Battlefield of the Mind

"Complain and Remain or Praise and Raise"

- Joyce Meyer

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So, I been hanging out with Joyce for the past few days as she has been assisting me with the battlefield in my mind.  Whether you have ever taken the time to acknowledge it or not, there is a serious war going on in your head.  Just take a moment and think about it.  Every moment that passes creates a reaction, whether it is physical or mental, you're always reacting to something.  For example, right now, you received an e-mail, you're reading it... reaction.  When your stomach growls, you get something to eat... reaction.  Similarly, if someone makes a comment you don't like, you decide to ignore it or respond to it... reaction.

The battlefield of the mind is no different.  However, Joyce is teaching me to be proactive as oppose to reactive.  In other words, if I wake up (like most mornings) with one of the twins speaking to me about something a mile a minute before I even open my eyes, instead of snapping at them or setting myself up for a bad day, I'm learning to thank God for His grace to get me through the day.  I'm learning to thank Him for peace and joy as I enjoy the day.  Another example, if I start thinking negative thoughts about myself or my circumstances I stop them before they start getting me down and combat the thought with the Word and His promises - God hasn't given me the spirit of fear, my God is the God of more than enough, He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that I may ask or think.

At first, it was really hard and felt a bit crazy because it felt like a million voices in my head - mine and the negative ones.  But as I continued to practice this combat style I found myself getting stronger and quicker with the comebacks.  That doesn't mean that stupid thoughts don't still sneak in here and there trying to discourage me or upset me, but I have made up in my mind that I'm going to drive the devil crazy by being happy and at peace regardless of what is going on around me instead of being miserable, ungrateful and allowing him to drive me crazy.  And it feels good.

This is a 'short' inspirational thought but a powerful one if you're ready to grasp the concept.  The basics of what I (and Joyce) are saying is this... you can choose to be happy or sad, miserable or joyful, cantankerous or peaceful, loving or hateful... but it starts with your mind.  Put yourself in check when those negative and misleading thoughts arise.  Even if you don't know the Word or His promises that well, I'm sure you know how to speak positively.  If your mind tells you that you will always be alone, tell it "I don't receive that, God has someone out there looking for me."  If your mind tells you that you're unlovable, tell it "That's a lie because I know a GREAT man that died just for me."  If your mind tells you that you will never reach your goals, tell it "I'm here for a purpose and I will reach that purpose in due time."  

Take control of your mind.  Take control of your thoughts.  The bible says "For as a (wo)man thinks, so is (s)he..." Proverbs 23:7a.  So, the question is... what are you thinking?  Positive thoughts?  Negative thoughts?  Destructive thoughts?  Miserable thoughts?  Angry thoughts?  Bitter thoughts?  Loving thoughts?  Hateful thoughts?  Joyful thoughts?  Ambitious thoughts?  Hindering thoughts?  Fearful thoughts?  I think you get the point...

I STRONGLY suggest that you either invest in Joyce Meyer's DVD series or book entitled "Battlefield of the Mind".  It'll change your life.

Be Blessed in CONTROLLING YOUR THOUGHTS  

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

Follow the Leader

BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

Psalms 1:1 AMP

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We, as people, are often referred to as the 'human race'.  I know there must a number of different reasons and concepts surrounding that terminology but I personally believe we're called the human race because we are always running after something - striving towards and/or aiming for something.  In and of itself, that is not a bad thing.  It can be seen as ambition.  However, I believe issues arise when we are unable to differentiate what (or who) we should be running after.  

In a race, let's say the 400m, there is always a leader, some people in the middle and someone in last place.  As a participant in the race, the objective is to win the race.  However, if you have fallen behind due to fatigue, pain and/or lack of skill, there is a tendency to only see the person in front of you, who consequently may only be in 4th place.  What am I saying? There is nothing wrong with trying to catch up to the person in front of you to try and get ahead.  It becomes a problem when you become satisfied with being just 'one up' as oppose to striving for first place.

We are surrounded by many, many, many people in this 'human race' who are represented by our family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours.  And if we take a look around, or an inventory, or their individual 'age and stage of development' we'll notice that we may be ahead of some of them and we may be behind some of them.  Either way, it is not for us to judge.  What we should be doing is striving to do our best always, regardless of what those around us are doing.  In a real race, everyone is out to do better than the next therefore we should start adopting that mentality in life.  Not to be selfish or callous, but to reach our full potential regardless of what's going on around us.

So here's the revelation I have reached over the past couple years that has brought me to this 'Inspirational Thought for the Day'...  In life we have desires in our hearts - desires for a mate, desires for wealth, desires for purpose, desires for joy etc.  Whether we share these desires with others or not is irrelevant.  If they seem impossible or not is not the point.  The fact remains that we have desires in our hearts.  But we have a tendency to get frustrated and feel like failures when they are not fulfilled.  Then we get fatigued, hurt and stop striving towards our goal.  We settle and get complacent.  We mingle and rest with those who are at the same point as we are or behind because then we don't have to muster up the energy to "keep up with the Jones'" in fear of disappointment.  

What I am endorsing is not to be envy, jealousy or covetousness.  I'm actually suggesting wisdom.  Wisdom in the company you keep, wisdom in who you take advice from, wisdom in where you hang out and wisdom in how you spend your time and energy.  Let me break it down further... if you are single/dating/engaged and you want to get married, why are you taking advice regarding your relationship from someone who is also single/dating/engaged?  Reach towards your goal.  Talk to someone who is HAPPILY married, someone who has the ability to be objective, unbiased and honest with you.  Here's another example, if you are trying to better yourself (ie. lose weight, further your education, save your money etc.), why are you talking to some who has either tried to do those things and given up or, worse yet, is discouraging you from reaching your goal?

My point is this... anything you want out of life is attainable as long as you are following the RIGHT leader.  Marriage can be great, as long as you are following the right leader.  Being a mother can be great, as long as you're following the right leader.  Being single can be great, as long as you're following the right leader.  LIFE can be great, as long as you're following the right leader.  Use wisdom.  Just because it looks like a sheep and acts like a sheep doesn't mean it's a sheep... it could be a wolf in sheep's clothing.  In other words, if you are seeking advice from someone and what they are saying doesn't seem to line up with the Word of God and EVERYTHING POSITIVE He has waiting for you... RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN TOWARD YOUR GOAL.  Don't let that 'wolf' or person behind you drag you down or back into last place.  STAY FOCUSED. STAND ON HIS WORD. KEEP MOVING FORWARD. You'll get tired, you'll get confused sometimes but rest assured, when you cross the finish line and stand on that podium with a gold metal in your hand, you'll know you've made it... tried, tested and true.

Be Blessed in FINISHING FIRST

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

The Storm is OVER Now

It's over now. I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now.

No more cloudy days.  They're all gone, gone away.  

I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now

If i walk alone. I'm not on my own. I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now

No more cloudy day. The storm is over now. No more crying at night. The storm is over now.

No more sickness in my body. The storm is over now.

No more tears and sorrow. No more heartache and pain. No more suffering.

No more.  It's over now.

- The storm is Over Now (Kirk Franklin)

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I've known that Kirk Franklin song for YEARS.  I mean, I think it was one of the first songs that I held onto to help me get through my teen pregnancy, school and the other mess that was going on.  It helped me realize that the storm has to end sometime.  There is never a storm that goes on forever and ever.  It may last for a while.  It may even wreak havoc and create a season of clean up and restoration.  But it still can't last forever.

So as I've held onto that, it has been my closing statement for a lot of my trials and tribulations.  But as I am walking into a new season and faith in my life, I have come to realize something else.  Something more profound and insightful.  I thank God for His wisdom because now I can share it with you.

Over the past couple years, I have really been working on renewing my mind, controlling my emotions and getting my will under the obedience of God and I have been feeling like I'm on the home stretch.  Of course, I still have work to do.  We ALL do because we were not born without sin so we don't live without sin BUT we can live in the fullness of His grace for the sin and sins that we may commit. 

What am I saying?  I'm saying that I understand now, in a moment of clarity as I blasted this song through my house, that the storm was never external.  It was never my pregnancy, it was never my struggle through school, it was never my financial situation and it was never my relationships.  The storm was in me.

Read the song over again and really 'take in' what I just said.  As I listened to it this morning, my eyes opened wide when I felt His peace wash over me.  Like I had just been released from the torrential rains, destructive winds and unpredictable earthquakes (some high, some low on the Richter scale) inside of me.  The storm has always been IN me.  

The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.  And EVERYTHING he wants is IN you.  If he can steal your joy and peace, he can have health.  If he can kill your trust, he can have you marriage.  If he can destroy your finances, he can have your security.  He doesn't want or need ANY of your external stuff... he wants what's IN you to reflect on what's outside of you.

The storm has never been on the outside.  Everything I have been writing about in the past few months has brought me to this revelation.  The storm is not around you, it is IN you.  And because you have dominion over your mind, body and soul... COMMAND IT TO STOP.  Tell yourself 'enough is enough'.  I'm taking back my finances, I'm taking back my peace, I'm taking back my marriage, I'm taking back my health, I'm taking back my joy, I'm taking back my mind, I'm taking back God's Will for my life, I'm taking it ALL back.  THE STORM IS OVER NOW.

Ask God to help you RECOVER all that has been stolen.  Ask God to REVIVE all that has 'died' in you.  Ask God to RESTORE all that has been destroyed. He can do it.  He just needs YOU to agree with Him, have faith and believe that it will come to pass.  Don't let the devil convince you that it's hopeless.  Don't let the devil make you believe that it's irreversible.  Don't let the devil convince you that all is lost.  Because if you believe him, your storm will NEVER be over.  He'll just keep tearing you up, inside and out.

Envision the devil as a tornado, destroying everything in it's path... your potential, your dreams, your children, your finances, your peace, your joy, your health, your future.  Now envision yourself, brave as ever, knees shaking and everything, standing in his path with your hand up saying "STOP!  THIS STORM IS OVER NOW!!!"  Now watch the tornado spin around you, not touching you, over and over and again, trying to scare you, DON'T YOU MOVE, keep that hand up, close your eyes if you have to. Stand strong. Lean on His Word. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. You're more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. He died so that you might have life and have it more abundantly... SAY IT... DECLARE IT... DON'T MOVE... he's losing power, he's coming around again, but he's losing power. Here he comes again, he's trying to regain a hold on you, don't move. Your child is cussing you out. Don't move. Bills are coming in. Don't move. Money is TIGHT. Don't move. You feel alone. Don't move. Why did he cheat on me? Don't move. You feel sick. Don't move. You feel out of control. Don't move. You're scared. Don't move, STAND STRONG. Stretch your arms high and wide, look UP to your Deliverer and DON'T MOVE!!!!  

Now watch as he goes away, unable to move you, defeated, nothing but a faint breeze in your life now because the Word, which was made flesh [Jesus Christ], is in YOU.  

Believe it! Receive it! Declare it! THE STORM IS OVER NOW.  

Be Blessed in RECOVERING, REVIVING AND RESTORING ALL THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS LOST IN YOU 

The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. - John 10:10 GNT

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

You are GREAT

Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show
yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall
prosper and great] good shall come to you.

Job 22:21 AMP

I am now coming to understand that the Word of God has been lost in transalation. Not in the literal sense but in the spiritual sense: the Word is getting stuck between the Spiritual realm and physical realm. Adam, Eve and the devil single-handedly created a glitch in the Matrix which is the essence of understanding the depth and significance of Spiritual and physical. Thank God that Jesus was sent and died to be ressurrected and rectify that glitch.

We have conformed [molded] to the world and can not see the joy, peace and life from being transformed [changed, metamorphosed] into who God created us to be. We have always been Spirit beings renting a physical body, just like Jesus. But through the fall of man we continue to hide from God, behind sin, intead of boldly confessing our presence in the Lord. We are hiding behind the sin that is suppressing our POWER. We have deceived ourselves into thinking that we are less significant than birds when in fact we are formed in the PERFECT IMAGE of the Most high God.

Don't be initimidated by Spiritual vs. physical. Spiritual IS physical. Whatever is happening in our lives in one realm is a direct relfection of what's happening in the other realm (Pastor Creflo Dollar). In other words, if it is broken, lacking or missing in the physical realm that means that it is broken, lacking and missing in the spiritual. Therefore, if you fix it in the spiritual realm, you'll start to see it restoration in the physical realm.

The glitch isn't in religion, the world or the devil. The glitch is in your mind. When you come to come to understand and BELIEVE the power and GREATNESS that is within you, the sky is NOT the limit, it is only the beginning.

Be Blessed in DISCOVERING YOUR GREATNESS.

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. - Romans 12:2 AMP