Rebuild and Strengthen – Western Loudoun Community Church

You Become What You Think
credit: Inspirations by Lisa Singh

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (NIV)

Anyone who comes into a relationship with Jesus receives a new heart and must guard it. However, the mind of man must now be renewed daily with the word of God. Isn’t it amazing that our thought life is connected to our heart? God has and always will be concerned about our heart condition. God sees past the layers of our external expressions and facades and He goes straight to the heart. The writer of Proverbs points us to a profound truth about the principle of thought and the product of our lives.

Let us take time and ponder this statement, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” From this, we can reason that the situations and circumstances in our lives could be because of our thinking patterns. I know this is a hard pill to swallow because many of us have had bad stuff happen to us, perhaps you have had bad breaks in life like growing up without a dad, or someone abused you when you were young, maybe you have had a failed marriage or business. There could be a wide range of scenarios you have been through but never the less they happened, and these situations have caused your thoughts to be on the negative side of the scale. The enemy knows that we have been made new in Christ, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to keep us down in the dumps. The enemy only has as much power as we allow him to have and we give him that power when we believe his lies; he is called the father of lies, and his lies come in the form of thoughts. He can no longer go before the Father to accuse you of your sins because Jesus took care of your sins once and for all when He shed his blood at Calvary. However, the enemy is hoping that you will never believe that your sins are taken care of so now he comes, and whispers lies to you in thoughts based on your past hurts and disappointments or your past sins. Hence the reason the Apostle Paul reminds us to renew our minds.

We must come to a place in our walk with God where we take responsibility for our thoughts. We live in a world prone to passing the blame, and the victim mentality is rampant. In my own life for many years I found it easier to blame my unfortunate circumstances on other people because it made me feel better about my bad attitude and negativity. Growing up in a single parent home was difficult, and while there were unfortunate results in my life I let the victim mentality dictate a negative pattern. I was very comfortable to live like that because I felt I had the right to be the way I was because someone wronged me or took advantage of me. Over the years God has opened my eyes to the fact that though I was a victim of neglect, rejection, and abuse I did not have to embrace that as my identity instead I could be changed if I allowed my mind to be renewed.

Today I want to encourage you to let go of the victim mentality and identity and let God help you dump those negative thoughts about the past. Ask Him to lead you to His words that will renew your mind so you can change your life.

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” ― James Allen

Our Daily Bread

It was nighttime when the leader set out by horseback to inspect the work that lay ahead. As he toured the destruction all around him, he saw city walls that had been destroyed and gates that had been burned. In some areas, the vast debris made it tough for his horse to get through. Saddened, the rider turned toward home.

When it came time to report the damage to the officials of the city, he began by saying, “You see the trouble we are in” (Nehemiah 2:17). He reported that the city was in ruins, and the protecting city wall had been rendered useless.

But then he made a statement that energized the troubled citizens: “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me.” Immediately, the people replied, “Let us start rebuilding” (v. 18).

And they did.

With faith in God and all-out effort, despite enemy opposition and a seemingly impossible task, the people of Jerusalem—under Nehemiah’s leadership—rebuilt the wall in just fifty-two days (6:15).

As you consider your circumstances, is there something that looks difficult but that you know God wants you to do? A sin you can’t seem to get rid of? A relationship rift that’s not God-honoring? A task for Him that looks too hard?

Ask God for guidance (2:4-5), analyze the problem (vv. 11-15), and recognize His involvement (v. 18). Then start rebuilding……….By Dave Branon

REFLECT & PRAY:
God, I need Your help. I can’t fix these problems alone. Help me to understand the situation, and then to seek Your help and guidance in resolving the challenges before me.
Credit: Our Daily Bread

10 Minute Challenge

Here is a challenge for you to do. Ready? Look into each other’s eyes for 10 minutes without saying anything.
The idea is to connect totally and completely through your eyes only. Then once you finish, talk about everything that went through your mind during that 10 minutes.
Today’s One Thing:
Look into each other’s eyes for 10 minutes without saying anything. Then talk about it.

DON’T JUST SURVIVE! – Your Marriage Was Meant To Thrive!

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