From our Inspiretm. Letters
Dear Friends;
In our day-to-day lives it seems so easy to get wrapped up with the affairs of life. The worries and concerns may weigh heavy on individuals. If we are not careful [diligent] our thoughts, we will continually attend to things that do not concern the Father or His purpose. What part of your thought life has gone to the very things that are really fruitless and caused you to be full of anxiety and fear? This is what Jesus warned of in Mark four.
Mar 4:19 and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.
The cares of this world here actually means the cares of this age and every thing that has been set in motion against your life; other wise, how could the anxiety choke the word out of you? When Satan comes, he comes at you personally with a vengeance and threatens your existence. The only way he can do this is by imaginations and un-captivated thoughts that explode in your thinking and exalt themselves above the revelation that operates in you. 1 Peter 5:7 describes the roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour. The lion roars just before pouncing on his prey. His whole operation is to startle and scare the heard and separate those from the whole who are devour able. This is an accurate operation of the enemy. If your let him, he will scream and roar in your thought life, maybe even through others, to try and get you to operate out of fear, anger, resentment, depression, pride and other negative emotions. The biggest tool he uses is character flaws and pressure of circumstances. It is no wonder Peter concludes the verse by saying, “cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you.” Your emotions were given to you to be servants not for you to serve them.
There is a plea from heaven for us to think on His Word, stay in His presence, and not to stray to far from the closet. These times we live in have to be answered by His word in us to the world not the anxiety the times can produce through us. Un-captivated thoughts not governed by the word can indeed put you on a roller coaster of inner turmoil and emotional imbalance. The Father hates to see His children suffer. Especially when a lot of what they are going through, they bring on themselves just by thinking on the wrong things spawned by wrong motives, wrong ideas, and wrong believing about the character of God.
2Co 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Our new nature is one thing the Father can use to change the process of worry and anxiety. Through the avenue of His nature in us and by feeding on the word and staying in a fellowship with Him, we will give Him the authority He needs in us to turn our thoughts away from anxiety and into peace. As we get involved with Him, He gets involved with our thoughts. The exchange from what we believe to what is His reality for us becomes life to us and peace is produced in our inner man. This is how we conquer the soul. In the beginning, turning your emotions and feelings may be hard. But if you confess the word over your problem, the word becomes your solution. Private worship also has the same effect. Combine your confession with praise and admiration for the thing Jesus has done in you. As you turn yourself in to His presence, what happens is, you release Him by the agency of the Holy Spirit to tend to the part of you creating or meditating on the care. Then He can come in through the agency of peace and give you the answer you need for the situations you face. The freedom that is produced will cause an overflow of presence in your daily life. Worship Him, tell Him how much you love Him, thank Him for that new nature and that your home is heaven. He will come meet you with His presence and produce peace to your inner-man.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace is always available; however, it is up to us to enter in to it. Jesus does not give peace in a temporary way or fashion as the world does. He gives peace, which is settling and strong, not a temporary fix. As He displaces the problems, character flaws and anxiety with answers, you move into a stronger position for Him to use you because you cannot be destroyed by worry. As a leader, the show of confidence on your face will be one of peace and assurance moving into Gods plans for your ministry, life and vocation.
I pray this has blessed you.
In Him, Chris Bangert