{"id":12246,"date":"2013-06-01T01:01:13","date_gmt":"2013-06-01T05:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=12246"},"modified":"2013-06-01T01:25:10","modified_gmt":"2013-06-01T05:25:10","slug":"taking-our-thoughts-captive-to-obey-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/06\/01\/taking-our-thoughts-captive-to-obey-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Our Thoughts Captive to Obey Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am not sure if you might be like me…at times it\u00a0can seem to be\u00a0so difficult to keep thinking the TRUTH<\/span> of what God says about myself.\u00a0 Do you struggle with this too?\u00a0 But, somehow by God’s grace, we muster up the fortitude and remind ourselves,<\/p>\n

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
\nand we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ<\/em>.
\n2 Corinthians 10:5<\/strong><\/p>\n

I like to tell these thoughts, “I do not believe that!\u00a0 You <ugly thought> must be obedient to Jesus Christ.\u00a0 God\u2019s Word says ______ .”\u00a0 (And then I speak or read the TRUTH<\/span> of God\u2019s Word.)<\/p>\n

We are in charge of what we think!\u00a0 We control the thoughts that we allow to live in our hearts!\u00a0\u00a0We determine to put the TRUTH<\/span> into our hearts and minds!\u00a0 \u00a0That is exactly what this verse reminds us to do!<\/p>\n

Have you ever thought or said any of the following to yourself?<\/p>\n

“I look _____ <fill in the blank> \u2026 no one could ever love me like this.”
\nThe TRUTH<\/span> is: I am beautiful in His sight!<\/p>\n

I am fearfully and wonderfully made and beautiful in the eyes of the Lord<\/span>.
\nPsalms 139:14<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I am not important…I have no value to anyone.”
\nThe TRUTH<\/span> is: I have great worth to God!<\/p>\n

Aren\u2019t five sparrows sold for two pennies?\u00a0 Yet not one of them is forgotten
\nin God\u2019s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted.
\nDon\u2019t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows<\/span>!
\nLuke 12:7<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I can never forgive ____ for what they\u2019ve done! They don\u2019t deserve it.”
\nThe TRUTH<\/span> is: I have been forgiven of so much!\u00a0 Forgiveness has nothing to do with what is \u2018deserved;\u2019 it is all about trust and obedience to God.<\/p>\n

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
\nAnd do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
\nFor if you forgive others for their transgressions<\/span>, your heavenly Father
\nwill also forgive you.\u00a0 But if you do not forgive others,
\nthen your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
\nMatthew 6:12, 14, 15<\/strong><\/p>\n

We all have occasional thoughts that are lies.\u00a0 Sometimes they are long-buried\u00a0words that others have spoken to us in our past.\u00a0 Sometimes they are strongholds that are in our hearts that we have not dealt with.\u00a0 Sometimes they are vicious deceptions\u00a0that the enemy of our souls speaks to us.\u00a0 It really isn\u2019t too important where the lies\/thoughts come from.\u00a0 What we do when we think those lies\/thoughts is vitally important!\u00a0 We could dwell on those lies\/thoughts, harboring them in our hearts and allowing them to fester and grow.\u00a0 NOT<\/strong> a good idea<\/em>!\u00a0 Or instead we could recognize<\/span> those lies\/thoughts for what they are, and choose to refute<\/span> the lie by replacing<\/span> it with the truth of God\u2019s Word, and have peace and joy.\u00a0 A REALLY<\/strong> good idea<\/em>!<\/p>\n

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
\nwhatever is just, whatever is pure,
\nwhatever is lovely, whatever is commendable,
\nif there is any excellence,
\nif there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
\nWhat you have learned and received and heard and seen in me\u2014
\npractice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
\nPhilippians 4:8 and 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is one way to replace those lies\/thoughts, “…think about these things.”\u00a0 These are the things that God wants us to fix our minds on!\u00a0 Just look at them: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, of any excellence or worthy of praise…and when we do…we will have God\u2019s peace.\u00a0 Just what we so desire, yes?\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n

Are there lies in your heart that you believe about yourself?\u00a0 Take a moment…write down two lies on a piece of paper.\u00a0 Now, bring them to the Light\u2014the light of God\u2019s Word.\u00a0 Find the Truth<\/span> in the Scriptures about who He says you are.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you are not quite sure how to go about this…try this:\u00a0 google ‘God says I am worthy’<\/a>\u00a0 Now, try it putting into the Google search engine a phrase that you desire to find what God’s Word says is the TRUTH<\/span>.\u00a0 And, if you need help, come back here and let\u2019s work together on it, ok?\u00a0 I would love to work through this with you!\u00a0 \u00a0\u2665\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Praying for each of you!\u00a0 \u2665\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2665\u00a0<\/span> coleen<\/p>\n