DON’T GO THERE!

Philippians 4:8 NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

So… what’s on your mind? What have you been thinking about? Sunny days and ice creams? Or sad days and worried dreams? So often we think about things, without even realising it!😊 Thoughts just come and run riot - unless we take control of them. We do have a choice and depending on our choice, depends the result - peace or turmoil!

Now we know we all want peace and nobody enjoys turmoil, so what do we do about it? When worry thoughts, disturbing, negative, hurtful, ‘what if’ thoughts try to sneak in, we have to make a stand and DON’T GO THERE!

It’s a bit like a terrier dog seeing a rabbit hole, it can’t resist it and it goes down the hole! But we’re a child of God, filled with His Spirit, and we have His help and authority to take control of our thoughts. We see the rabbit hole and hear God’s Spirit saying, “Don’t go there!” We either obey or we don’t! 

There’s fear down that hole, upset and sleepless nights, there’s stress and tension there, so why on earth do we want to go down the rabbit hole when we don’t have to? 

I put my hand up, I’ve gone down that rabbit hole so often so don’t get me wrong, this is not to condemn us in any shape or form, it’s to encourage us to recognise the rabbit hole when it first appears in our minds and slam the door shut on it and Don’t Go There! 

Ask the Holy Spirit for His help, read scripture, bind the spirit of fear, plead the blood of Jesus, remember we have the Lion of the Tribe of Judah on the inside and ROAR back at the enemy, resist him and tell him to go! Instead, fill it in with the uplifting thoughts Paul talks about in our verse; pure, lovely, honourable, God’s Word thoughts. 

God says we have been given a spirit of love, power and a ‘sound mind’ which also means a disciplined mind so we can use it, and remember when negative thoughts start we have a choice and just say out loud, ‘I am NOT going there!” over and over again if need be! Amen.😊

Photo: Brooke Lark on Unsplash

BIGGER ON THE INSIDE

Ephesians 1:19 NLT I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

If you ever watched Dr. Who and his time machine you will know the ‘Tardis’ blue police box, which was small on the outside but much bigger when you went inside, and it travelled through time and space!😊

If we’ve asked Jesus into our lives then He has recreated our spirits and made us new creations, and as I thought about it I realised we’re a bit like the Tardis! We may look as though we’re ordinary human beings on the outside but inside we have the Spirit of God Himself and our capacity is now much bigger!😊

Just think, Ephesians 1:8 NLT He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. We have access to the wisdom of God! Jesus has also delegated His authority to us and told us that what we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, what we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven; that all things are possible to the one who believes!

God has also given us the spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, and discernment. He’s given us the gift of faith to see things change when we believe, the gift of healings and miracles which transform lives. But even more, He has given us the gospel to share which will change time and eternity forever for the people who accept it.😊

Jesus’ death and resurrection changed everything so we can use the wisdom, the resources and authority God has placed inside us, and share the good news that this life is not all there is, but there is hope for the future, forgiveness and peace with God through Jesus and it’s all available right now. 

Lord open our eyes to know You and what You have already placed within us, that we’re much bigger on the inside than we are on the outside. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash