And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking what is evil in your hearts?" Matthew 9:4

Reading this scripture was a sobering reminder that Jesus knows every thought we have. I paused immediately and was grieved deeply knowing my thoughts are not always good. I desperately want them to be, but I battle my flesh the same as everyone else.

Knowing our thoughts control our actions I took this concern to the Lord, and the Holy Spirit guided me to this verse:

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:15

Perhaps an even better translation is the Aramaic Bible in Plain English:

"And we pull down reasonings and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and we take all minds prisoner to the obedience of the Messiah."

Of course there isn’t much hope to obey these verses if we don’t have a knowledge of God’s Word. What transforms my life on a daily basis is saturating my mind with the knowledge of God’s Word before I begin each day. The result is I am transformed from my natural instinctive behavior called the flesh to walk in the Spirit of Christ. I am no longer a prisoner to my flesh, but I am freed by the Words of our Messiah and the power of the Holy Spirit to take captive my evil thoughts and desires to the obedience of Christ leading me by the Holy Spirit. If I feed my spirit before my flesh every morning I am much more sensitive to the leading of His Spirit that lives inside of me. The result is a life filled with peace and eternal life no matter what the outward circumstances are.

Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. What ever a man sows, he will reap in return. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Two key verses for transformation of our minds is found in Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your body as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

May I encourage you to not just read the verses this morning, but to slow down long enough to allow the Holy Spirit to download these powerful truths from your mind to your heart so you might fulfill the will of God in your life today, and therefore touch others lives eternally. The alternative is destruction in your life as well as others. No man is an island.
In His love.

Thoughts are also a result of what we allow our surroundings to be. I love returning to my home, a place of refuge, where I surround my cabin every summer with flowers. It fills my heart with peace, pleasure and a heart of gratitude for His gifts.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

276-237-6680