Sound Mind Set

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. The bottom line of courage as a Christ follower is not about us at all, but the fact that God has promised us throughout His Word that we can be strong, we can be brave, we can have courage, we don’t have to be afraid, we don’t have to panic in the face of problems, because His presence is with us. Oftentimes when our kids are scared, they will ask, “Are you going to stay with me?” We say yes. Then they ask, “So, you won’t leave?” Now our answer must change to no. Interesting how often God will tell us what He will do, but then, just like a perfect Father, He will also tell us what He won’t do! In today’s passage, He adds, “I won’t fail or abandon you.” What is going on in your life right now where you desperately need God’s courage to fill you? Take comfort in His words. Take them in as if He were speaking only to you. In fact, let’s personalize this passage: So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic. As the Lord your God, I will personally go ahead of you. I will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Picture whatever seemingly impossible situation is in your life right now. Now consider how that situation looks to the God of the universe. Can you accept that is the way your Father wants YOU to see that situation - from His point of view. Let’s thank Him together: “Father, thank You for Your strength, Your courage, that I don’t have to be afraid any longer, that there’s no need to panic. Thank You that You go ahead of me to face what I cannot see, that You never fail me or abandon Me. Help me to believe that, feel that, live that truth. As above, so below. Amen”

Job 42:1-5 NLT “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” The story of Job begins with him being the most blessed man on the planet and then within a short time, he is completely wiped out through the death of his children and the loss of his wealth. Then a horrible illness set in with great pain and embarrassment. By the end of his encounter with some religious friends and a face-to-face stand-off with God Himself, the man is vindicated and blessed far beyond his original state. Probably the greatest confrontation in this story, however, is when he displayed the deepest level of courage a human can exhibit—facing yourself. Job had to search his heart, humble himself, and come to some tough conclusions that brought him into a relationship with God like few have ever experienced. Think about your worst moment, your lowest time in life thus far. Listen again to Job’s culminating confession to God, this time from the Message Bible: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! Facing humiliation, shame, guilt, and pain in front of others is humbling and hard. But facing the person in the mirror and admitting truth is the hardest, yet most courageous thing we will ever do. Let’s pray: “Father, please take my Job moments and help me to process and apply those to realize they have been an opportunity to see You with my own eyes and experience You in a way I may never have otherwise. As above, so below. Amen.”

Matthew 25:34-40 NLT Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Christ followers’ lives will be marked by bravery and courage—the kind it takes to love the unlovable, see those invisible to others, and get messy in other people’s messes. Many times the best people to do that are those who have experienced brokenness themselves. Because you learn to operate out of empathy, not sympathy. Does someone come to mind when you think about the words - sick, naked, thirsty, hungry, stranger? Who are ‘the least of these’ that God might be bringing to your attention, that you might deliberately reach out to? Listen once more to only Jesus’ words about Himself from the Message Bible: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ The biblical brand of courage will always be intertwined with loving and serving others, not for personal glory, but only for the sake of Christ. Let’s pray: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You made it very clear what is important to You about our lives here. While we often pray and ask You for Your will in our lives, in verses like these, You already gave us the mission. Help us to simply be courageous and obey. As above, so below. Amen”

Matthew 16:13-17 NLT “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” There was confusion amongst the people early on, even among his own disciples, about who Jesus truly was. Was He John the Baptist returned from the grave after his execution? Or was He one of the Old Testament prophets coming back for “round two?” Men were trying to identify Jesus as another man, when He was actually God. Is your faith your own? Do you feel you inherited it from someone or maybe felt pressure at some point in your life to believe? Listen closely once again: “Jesus … asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16 NLT) Courage is making your own decision about Jesus and sticking by it. Each person must make their own choice and “own” their own faith. No one should be talked into a relationship with Jesus, so no one can talk them out of it either. As Jesus told Peter, “You didn’t learn this truth from a human, but from God. He reveals the truth to hearts.” Today, for you, all that matters is who you say Jesus is, to you, for you. Let’s pray: “Lord Jesus, You are who You said and say You are—the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. As above, so below. Amen.”

Luke 6:27-31 NLT “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. The world’s definition of courage at times mirrors God’s, but plenty of other times does not at all. One of the greatest examples is that the Jewish people were looking for a Messiah with the type of courage that rides in on a horse, wields a sword, and administers justice by force. But God sent His Son who became a carpenter that taught peace and unconditional love. His courage came to conquers hearts, not kingdoms. Jesus’ words are just as counter-cultural today as they were back then. To offer love to those who offend … People then thought, “Who does that?” People today think, “Why would someone do that?” Who is one person that comes to mind that you can do the unexpected, unwarranted act of kindness towards? The person that requires courage to humble yourself and serve? Listen closely once again to Jesus, this time from the Message Bible: “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously. Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!” The Kingdom of God has always run in full opposition to the world’s ways. Man says to hate the haters; God says to love the haters. Man says to get revenge; God says to repent. Man says to take; God says to give. Man says you only give to get; God says you get so you can give. Who does that? We should. Why would someone do that? Because He told us we should. That is real courage. Let’s pray: “Lord Jesus, the only possible way we could have such courage and do any of the things You tell us is because You empower us to do so. Teach us, guide us, lead us, en-courage us to act like You. As above, so below. Amen”

Today, we close out our week, focusing on hope. Romans15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope is something that often eludes us. Day-to-day, we can get so lost in the stress and anxiety of our culture that our sense of hope feels diminished. That’s why this passage cuts through. It starts by saying that we are sons and daughters of the ‘God of hope’.  What is an area in your life right now that feels hopeless? It says we will be filled with hope, joy and peace as we trust in Him.  Right now, can you reaffirm your trust in our God of hope? It also says the power of the Holy Spirit will cause us to overflow with hope. Can you invite the Holy Spirit to release the power of Hope in your life so that it ‘overflows to those around us? Pray with me: “God of hope, please fill me with joy and peace, and help me trust you in all areas of my life. I ask that your Holy Spirit would fill me with the hope that overflows into those around me. As above, so below. ”

Psalm 77:11-15 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;     yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works     and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Your ways, God, are holy.     What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles;     you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,     the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. There is a Hebrew word that shows up often in the Bible; the word is  ZAKAR, meaning remember. Often when God had provided a way through or a victory, people who witnessed it would stop what they were doing, and build an altar to celebrate the faithfulness of God. Jesus, on his last night with his disciples before his crucifixion, told us all to do this very thing. To take the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. There’s more to this practice than just calling back to mind something that has happened. It is ruminating on the faithfulness of God that anchors us.  Can you think of a situation where you didn’t see a way through, where you had come to the end of yourself, but God came through?  Take a moment and put yourself back in that situation of desperation, feel the doubt, feel the fear, and now remember what it felt like when you realized things were going to be OK... when you saw God come through.  Ruminate on what it felt like for God to deliver, and know that that same power is available to you right now, whatever you are facing Let’s pray together: “Father, help me to commit myself to the act of remembrance. To remember Your faithful power that I have seen at work in my life. Help me to hold on to that awareness when I come into situations where I don’t know what to do. As above, so below”

Psalm 107:1-9 Oh, thank God—he’s so good!     His love never runs out.  All of you set free by God, tell the world!     Tell how he freed you from oppression,  Then rounded you up from all over the place,     from the four winds, from the seven seas. Some of you wandered for years in the desert,     looking but not finding a good place to live,  Half-starved and parched with thirst,     staggering and stumbling, on the brink of exhaustion.  Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to God.     He got you out in the nick of time;  He put your feet on a wonderful road     that took you straight to a good place to live.  So thank God for his marvelous love,     for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.  He poured great drafts of water down parched throats;     the starved and hungry got plenty to eat. This is a beautiful Psalm about the goodness of God. So many times in life, we can feel knocked around by circumstances. Feeling overwhelmed by the demands, the responsibilities and the challenges that we all face, can sometimes take our focus off the goodness of God .  This Psalm has 34 more verses just like the ones we’ve read. Over and over, describing God coming to our aid in difficult circumstances and challenges. The common thread of all these verses explains the only thing that we are responsible for is calling out to him… and he comes through.  Take a moment to realize the goodness of God in your life is just a request away. Crying out to him doesn’t always result in us getting our way, but it does lead us to an abundant life, even amid the circumstances that we find ourselves in. That abundant life is God's goodness, and we can be expectant that he delivers His abundance, peace, and reassurance if we just cry out for him.  Be aware that his goodness and presence are all around you regardless of your circumstance. PRAY Father thank you for your goodness which always comes through. Please help me to be patient. Help me to be aware and expectant that amid whatever challenge I find myself in, your abundance… your goodness is always available. As above, so below.

Today our scripture reading is from Colossians 3:15-17  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Having a spirit of gratitude is one of the most powerful tools that God has given us. The act of giving thanks, of feeling gratitude can actually change our brain chemistry.  No matter what situation you find yourself in, there’s always something around you worth giving thanks for. It may be a small thing, it may be a significant thing. Every day we wake up with a choice. That choice is what we focus on. We can focus on a sense of lack, or what we’re missing, or we can choose to find and focus on those things we are grateful for. And allow the peace of Christ to rule our hearts.  Can you think of one thing that you are grateful for ?Maybe its a person, something that has happened, or something that is a blessing - like health, or provision. Focus on that one thing and everything about that one thing that you are grateful for. Feel it in your body, feel the gratitude and worship Your father in the spirit of gratitude. Pray with me: “Father I have so much to be grateful for. Help me to work into the discipline of choosing to be grateful, of choosing to find things to give thanks for. Let your peace rule in my heart. As above So Below. ”

2 Corinthians 12:5-10 ….I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. When we look at our lives, they are full of victories and full of setbacks. In these verses, Paul clarifies the true source of strength. God's strength. He also speaks of ‘a thorn in the flesh’, placed there to keep him from being conceited. It’s interesting to reframe the challenges in our life, failures in our life, and seeing even those play a divine purpose in our lives.  What area of your life feels weak right now?  What is the difficulty in your life right now? "When I am weak, then I am strong." This message is countercultural to our society which preaches self-reliance.  Can you admit your weakness to God right now? Ask for him to give you not only the strength to make it through but also the awareness that in your weakness, He is strong, Turning all things for your good and His glory Let’s pray: “Holy Father, thank you for your power that shines in my weakness. I confess my failings, I confess my weakness, and I acknowledge those areas of struggle and hardship in the very areas where are you are shining brightest through me.”