Sound Mind Set

Today, we will focus on three verses on parenting from The Message Bible. A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them. (Proverbs 13:24 MSG) God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children. (Proverbs 20:7 MSG) Discipline your children; you’ll be glad you did—they’ll turn out delightful to live with. (Proverbs 29:17 MSG) Because God was the first Parent, the Bible is clear that discipline is a natural and necessary part of the process. It is important to remember that discipline is not punishment. It is guiding, building into and yes, sometimes correcting them. God says He disciplines us because He loves us. If He did not care, He would not care if we changed either. Regardless of how you were raised, you can look to God to teach you how correct and balanced discipline can benefit both you and your children in a spirit of love and grace. God disciplines us because He loves us. You are His delight and He desires your relationship with Him to become more loyal and more honest each day. You can reflect that same deliberate guiding love to your children as You receive from God. Pray: “Thank You, Father, for discipline and correction. Help me when I get it wrong and help me to see when I get it right. Guide me, balance me, in Your love and grace. As above, so below, Amen.”

Psalm 145:3-7 NLT Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. Every belief system is always just one generation from extinction. That is exactly why over and over we see in God’s Word, how He wants us, first, to be a witness to our children. He wants us to show our kids through our words and actions that He is real and wants a relationship with us. Right now, in your life, what is God doing that your kids need to hear about from your heart? Let’s take the psalmist’s prayer and personalize the words to God from you: Great are You, Lord! You are most worthy of praise! No one can measure Your greatness. I will tell my children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on my tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. I will share the story of your wonderful goodness; I will sing with joy about your righteousness. Declaring these words is humbling. Telling our children what God is doing in us is powerful. Making Him real to them is a privilege. Allowing them to see Him through your life is exactly what God wants to do in your parenting. Be obedient to Him and He will be faithful to you and the generation you are raising now. Pray: “Heavenly Father, prompt me by Your Spirit to share with my kids the blessings You give and the burdens You take bear for us. Lead me to share Your story, in my story, as together we write their story. As above, so below, Amen.”

Psalm 127:3-4 NIV Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. When God allows us to be parents, He is blessing us with a responsibility and trusting us with the stewardship of life that He created. God made your children and is entrusting you with their lives. That says a lot about God, but also says a lot about how He feels about you. If you have never thought of parenting in that light, let that truth sink in for just a moment. Listen to the psalmist’s words one more time, this time for the Message bible Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Loving parents are indeed warriors in the eyes of God. The concept in this verse means that one day, as a parent, you will draw back your bow with all the ways that you have invested in your child for so many years. And, like an arrow, each one of your children will fly out into the world, into their adult lives, to be all that God created them to be. So, for now, through prayer, through intentional time, through the grace of God, be a warrior … for your children … in Jesus’s name. Let’s pray: “Thank You, heavenly Father, for my children, for my heritage in You, in your long line of love and legacy of faith. Strengthen me, empower me, to be a warrior as both a parent and Your child. As above, so below, Amen.”

“He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.“ (Psalm 115:13-15, NLT) In today’s passage the word fear is best thought of as great respect and awe. No matter how great or lowly we might be, or we might feel in the moment, God is worthy of our praise and admiration. We look to him for blessing us and our children. In seasons of good times, we can find it easy to feel blessed. But in the tough seasons of life or in a crisis, when blessings seem far away, that is exactly the best time for us to look towards and ask for God’s blessing. All he asks is to acknowledge him for who he is. Creator, Father, God. Today, in this moment can you…will you…receive the rich blessing the Lord has for you and your children?  Take in these words that are meant for you, no matter how you might feel today, and let God bless all who fear God.  “Bless the small, bless the great. Oh, let God enlarge your families - giving growth to you, growth to your children. May you be blessed by God, by God who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heavens is for God, but he puts us in charge of the earth.” (Psalm 115:13-15, The Message Bible) I want you to believe with all your heart, soul and mind that those words were written for you and for your children. If you have committed the lives of you and your children into His hands, with God as our perfect Father, he desires to bless you all today. And in all the seasons to come.  “Father God, I receive and accept your blessing for me, for my children, and our home. I believe you desire to bless me, and right now I ask you to bless (take a moment to name each of your children and ask him to bless each one). Father, please help me to have your heart for my children and to bless them as their parent as you bless us. As above, so below. Amen.”

1 Peter 2:9-10 For you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” Chosen. Royal. Holy. God’s very own. These are all words He chose to describe us as His redeemed and restored community through the sacrifice of Jesus. This position offers us new identity, access to light in any darkness, mercy and grace that we now share with those in need. Can you accept and receive God’s identity and position that He offers you as His child? How will this new Identity change the way you approach this day? Let’s adapt and personalize this verse. Listen to how the God of the universe talks about you: For “you” are chosen. “You” are a royal priest, part of a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity; now you are God’s. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”  (1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT) Right now, in this moment, accept, receive the truth that you are chosen by God. You are a royal priest; God’s very own with a new identity; His child that He now trusts to share His love with all those in your circles. To receive and share His mercy. To embrace and give His grace. To take in His light and be His light. Pray with me now: “Father of Light, what an awesome privilege to be Your vessel through which Your love, grace, mercy, and light can flow in, out, and through to others. Help me to receive all You have for me, not because of my own merits, but Jesus. Help me to accept what You say about me as what I believe. As above, so below.”

Various verses from 1 John, chapter 3: This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (v. 1) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. (v. 16) Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. (vs. 18-19) And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. (v. 23) The kind of love we come to understand from God’s Word is vastly different from the love we learn from the world. Today, the definition of love seems to be a moving target. Yet to God, love never changes because He is love. He is the Author of Love. And God wants to write a new message of His love on our hearts every day. How can today’s verses help you keep re-shaping, re-defining your own definition of love? How can it reorient your thinking about the way to love a specific person that comes to mind? Read once more this time from the Message Bible: What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. (v. 1) This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. (v. 16) My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. (vs. 18-19) Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. (v. 23) To God, unconditional love is not optional. Love has no on/off switch. Love is to be found, given, accepted, embraced, and given away from knowing the very heart of God, the only endless supply that impacts the course of our lives, every day. Let’s pray: “Father, thank You that You show us how to love, provide us with the love to share, and then multiply the love we give in Your name. Teach me today to love like You love. As above, so below.”

Acts 4:32-35 NLT All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. All were united in heart and mind. Sharing what they had. No one needy among them. Only God can change the human soul to cooperate, unite, and love like that, selflessly, literally bringing Heaven to earth. Today, His life is available. His love is available. His Spirit can touch our lives to love, care, and share like those first disciples. This passage creates a longing to be united in heart and mind with other believers. Can you make yourself available to love selflessly today? Read once more this time from the Message Bible: The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need. No matter how independent we may think ourselves to be, we need care. We need help. We need others. True community is finding common ground coupled with unity. Focused on what draws us together, rather than divides. Peace over chaos. Responsibility over rights. Giving. Caring. Loving like Jesus. Let’s pray together: “Lord of all, thank You for Your Spirit that unites us in one heart and mind. Thank You that in You we can meet one another’s needs, share our blessings, and love with the kind of love that only Heaven can give. As above, so below.”

Psalm 95:6-8 NCV Come, let’s worship him and bow down. Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us, because he is our God and we are the people he takes care of, the sheep that he tends. Today listen to what he says. Once we begin to understand that life itself, our very breath, every heartbeat, is provided by and ordained by the Creator, our response is gratitude and adoration for His care and attention to our lives. The analogy of God as a Shepherd is a wonderful picture as we are so often like helpless sheep navigating this life. When was the last time you stopped to just sit quietly and listen to God speak to your heart? Will you do that now Read the psalmist’s words again of God’s care this time from the Message Bible: So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds. Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks: In this moment, worship Him. Bow your heart. Bend your knee. Feel His care. Listen as He speaks to You. Let’s pray: “Great and Good Shepherd, thank You for Your never-ending care. I worship You. I bow both heart and knee before You. I want to listen now as You speak to my spirit. As above, so below.”

Acts 2:42-44 NLT All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. In these few verses, we can feel and sense the community, camaraderie, and commitment among Christ’s followers. God’s Spirit had united His community following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. That same Spirit is alive and available today. To unite us. Lead us. Make us far stronger together than we could ever be alone, sharing our lives with one another and our faith with the world. Do you have this sense of biblical community with other believers in your life? Read again for the Message Bible: They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. Teaching. Fellowship. Sharing. Prayer. Awe. Miracles. Those are the supernatural dynamics that set God’s Kingdom apart from all other communities throughout history. Bringing the supernatural into the natural, the miraculous into the mundane. You were created, born, and destined to be a part of all God is doing today, just as surely as those first disciples. You are here right now for a reason, for a purpose. Think of your community, those you find harmony with. Can you ask God to set your community apart, that others would be in awe at the depth and commitment your have to one another, through Christ that binds you. Ask God to perform wonderful signs through you and your community so that His presence would be magnified. Let’s pray: “God of Wonders, thank You that Your Spirit transforms lives from ordinary to extraordinary. You are still the God of miracles and the God of awe. Thank You for giving me a place in Your community of believers and inviting me to help You change the world. As above, so below.”

Today, we close out Psalm 139 and our focus of how we were each created and designed to be a part of God’s creation and community: (Psalm 139:17-18, 23-24 NLT) How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! … Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:17-18, 23-24 NLT) As good parents, we think of our kids when they are not with us. We wonder what they’re doing, if they are okay, and hope they know we love them. God as the perfect Father is always with us, but even still He keeps us on His mind. His love, grace, and care keep us on His path to a full life today and eternal life to come. Invite God into your thoughts, your heart. Give Him room to show You His love and keep You close to Him today. Take in these words once again, this time from the Message bible: Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! … Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.. How does it feel to know the God of the universe thought are about you right now? You are on His mind, right now. Let’s make the psalmist’s words our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. As above, so below.”