Luke 6:40

A student is not superior to his teacher; but everyone, after he has been completely trained, will be like his teacher.

Jesus came to this earth as our teacher. He is our example of how we are to overcome and be as His people. We settle for less than the fullness of the promises of God by not following Jesus’s example. When we remember to keep our minds closed to the enemy and open to the word of God, we will see the promises active in our lives. 

Luke 1:20

Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled in the proper time.

If our thoughts are not lining up with the word and promises of God, we will speak against them. God cannot change our circumstances if we are speaking negatively and not believing in faith. When the mind agrees with God, the word of God will come out of our mouths. We will have confidence that what God has promised He will do for us.  

Mark 9:23

Jesus said to him, If you can? All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts (in Me)!

Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing!! No circumstance or difficulty before us is too hard for God. The problem is when we haven’t developed our faith to agree with and believe in God. We also need to control our thoughts and minds and ensure they align with the word in faith. Our success with God depends on our commitment and faith in God and His promises. 

Mark 7:15

There is nothing outside a man (such as food) which by going into him can defile him (morally or spiritually) but the thing which comes out of (the heart of) a man are what defile and dishonor him.  

Our hearts (soul) which contain the mind, will, and emotions, can get us into trouble if not controlled. When we guard our hearts, we protect ourselves from degrading influences and beliefs against God’s commandments. We preserve our peace and keep ourselves from sin by renewing our minds.  

Mark 3:24-25 

If a kingdom is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

When our spirits and souls agree, we are in the faith. If we are in doubt in our minds and not letting our spirit lead us, we are divided. We must decide to follow and concentrate in faith on the word. We will only stand and conquer when soul and spirit are in agreement.  

Mark 3:1-2

Again Jesus went into the synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him (in the Jewish high court).

Religion does not fulfill man’s needs because that is God’s role in our lives. Jesus came to break us free and reunite us with our relationship with God and all His promises. God never intended His love and grace to be limited to designated days. Jesus has set us free from the law and bought us our freedom to receive from God. 

Matthew 22:36-38

Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? And Jesus replied to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  

When we sell out to God, we give God all of our love. We are drawn to God and His word and want to spend time in His presence. We fully understand and cherish all the benefits we receive from God’s love for us. It is a win for us in our lives because we keep ourselves close to God, and God will stay close to us.  

Matthew 5:18

For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke (of the pen) will pass from the Law until all things (which it foreshadows) are accomplished.  

God is our leader in this life and has a plan and promises to fulfill from His covenant with the Jews. The Bible shows us who God is and why we can trust in this plan even if the world is spiraling into sin. Our job is to keep our eyes on God and the word, not the world. We must trust the leadership of God and the plan.

Matthew 4:3-4

After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”

Jesus just finished His fasting and prayer, and the devil comes to Him with temptations. The devil didn’t realize that he was no match for the word! Jesus used the word to answer every temptation, and so should we. He didn’t sit idly by in His thoughts and think about the temptation but cast them out and down by quoting the word of God. 

Zechariah 8:16-17

These are the things which you should do: speak the truth with one another; judge with truth, and pronounce the judgment that brings peace in your gates. And let none of you devise or even imagine evil in your heart against another, and do not love lying or half-truths; for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.

God wants us to have pure hearts and clean hands, which starts with an attitude of love for one another in our hearts. By not letting thoughts of evil enter our minds or hearts in any situation we face. As we keep our minds refreshed by the word, we remain faithful to God in our hearts.