LISTENING FOR THE LIES

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
​Proverbs 4:24 NLT

Have you noticed that random thoughts sometimes just cross your mind?  Recently I was doing a study on hearing God’s voice and the speaker pointed out that the random thoughts that cross our minds have three possible sources, our own minds, God and the devil.

What random thoughts have you had recently?  Do any keep repeating themselves?  How do they make you feel?  If they build you up, give you godly direction or truth, they are from God.  If they tear you down, accuse you or make you feel worthless or ashamed, we know they are from the devil.  Our own thoughts may drift up from our unconscious mind, giving us a clue as to what we really believe.

Any of those thoughts have power to determine our behavior and mood on any given day.  More importantly, perhaps, is that, as we believe them, they can fill us with peace or steal the peace from which God wants us to live.  If you are human, you will make mistakes. When you do, do you hear, “I am so stupid!”  Or, “Lord forgive me,” and then receive his forgiveness and peace?

As followers of Jesus, we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us to help in all our ways.  Ask him to help you discern the lies, accusations and negative thoughts and to train your mind to align with God’s truth and light. 

Practice listening to your self-talk. When you discern a lie or a thought that does not sound like Jesus, replace it with one that does.  The Bible calls that taking our thoughts captive and making them obey Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)  The better we get at that, the more we honor and glorify Jesus, and the more of his peace and joy we allow into our hearts.

Let’s not become passive, instead let’s choose to engage in the battle for our hearts and minds.  Christ won that victory for us.  Let’s step into our authority and agree with him, that the victory is ours, and claim the peace and joy!

 Pray with me: Father God, forgive me for allowing negative and deceptive thoughts to control my mind.  Holy Spirit, empower me and teach me to capture my thoughts and make them obedient to Christ.  I want the peace and joy that is mine in Christ, so I claim it now.  In the precious, victorious name of Jesus. Amen.

Dear friend, may your spirit be awakened to discern and capture your thoughts.  As negative, lying thoughts are eliminated, may you hear more and more from God and be strengthen, directed and filled with new life.   Amen.
Mary Sumner
May 8, 2019