Get Your Mind in the Right Place

To obtain victory in any area of your life you must search out the truth. If there is a lie in your mind or heart that you believe, it will bring you down a false path. One of the lies Americans believe is that they can't calm down or they have to be stressed to be productive. Our access to technology (including television, computers, multimedia, MP3 players, ipods, blackberries, etc.) and use of these things trains our brain toward mental scattering. Focusing on God requires the ability to focus our mind and push out distractions of all kinds. This is what mystics of old have tried to do by leaving society to quiet serene landscapes so they can seek God and know Him. They were searching for this peace even when technology was not a problem for them.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3) This Scripture outlines the truth of what God thinks about things. If our mind is steadfast and focused AND we trust in God, we will have peace permeating our entire being which includes our spirit, soul, and body. Peace is a force which is not easily upset or irritated, resting in God and knowing He will take care of what we need. This peace can flow in and from us even when we are busy or working.

Jesus said to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." In Romans, Paul says that "the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." To love God with your mind, we must discipline our mind with self-control and submit to the Holy Spirit. It is clear from the Bible that God thinks a certain way, it is not the way man thinks, so we must be open to what the Scripture says and what God is revealing to us at any given time. That is why we can never "know it all." There is too much knowledge in the universe for any one person to know everything. Stewarding our mind toward spiritual things will reap huge benefits for us and those around us. Jesus knows all of our thoughts and wants us to think like He does and know His ways. I want you to think victoriously in this area so laying out the truth of the matter is essential first.

Easily Distracted While Praying?

Recently, several people have mentioned to me how they are easily distracted during times of prayer or "tuning in" to God. As always, Jesus is our example. He spent many hours away seeking the Father and communing with Him. He also had an uncanny ability to "know" what God wanted Him to do in any given situation and was able to interact in a supernatural way with people, the physical world, and the spiritual world.

The Scripture talks about entering into His rest. In a practical sense, we must learn to dial down our soul and body when they try to take over the work our spirit is accomplishing while in communion with God. This communion or connection with God is desired 24/7. This is the great battle against our mind and soul. To stay as close as we can to His Spirit and be one with Him. In effect, in that communion we are like Jesus as we know what God's heart is for differing situations we may encounter.

For the next several days, I will add my thoughts to how this can be accomplished step by step. It is extremely difficult to maintain this type of communion if you are easily distracted and we must discipline ourselves toward focusing our spirit for victory in this arena.

Spiritual Despair and the Touch of God

Today I was reading about the story of Jesus and the woman He healed with the issue of blood (Mark 5:30) . Jesus was looking for the woman because He had "felt" virtue or power leave His body. This is an important lesson about spiritual sensitivity. Although there were lots of people around, Jesus was aware of the situation in the spirit around Him. He cared about what God was doing. He cared that someone was in pain, He cared that someone was rejected, even though He was busy, He cared.

One of the most powerful cries to God is one of despair or hopelessness but still believing in His power. Knowing He is the only option you have left. She said to herself, "If I can only touch Him, I will be healed." She had heard of the miracles, she had sought healing for years, she had paid the price. Finally spent and desperate, she risked public harassment and violence to get to Him. If you need a healing in any area of your life, pay attention to this woman's path to Jesus. Touch Him and He will touch you.

There are lots of people in pain around us everyday. Not everyone is looking for God to help. Some people wear their physical ailments or problems like a badge to garner sympathy. That is not the kind of desperation that will reach God's heart. It is when we know He is the Healer and will heal us, will help us, if we can only touch His heart and search for where He is. He reveals Himself to those who are looking for Him. If you search for Him, you will find Him if you search for Him with all of your heart.

Thankfulness Brings Satisfaction

"I will be satisfied with Your likeness," King David said. What does that mean to you? To me, it means looking for Jesus in every situation of your life. When life gets tough, are you looking for Him? When it is easy and fun, are you looking for Him?

It is easier said than done but it is worth the effort to walk through the narrow way that few have found. That is where you will find His treasures. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We will look for you wherever you are...whether hidden or in plain view. Show me your face, Lord.

We will be satisfied with who You are when we find You. You fulfill our deepest longings and deserve our highest adoration!

Contemplation

I have been thinking about how I interact with God the best. I know if I wait on the Lord, He will always speak to me or show me something. The process is best facilitated for me through the following steps: 1) Relaxing, 2) Focusing on God, and 3) Interacting with God.

To relax, you must be able to let the problems of life go, taking deep breaths and relaxing your muscles. Just chill! Focus on God in your inner being and let peace flow through you. Know that you can connect to the throne of God immediately through the blood of Christ. You are loved and accepted by Him~He really wants to talk to you!

Knowing these things helps you enter spiritual realms with ease of conscience. If you are having trouble doing these things, learn to forgive yourself. Learn to know you are forgiven in faith. Practice makes perfect! Waiting on the Lord is such an important function for Christians. It helps them physiologically and connects them with the Spirit of God in such a way that brings life!

I want to encourage you to go visit your daddy today, he has missed you since the last time He saw you.

Revelation, Prophetic, Words, Whatever you want to call it!

The terminology you want to use really doesn't matter. Prophecy, revelation, words, insight, mysteries, enigmas...It is all information you can't know by human means or you have no way of naturally knowing without the Holy Spirit revealing it to you. This "mystical" realm or spiritual realm can be accessed by those who have learned the ways of the Spirit or have a "gifting" in this area. This blog will explore the different types of revelation there are, definitions of such, biblical examples, and personal experiences of myself and others. Hopefully, this blog will encourage you as a means of learning and growing in your spiritual giftings and yearnings.

I must stress that to correctly interpret any revelation, you must remain intimate with God. Pride and unrest are the enemies of true godly interpretations. Knowing you "are not all that" is paramount. You serve the body of Christ and the world around you with your particular fragrance or flavor from the Lord. The Scripture is clear that prophets suffered greatly for the revelation they received from God. Humility...it's a good thing.

Revelation, Prophetic, Words, Whatever you want to call it!