconsistent and never totally and fully dressed in your armor?  Will he laugh at your failure to trust in your own God?

If God put you on the front line could you draw your weapon when required to?  The front line requires confidence...it requires fearless-ness...Wisdom, and commitment...Do you have it?

Are you ready to fight! ...WHEN you are called to the front line?

God Is an On Purpose God!

Matthew 27:17-18 (NIV)

So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”For he knew that it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.     

Acts 2:23 (NIV)

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

As I wrote this blog, I thought about the upcoming Passion Week, which is only a couple of weeks away.  This is the week that the World shares as a reminder of the Biblical events that took place from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday.  A time when Believers identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  However, today I want to talk about a different identity that I have, that is not as prestigious as the one that I have in Christ.  It is an identity that reminds me of just how much I am in need of a Savior. It is an identity that likens me to a certain man that the Scriptures call Barabbas. 

About a year ago I was reading in the book of Matthew and came across scripture that found Jesus standing before a Governor and an angry mob, who had been coaxed and given the responsibility of choosing whether or not he would live or be put to death.  The Bible says that the people were given a choice between releasing Jesus or a prisoner by the name of Barabbas, who had been found guilty of many crimes that were deserving of death. (Hold on to that point).  After being persuaded by officials, the crowd shouted,  "give us Barabbas!" This following their earlier praise of him being the Son of David, and a gift from God. Is that what I do? Praise him as Savior one minute and then choose the world the next minute? In choosing Barabbas they were choosing (they thought), to set the prisoner free; leaving Jesus to be put to death.  My eyes kept going back verse 18 where it said that they had made their decision out of "self-interest". Is that what I do every time I choose sin over the Savior? 

As I tried to read further, I was reminded of the struggles and strongholds that I had battled and sometimes still battle.  Sins that I had committed, out of "self-interest" as a result of my silent screams of, "give me Barabbas!"  ..."Oh my God", I thought. ..."Where did that come from?" Am I one of those people in the crowd who chose the Guilty over the Innocent? Who chose Wrong over Right? Who chose Death over Life?

Every time I refused to forgive... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

Every time I chose a relationship over my God... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

Every time that I looked to myself and my own will... I was saying, "give me Barabbas"

I now realize that this scene was no accident! It had to be written into Scripture; it's characters, including the angry mob, all necessary for this story to be told. There had to be a Barabbas because one day there would be a "me".  It all makes sense now. The Governor, the people, the prisoner, deserving death, but is pardoned; the decision. It is clear to me that "Barabbas is me!" Barabbas represents that "self serving" part of me; that "self fulfilling" part of me; that part of me that would save my own life, as well as my own self-interest over righteousness!

Jesus allowed himself to be charged, although he was guilt free! He allowed Barabbas to be pardoned, because when he looked at Barabbas, he saw you, and he saw me!  He knew that he was about to bear the weight of sin...Not just Barabbas' sins, but our sins as well.  Do you see now? That crowd didn't set Barabbas free! Jesus set Barabbas free! They didn't have the power to set any man free! There would have been no point in Barabbas being put to death; because he would've had NO Redeeming Power on the Cross!

Like me, and like Barabbas; you have been guilty of many things in your past. Some may be guilty of something right now, but the same Grace that saw Barabbas, sees you! 

YES, you are guilty of all charges; YES, I am guilty of all charges! ...BUT THE CROSS!

YES Barabbas deserved death; YES we deserve death! 

...BUT THE CROSS!

Jesus knew that the majority preferred Barabbas over him THEN...and he knows that the majority prefers Barabbas over him NOW!  ...BUT THE CROSS!

It was God's deliberate plan that found Jesus at the mercy of the people. It was God's deliberate plan that pardoned Barabbas! It was God's deliberate plan that sent Jesus to Calvary! We no longer have to walk in defeat!  We no longer have to worry about the death penalty!  Because we are no longer guilty unto death. We are now a part of a redeemed crowd...And we have a new shout!! that says, "GIVE US JESUS!"  We no longer look to crucify him, but to Glorify Him!  NOW SOMEBODY SHOUT "GIVE ME JESUS!"

To Whom Have I Surrendered?

To Whom Have You Surrendered?

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from which cometh my help; my help cometh from the Lord...Psalm 121


Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in Every place.  ...2 Corinthians 14

During earlier war times, when a group of soldiers would come to the conclusion that they were unable to gain victory over their opponents, a white flag would be waved to signify that they were giving up the battle; throwing in the towel. It was a moment that signified that their strength and their hope had been exhausted. The scene was not a good one. The enemy had left some wounded....many dead. Hope had been lost. It was at that moment when  a once thriving company of soldiers would declare their "surrender".

To surrender: 

To surrender oneself to the power or authority of another; 

To yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand

My question for you today is, to whom have you surrendered?

Most of us have spent most of our lives surrendering to something or to someone. Mostly because we were tired of fighting or dealing with whatever or whoever we were dealing with. The feeling that there is no hope of a victory on the horizon has given us all of the reasons that we have needed to give up or throw in the towel. We have waved many white flags signifying that we simply are done with what doesn't seem to be working on our behalf.

 We have surrendered our hopes to hopelessness, We have surrendered our dreams to a mere thought. We have surrendered our joy to a life of discontentment, and we are beginning to see white flag after white flag, of those who are on the verge of surrendering their faith to faithlessness and disbelief.

Somebody has a white flag in their hand and they're saying, "I'm  going to give up the fight! I will never win!" 
...surrendering to defeat!
Somebody has a white flag in their hand and they are saying, "God didn't do it for me in last year and he won't do it for me this year either!" ....surrendering to faithless-nes! 
Somebody is already waving their flag, because life doesn't seem to be worth living! ...surrendering to hopeless-ness!

But, if you will just hear me out for just one moment; Your problem is not in your "surrendering", it is in whom or what you are surrendering to! We still have that old war mentality that tells us that we must give in to the enemy when in battle! That we must surrender to things that we have no strength or power to gain victory over! That we must surrender to Goliath! 

But I hear God saying, YOU HAVE GOT TO change position! You are facing the wrong direction! You are too busy waving your flag of surrender at the enemy, but I need you to be waving your flag of surrender at ME!! The enemy will take your surrender and defeat you with it, but I will take your surrender and give you power to have victory!!
Change your position!! You need to be waving your flag at ME! I am the God of restoration! I am the God of hope! I am the God of Victory! TO WHOM ARE YOU SURRENDERING? To whom are you surrendering your children to? To whom are you surrendering you marriage to? To whom are you surrendering your finances to?

I need you to wave those flags of surrender! And watch God begin to do a new thing in your life! 

 Those flags of your past...Begin to wave them, and watch God begin to speak power to your future.  Wave those flags of independence, indicating to God that, this year, that "I can't do this on my own; I want you walking beside me!" 

Wave those flags of unhealthy habits. Let God know that this year, you are moving out of the way! Make a bold declaration that you only want what God has for you! 
Don't allow your battle wounds and fear to stop you from waving your  flag of surrender to the Lord! 
You may have limped into 2017, but God is still here! there's "protection" in your surrender!  
 ...2016 may have claimed must of your strength, but go ahead and wave that flag! God says that I am offering you power for your surrender!

God gave me this word because we have been waving our flags of surrender in the wrong direction! Surrendering to things that cannot see us through! Surrendering to that which can not sustain us! He's saying that we have got to change positions so that we can see Him! 

For most of us we won't see change until we change our positions with God! 

Satan thought that he had blacked your eye beyond the ability to see God, but if you still got one good eye left in 2017, and you can lift it to the hills from which cometh your help...you will find that your help ....STILL comes from the Lord!  

 Now start waving those flags and find power and refuge as you surrender to the God of your Salvation!

2 Corinthians 12:9