Philippians 4:8

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worth of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s Word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there if anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things.

When we change our thinking and speaking, we change our life. If we place our circumstances before God and the Word, we will firmly stay in the circumstance. When we focus on God, the promise, and the Word, our circumstances will shift. We can’t keep repeating what the devil says and expect God to heal us, provide for lack, or move on our behalf. We have to say what God says in the Word and let God clear the path. 

2 Corinthians 10:5

We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ. 

How many thoughts are we supposed to capture? It says every thought is to be taken captive that doesn’t line up with the Word of God. We are not to accept every thought that comes into our heads. We also need to realize that the enemy will put thoughts (fiery darts) out there, hoping we will take them as ours. Don’t accept!

Romans 11:33-34

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways. For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?

The God who created this world is more than enough to fulfill every need that we have. We think too small when it comes to God, and we believe on our terms in our natural world. We need to read the Bible and understand the power of God in His world. Once we learn to trust God and His strength and power, our worlds here will be transformed. 

Romans 7:18-19

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh (my human nature, my worldliness-my sinful capacity). For the willingness (to do good) is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil I do not want.

God instructs us to place guards on our eyes, our ears, and even where we go. When we put on the whole armor of God, we fend off the attacks against us that can lead to sin. When we read the Bible and renew our minds to remember God’s promises, we will not practice evil. And if we fail, let us confess and return to the protection of God.

Isaiah 59:1-2

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save, nor His ear so impaired that it cannot hear. But your wickedness has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. 

When we allow ourselves to drift away from God, the distance makes it harder for Him to hear from us. The static of sin can interfere with our communication, and we may have just turned off the receiver. Our relationship with God depends on us doing our part and staying connected so He can do His part and keep us on the right path. 

Psalm 116:1-2

I Love the Lord, because He hears (and continues to hear) my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live. 

If we want a close relationship with God, we should start by praying as we rise from bed in the morning. Offer some praise or say ‘good morning. ‘Continue through the day and talk to God and then listen because He hears us when we speak and will talk to us. Call on Him, fellowship with Him beyond the morning devotion, and become God-conscious all day long. And keep listening!

Psalm 113:5-6

Who is like the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high, who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and earth. 

God takes time, thought, and energy to care for His creation. We here on earth have been given many second chances, both personally and as people living in the world. There is only one God who will bless us when we don’t deserve it and save us. Praise the Lord Most High God. Praise His holy name!!

Psalm 107:12-14

Therefore He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled and there was no one to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the deep (deathly) darkness and broke their bonds apart. 

Do not harden the heart toward God, and strive to remain humble. God is our helper, deliverer, and guide, and only God has the power to raise us and break our bonds. If anything happens to us in life, our first thought should be, what does the Bible say on this? It always points to God as our deliverer and the salvation from our distresses. 

Psalm 107:10-11

Some dwelt in darkness and in the deep (deathly) darkness, prisoners (bound) in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the precepts of God and spurned the counsel of the most High.

When we read the Bible, we see people in rebellion and people of faith. They can both have troubles; the difference is whether God is with them and leading them to safety and salvation, whereas sins lead to death and destruction without salvation and eternal life. People make choices every day to follow God or to follow evil. The choice is a temporary reward on earth or an everlasting reward in heaven. Choose wisely!

Matthew 12:36

But I tell you, on the day of judgment, people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak.  

Careless talk doesn’t bring about productive lives or encouragement. We have more power to influence the outcome of our lives with words than we realize. God doesn’t want us to waste our faith resources with words that bring us nothing of value in return.