Family what is it?

 

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary says family is a group of individuals living together under one head, coming from the same clan or race, and a people united by certain convictions as in a fellowship.

 

I want to call your attention to a few words in the above definition. 

 

Individuals are unique.  Each has its own personality, style, preferences, and beliefs.  God made us this way.  He loves variety.  Therefore, we are called to live at peace with everyone, as much as it depends on you (Romans 12:18).

 

One Head represents the One Authority we live under – God.  In God’s economy He planned for the husband to be head of the household, just as Jesus Christ is head of the church (Ephesians 5:25).  We are to live in submission to God, whether we are married or single. 

 

Same Clan – We are all part of the same human race.  We all have the same sinful nature.  Realizing we’re all in this life together will help us be more forgiving.  We are sinners by nature (Romans 3:23).  Even after we are born again in Christ, we may still make mistakes.  Let’s cut each other some slack by forgiving and being tender hearted towards one another.  After all God has forgiven you, how then can you withhold forgiveness to someone else?

 

United – We are united together in Christ Jesus.  Family is so important to God that He died for us to adopt us into His family (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus is the unifying entity that seals us together as a permanent family. 

 

With the above definition in mind, I’d like to say families are:

• A place where we are loved for who we are not what we do.  We are accepted and belong.
• A place of encouragement.  It may seem like the world is against us, but we know our family is for us.
• A place to share our troubles without being blamed for them.

 

Sadly, this ideal isn’t the case a lot of the time.  Whether your family meets your expectations or not when you are a believer in Jesus Christ you are automatically adopted into the ideal family.  What we have today with out physical family will one day be gone.  But our spiritual family will remain together in heaven.

 

Rather than wasting precious time complaining about the dysfunction we see in our earthly family, let’s try to find common ground and practice loving one another as the Lord loves us. 

 

What are you doing to promote a godly family?  Is your love without hypocrisy?  Are you kind and affectionate, giving preference to one another? (Romans 12:9-10).

 

Remember God has a plan and purpose for you being part of your family.  He is working in you to grow you to be more Christ-like.  In the family setting, conflicts and all, He is developing godly character in us. 

 Lord, thank you for placing us in earthly families.  Help us to grow Christ-like character until you welcome us in heaven.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Now I know for Certain

 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” Acts 12:11 NKJV 

God knows exactly what each of us needs to truly believe.  In Peter’s case, he was able to walk with Jesus Christ for 3 years and was given the power to heal people (Acts 9:33-35) and raise them from the dead (Acts 9:36-41).  He also received a vision regarding the definition of clean food to relieve his fears of associating with Gentiles and he was miraculously delivered from prison (Acts 12).  All these things lead Peter to conclude: “Now I know for certain”. 

 

It was the same for me.  The Lord forgave me of great sin, removed my bitter/resentful/angry heart and replaced it with a tender heart of love.  He answered even my smallest prayers.   He renewed my marriage and blessed us with a second son.  He has blessed me with many godly encouragers in my life and this writing ministry.  He speaks to me through His Word, by impressions and through repeated confirmations.  All these things have led me to say, like Peter, “Now I know for certain” the Lord is true, just and right and all He allows is used for His glory, even the bad things. 

 

What do you need in order to believe in Jesus? 

 

God already knows and is working on revealing it to you in His perfect timing.  If you struggle with some unanswered questions, ask God to help you trust Him.  The answer will come at just the right time.  Then you will be able to say “Now I know for certain”.

 Lord, bless those who are struggling today with answers to their prayers.  Continue your good work in them.  Draw them to a deeper understanding of you, so they may say “Now I know for certain”.  In Jesus’ name Amen.   

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more devotions, bible studies and a recommended book store, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

A Matter of Choice

 

Have you ever noticed how the routine hurts of life can lead us to think we don’t have any choice?  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  Life is all about choice.  We have more power to choose than we give our self credit for. 

 

We make choices all the time.  We choose to make a friend, get married, or have children.  We also choose to give love or give respect.  We choose to commit to a relationship and to put forth effort to maintain that relationship.  We even choose to believe God or not.

 Choice in Attitude

The easiest and most cost effective method of make-over is by adjusting your attitude.  Believe it or not you have a choice about how your attitude affects your life.  You can choose to let the circumstances of life cause negative thoughts to rule your mind.  Or you can choose to think on all you have to be thankful for.  Who is easier to be around someone who is always negative and complaining or someone who always thinks positively and gives people the benefit of doubt?  Philippians 2:5 says “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” He was humble and servant-hearted.  Are you?

 

Choice in Speech

Our words have a major impact on everyone around us.  We can use our words as weapons tearing down people with harsh, uncaring sayings.  We can use our words to build people up, encourage them with God’s Word.  A pleasant word at the right time is like honey for the soul (Proverbs 16:24). 

 

Choice in Marriage

You may have decided to get married.  Part of this commitment was to love and respect your spouse for the rest of your natural life.  This commitment requires work to maintain.  When wives choose to respect their husbands the man is more likely to respond by loving his wife.  Likewise when husbands choose to love their wives, the woman is more likely to respond by respecting her husband.  When both choose to give the other what they need, both are satisfied and God is honored by their obedience. Refer to Ephesians 5:22-33 for biblical instructions for husbands and wives.  Dr. Emerson Eggerichs’ Cracking the Communication Code, the Secret to Speaking Your Mate’s Language is a great resource for helping us understand each other better.

 

Choice in Parenting

Whether you decided to have children or are around children a lot, you have a choice to make.  Will you commit to being a godly influence? Will you raise your child in love and admonition of the Lord? Or will you continue to worry about yourself and leave your child to figure things out on their own?  If God’s given you children, you have a choice to be a good steward. You can either build them up and encourage them or neglect them.  Which is honoring to God?  Proverbs 22:6 NKJV says “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

 

Choice in Relationships

Regardless of type of relationship you’re in, you may choose to display God’s character or not.  You can choose to love others as God has loved you.  Or you can try manipulating others to get your needs met.  Where two people come together without expecting anything in return are good relationships.  These people extend grace, forgiveness and mercy.  They seek to understand before being understood.  They seek the other’s best interest over their own (Philippians 2:4).  As they put others first, they fulfill God’s command.  Blessings come when we are obedient.

 Choice in Salvation

God honors our decisions.  If our decision takes us down the path of eternal destruction, God will be crushed by your decision but He will allow you to continue in your own way.   Just like in every other area of life, you have a choice for salvation.  God’s plans and purpose are not to harm us but to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  We can choose to accept God’s way, Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for our sins and His resurrection which brings us life eternal or not.  He won’t force you to accept His truth but He surely hopes you will recognize the extent of His love for you and come to Him (Matthew 18:14).

 

In every aspect of life, we have a choice to follow God’s way or our own way.  Have you noticed when ever you choose your own way, things don’t turn out exactly how you planned?  That’s because you don’t know everything, like God does.  He knows what’s best for us and He longs to lead us down the path of righteousness. 

 Lord, you alone know what’s best for us.  Help us to turn to you with all our choices.  Equip us to make the choice to follow you in all areas of our life.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

God’s House of Prayer

“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7 NKJV 

God’s house is a house of prayer.  While in the house of prayer we will be filled with a joy that comes from knowing and experiencing God in a real and personal way.   

I remember a time while driving home from work, my mind was troubled by my desire to have a close, intimate, and fulfilling connection with my husband and my frustration over not being able to obtain it.  I was crying out to God in prayer.  I was telling Him how much I wanted that.  God heard my cry and came to me in that moment.  God began pouring His Spirit in me as if I were an empty glass that needed to be refilled.  Then, an amazing joy came bubbling out of me.  As I sat a red light, I began grinning and laughing because it became so clear.  The very thing I longed for, God had already given me.  The close, intimate and fulfilling connection I desired was within my grasp, but I was looking for it in wrong place.  The connection I yearned for was really for God, not my husband.  With this new perspective, I could finally see my longings were fulfilled in Jesus Christ!  Hallelujah!  What a difference the right perspective makes!  The pressure I placed on my marriage has now been removed.  My husband and I are free to love one another and connect as we were designed to.  Our relationship is intimate and fulfilling, and now it’s in proper balance.  God is so amazing to me!   

Prayer is the key.  Without prayer we don’t come to know God and experience His presence.  Without prayer our perspective remains incomplete.  With prayer, God is able to realign our perspective with His and we are able to see the truth!  With prayer comes a joy unspeakable!   

Have you experienced a joy unspeakable in prayer?  Have you come to God’s house of prayer lately? 

Lord thank you for making it possible for us to come to you in prayer.  Thank you for hearing our cry, coming to our aid, and filling us with joy unspeakable.  Thank you for aligning our perspective with yours and allowing us to see the truth.  In Jesus name Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

All Things Are Possible

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23 NKJV 

I believe most peoples have heard “all things are possible to him who believes” quoted in various ways.  But have you ever stopped to check out the context in which it was said?  

Mark 9:14:-29 NKJV is the account where the disciples couldn’t heal a certain boy and Jesus rebukes them as a faithless generation.  The boy’s father desperate to help his son, comes to Jesus asking, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

How does Jesus respond?  Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”  I love this about Jesus.  He got right to the point, the reason the boy wasn’t healed was because of unbelief.  Yet, Jesus is gentle to the man because He knows how hard it must have been to watch the son being tormented.  The rest of the passage is about Jesus healing the boy and the disciples asking why they couldn’t heal the boy.   

Getting back to the opening verse, Jesus teaches us “all things are possible” if we believe.  Does it say some things are possible?  No.  Does it say only one thing is possible?  No.  He said “all things are possible to him who believes”.  All in its adjective form is an inclusive word, it literally means any and everything you can think of and even the stuff you haven’t thought of yet.    

If Jesus said all things are possible, then it means ALL things are possible to him who believes, doesn’t it?  Yes did does.  It means you can be freed from the power of sin, you can overcome an addiction, your heart can be made new, your marriage can be restored, your faith can increase and many more things are possible to him who believes.  

What are you choosing not to believe today?   If you find yourself holding on to unbelief, do what the father did in our story today.  Mark 9:24 NKJV says the father cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”  You can be assured that’s a prayer Jesus will answer.   

In Matthew’s (17:19-21) account of the same story, Jesus said to them, “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”  As God’s word teaches, I encourage you to believe nothing will be impossible for you.   

Lord Jesus, thank you for your clear teaching all things are possible to those who believe.  As the father cried out, help our unbelief. In Your name, Jesus, we pray Amen.   

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Jesus is Heir of All Things

 

 

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV 

Jesus Christ is heir of all things, which is to stay all things belong to Him.  Think about when you become an heir of property, you become responsible for that asset.  All decisions as to what to do with it become yours, as heir and rightful owner.  There is no question of who owns it therefore no one can just walk up and snatch it away from you, because you are the heir.  If Jesus is heir of all things, this means He’s heir of you and me.  I find that wonderful news.  Look at what John 10:29 NKJV says: “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”  Once the heir has been chosen by God, nothing can change who receives the inheritance. 

In Luke 20 Jesus told a parable about the vineyard owner, who hired some people to tend the vineyard for him.  When harvest time came the owner sent his servants to collect his portion of the harvest.  Yet, the servants working the vineyard had begun to think of the vineyard as their own and killed the servants.  After several attempts to collect the harvest the owner’s servants were slaughtered each time.  The owner decides to send his son thinking he would be respected.  Look at what Luke 20:13-15 NKJV says: “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?”  

People may try to take possession of what is not theirs and it may appear in the short term they succeeded.  However, in the end they shall receive their reward.  God is a fair and just God who will hold each person accountable.  Think about who the heir of you is. 

Are you like the vinedressers, trying to take your own life as an inheritance unto yourself?  Remember, we are not our own.  We were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). 

Father God above, You alone are our heir.  We belong to You through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to purchase our freedom from sin.  Help us to remember we are Yours. In Jesus name, Amen. 

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Be Refreshed

I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. Philemon 1:4-7 NKJV 

Today’s verse is so invigorating to me, like stepping into a nice warm bubble bath and letting all the cares of the world melt away in the bubbles. Once I’ve had a good soak in God’s Word, I feel like I can tackle any problem that comes my way.  I am renewed, recharged and equipped for life.  Imagine if these verses were written specifically to you.  How might you respond?   God’s Word is such a comfort to me and my hope is that you may find it so too.  

In the opening verse, Paul mentions how he thanks God and mentions Philemon in his prayers.  I don’t know about you, but something twinkles inside me, when I know others are thanking God and praying for me.  What an honor that someone would spend time with God praying on my behalf.   Paul goes on about how he has heard about Philemon’s love and faith.  Have you heard of other’s love and faith?  Usually to hear about something, means someone has to talk about it.  If you haven’t heard of other’s love and faith, then perhaps it’s time to start talking about the love and faith you see around you.   

Verse 6 says “that the sharing of your faith may become effective…”  Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do, share our faith?  I heard/read a devotion recently that talked about the transformation that takes place when you become a Christian and how that same transformation causes us to speak out about our faith, to share it with others because it is really good news.  If it’s really such great news, why are we not telling everyone we know?  

Because of the desire God gave me to encourage others with His Word the last verse is precious to me: “because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”  It is my sincerest prayer that through these devotions, you may be refreshed too.  

Lord, thank You for Your Word that refreshed and renews our thinking.  Thank You for being available to us through prayer.  Give us a desire to please You by reading Your Word daily.  Enable us to live out what we learn from Your Word.  In Jesus name.  Amen. 

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Titus 3:9-11 NKJV

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. Titus 3:9-11 NKJV 

There is a time to retreat.  The Bible teaches we are not to engage is foolish disputes.  That tells me I am to over look things that would trigger a foolish dispute.  Some examples might be:

 

·         Perhaps someone is putting the dishes away in the wrong spot, rather than correct them and cause contention, I am to let it go. 

 

·         Someone is working on a project and you see there is a better way to do it.  You want to inform them to do it your way.  Rather than impress your way on them, you hold your tongue and allow them to finish the project on their own.

 

There is a time to reject someone who obviously isn’t willing to follow God’s commands.  If after you’ve attempted to bring them back to the Lord through godly admonishment and they still refuse to turn from their ways, we are called to “release” them.  Stop going after them.  Let them run their own course, keeping them prayer and in time, they may see the error of their way. 

 

In 1 Corinthians 5:13 NKJV Paul admonishes the church to “put away from yourselves the evil person.” He was speaking of a man in the church who was in obvious sin.  I think this verse goes well with today’s scripture.  We are to reject the decisive man, who chooses to walk contrary to the Lord.  Don’t linger and potentially enter into to foolish discussions.  Separate your self from such a one, for bad company corrupts good character.  

Lord, thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit who leads us into all truth.  Enable us to seek more of You and obey Your commands out of a heart of love, longing to please You. Help us know when to retreat rather than go after someone for Your sake.  Lead us day by day. In Jesus name, Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Remember

  

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2 NKJV  

 

Fellowship is key to our obedient walk with Christ.  We need others in our lives, that be a “Paul” to us.  Look at what Paul writes in Titus.  He’s explaining we need to remind each other certain things, like obeying authorities and being ready for good work.  He also reminds us to love our neighbor and gives examples such as speak evil of no one, be peaceable, gentle and show humility to everyone.  All of these are very good advice to follow.     

Reading further into Titus 3, Paul reminds us what kind of people we also were at one time.  “3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.”  He doesn’t do it to shame us, but he remind us all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  No one is exempt from sin’s presence.  We are all affected by it.  This should help us stay humble towards one another.   

I love how scripture is so complete.  If we just stopped there, we’d be a mess.  We’d see 1) we need to obey and 2) we are sinners.  Not much hope in the first couple verses to motivate us towards obedient behavior, is there?   

At the right time, the rest of the verses come into play.  “4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  Can you imaging trying to carry out all of that good behavior in our own strength?  How exhausting!  In verse 4-7, Paul reminds us yet again, it’s not by our power that we can do these things.  It’s all because Christ sacrificed Himself, paid for our sins, set us free from the bondage of sin, and in rising from the dead, He gave us new life and enabled us to live out a godly life by giving us His Spirit to live in us.  All of this He did, not because we did anything to deserve it, but because of His mercy and grace!  This is what’s motivating!   

Let’s talk about some examples.   

How would you feel if you’d forgotten your lunch at home and had no money to buy lunch at school or work?  Then a friend or co-worker notices you have nothing to eat and buys you lunch without even asking you, and delivers to you.  How would you feel?   

Let’s say you have a flat tire and you’re stranded on the side of the road.  You don’t know the first thing about changing a flat tire and you don’t belong to a convenient road side assistance program.  Just then a nice man stops, changes the tire for you and gets you back on the road.  How would you feel?  

What are your thoughts?  Would you have felt grateful in either of these situations?  I would.  These examples can not even come close to comparing to the wonderfulness of Christ’s help.  Jesus did more than change a flat tire or buy you food for a day.  He gave you a new life.  He purchased your ticket to heaven, your eternal home.  He picked you and I up out of the garbage, washed us off and set us, as jewels in His crown, into a new godly life! 

In conclusion, Paul goes on to say “8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”  In order words, remind each other of all we have to be grateful for.  Do not let yourself or those around you slip into the routine of life and therefore be tempted to forget all that Christ has done.   Remembering these things will motivate us to carry on the good works God has called us to.   Fellowship with other believers can help us keep our focus on the Lord and what He’s done for us.  Where are you today?  Are you connected in a small group?  Join one today. 

Lord, thank You for Your Word that straightens us out and shows us all we have to be grateful for.  Bring godly people into our lives to be like Paul, reminding us of all You have done for us. Thank You, Jesus for Your mercy and grace.  In Your name, Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Thought Life

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.  Titus 1:15 NKJV 

How important are the thoughts we allow in our mind?  According to God’s Word, they are very important.  When we allow thoughts to linger or be dwelled on, they turn into feelings.  Once feelings have kicked it, our emotions try to convince us into taking action.  It’s just how we were made.  

Romans 12:2 NKJV says “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  The mind plays a critical role in transforming us.  The mind must be renewed.  This indicates the mind needs to be renewed.  There is something dark in our mind which is not good, therefore, it needs to be renewed.   

Every moment since becoming a born again believer, I’ve noticed a conflict in my mind between what my mind wants to think about and what the Bible tells us we should think about.  Notice today’s verse.  It says “to the pure all things are pure”.  Do you see all things as pure?  If not, it’s an indication our thought life isn’t what it’s supposed to be.     

Philippians 4:8 NKJV says “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”  These are want we should focus on and keep bringing our mind back to.  Only when we maintain our focus on these things, will we be able to say “to the pure all things are pure”.  Also remember who is all these things?  There is only one person – Jesus Christ.  When we dwell on the true, noble, just, pure, etc, we are dwelling on Christ Himself.   

To have this kind of focus takes work.  This isn’t as easy as waking up one morning and saying “Okay, self, you’re going to think only good thoughts today.”  Oh no, it takes a conscience awareness of what we are thinking about.  We have to create a new standard for what is acceptable in our thoughts.  If we judge our thoughts against Philippians 4:8 and find our thoughts don’t agree, then we are to cast it out of our mind.   

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV says “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”  We have God’s might to help us bring every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.  Our weapons to fight this mental battle are not limited to our human strength.  Instead they are mighty spiritual weapons able to defeat our enemy.   

Let’s recap.  We’ve learned what we think about is important and is an indicator of our spiritual condition.  We’ve discussed what we should be thinking about and we’ve discovered we’ve got God’s might to help us fight the mental battle and bring our thoughts into obedience.   

How are your thoughts today?  Did you check them against Philippians 4:8?  It’s not too late.  Simply ask God for help bringing your thoughts into submission.   

Lord God Almighty, thank you for your word that reveals the areas we fall short.  Thank you for leading us on the path of life.  Thank you for purifying us from all unrighteousness and giving us the strength we need to fight the mental battle and align our thoughts with you.  In Jesus name Amen.  

© Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.