Call Yourself

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It calls you on things.  Have you ever been called out on something?  Have you ever called yourself on something?  Have you ever struggled with thoughts or opinions, or attitudes, or discouragement, or criticism, or strivings all seeking more real estate in your mind?  How do you discern which mind path to allow yourself to go down?  Some paths are not for you.  How do you keep yourself from falling into sin?  Less than God’s best for you?  How do you discern?  How do you reject the thought paths that lead you into a ditch, and choose the path that God has for you?  God gives two simple steps: Unload, and Reload  The Word of God says “Cast all your cares on Him, because he cares for you.”  First dump your burdens on Him.  Don’t just talk to yourself, you could reinforce wrong thinking.  Don’t just talk to other people, we risk only gravitating to people who agree with us – not the counsel we need.  And before you know it, you’re caught up in the trap of complaining or slander.  God said first Unload, Cast all your cares on me, because I care for you.  And by the way, I’ve got the answers you need, and the peace to go with it.  When you cast your cares, wrap up the conversation with thanksgiving! He's got this, He promised, He did it before, He’ll do it again.  And then ask for wisdom, and His grace to direct your thinking.  He promised to give it.  That’s Unload.  Then Reload.  Think on these things,  Whatever is true.  Isn’t it interesting – What God tells us to think about starts with that.  Most of the time when we struggle in our thinking, its believing what isn’t even true?  We fear things that won’t happen, we form opinions on half the story, or half the facts, or what someone said that wasn’t fact at all, but opinion.  Whatever is true think on these things, don’t think about, or speak, or repeat anything that is not even true.   Whatever is good.  The first thing that’s good is God.  Think about Him, who He is, what He does, what He did, what He said, and what He promised.  Anything of those, you’re good!  Every other thing good comes from God, or is rooted in His love or His truth. God is good, He has only done good for you.  Think about the good things that He has done, all the times He’s rescued you from doing something stupid, and all the times He’s rescued you - you when you’ve been stupid - even choosing sin over Him.  Think about how He’s blessed you, and the blessings He has poured out on you by the truck load!  Whatever is noble (great, elevated, dignified, that which is above anything which could dishonor reputation.  Stately – examples of righteousness in the righteous    Whatever is pure, like the Word of God, His commands, His principles, His advice, like the fear of the Lord, it’s pure, enduring forever.   Whatever is lovely -  that Greek word literally means – friendly towards.  Think friendly thoughts toward others – like a friend would think, believing the best, overlooking the rest, confronting in love, but preferring them above yourself.  Whatever is admirable, worthy of admiration, like God, like the righteous, like the diligent, the kind, the serving and sacrificing… think of good sayings, and things well spoken of.  Whatever is excellent, think of anything of valor (protective, courageous) or excellent.    Unload your burden – bring your requests to Him, Then Reload your mind with His Word.  Start with PRISM or a PRISM Topic – the power of God’s Word on this subject, or any subject.  Get the mind of Christ, and the struggle of your old mind will become obsolete.  The thoughts that seek real estate in your mind can be replaced with the mind of Christ.   Praying that you will always unload, the burdens of the day, and reload the mind and thoughts of Christ.  So you spend that invaluable resource – thought space – on the wisdom and hope and joy of the LORD.
 
Love you all,
dad