“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

What you think about is very important!

What you think about it is an indicator of who you actually are. The Bible says it this way, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7). In other words, what you think about is who you actually are. An old saying puts it this way: “You aren’t what you think you are, but what you think, you are!” So, true! 

Work on what you think about

You do have control over what you think about and the Bible says you must take every thought captive. That means you can do something about all thoughts that are not well-pleasing to God, before they enter your heart, and before they become a part of you. 

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

What you put in is what you get out

A big part of what you think about is what you feed into your brain (mind) in the first place.Your mind is like a computer in that it produces only what is programmed into it. For instance, if you watch a lot of television, secular news sources, visit social media, watch unwholesome movies, you will soon be thinking along their negative, even destructive, mental pathways. 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5-6 ESV)

Be careful!

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 ESV)

Therefore…

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 ESV)

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Rom. 4:19–21)

Don’t give up!

If you think about the impossibility of things, it’s easy to allow yourself to get discouraged and to give up!

We all have many big challenges that come our way. But, God is not limited by our limitations! Just look at Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Their situation was completely impossible from a human standpoint. They were way too old to have children, yet God promised them that they would. Abraham was strong in faith and believed that God was able to do the impossible. And, it happened just as God said it would!

Therefore…

Don’t put limits on God! He is able to do much more than you think! Even things that are humanly impossible!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20)

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)

Because of God’s great love…

• We are not consumed! Consumed is defined as: done away with, destroyed, burned.

• His compassions never fail! Compassion is defined as:  sympathy, empathy, care, concern, love, tenderness, mercy, leniency, tolerance, kindness.

• They are new every morning! New is defined as: made fresh, as if for the first time.

• God demonstrates great faithfulness! Faithfulness is defined as: true, devoted, staunch, constant, loyal, with dependability, and devotion.

Therefore…

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col. 3:12-13 ESV)

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)

Quote:

Dare to Be

“When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”

 - Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

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“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32)

You will have ever-present peace in your heart

Just because you are a believer, a follower of Jesus, a redeemed person, doesn’t mean your life will always be trouble free! Jesus makes it clear that “in this world you will have trouble.” We do live in a sinful world with an adversary who continually attacks and messes up so much! But, Jesus promises you that you will have peace. Yes, trouble visits everyone from time to time, but we can have His ever-present peace in our hearts, no matter what happens!

Don’t be afraid or let your heart be troubled

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Therefore…

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 5:7)

The Bible is filled from cover to cover with “whosoever” promises. Whenever the word “whosoever” is used, it means you, because you are in fact, a whosoever! Here are a few of them. 

• Whosoever does the will of the father is Jesus’s family

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt. 12:50)

• Whosoever shall give a drink of cold water won’t lose his reward

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matt. 10:42)

• Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

• Whosoever humbles himself as a child is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven                                              

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

• Whosoever drinks of Jesus’s water shall never thirst 

“But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

• Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved                                              

 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (At target 2:21)

• Whosoever hears and does what Jesus said is wise and strong                                                       

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house on a rock.” (Matthew 7:24 NKJV)

• Whosoever says and believes without doubt in their heart, it will be done for them                                                                         

“Truly I tell you, whosoever says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” (Mark 11:23)

• Whosoever confesses Jesus before men  He will confess before the father! 

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32 NASB)

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt. 6:14-15)

Two promises 

This passage of scripture has two promises, one is positive and one is negative. The one you get depends totally on you. It has to do with forgiving others who have sinned against you. If you do forgive them your Heavenly Father will forgive you (positive), and if you do not forgive them, your Heavenly Father won’t forgive you (negative). It’s a very simple concept. Forgiveness is a choice you choose to make and non-forgiveness is a choice you choose to make. Choose wisely!

Therefore…

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 ESV)

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4 ESV)

Quote:

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. Lewis

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

This verse tells us three important promises about God

1) He is our refuge (a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble).

2) He is our strength (the quality or state of being strong, in particular).

3) He is our ever-present help in the time of trouble (assist, aid, lend a helping hand to, give assistance to, come to the aid of).

Therefore…

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 41:10 ESV) 

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Quote:

“We shouldn't think about ourselves and how weak we are. Instead, we should think about God and how strong He is.” - Billy Graham

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“For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance.” (Matt. 13:12)

We serve a God who supplies more than enough! In fact, one verse says it is, “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over!” (Luke 6:38)

God gives you the power to get wealth!

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deut. 8:18)

Notice that this verse says it is God who gives you “power to get wealth.” He doesn’t simply drop it to you out of the sky. You have a part in getting it.

You must “remember the Lord your God”

Include God and put Him first in every part of the process. (Matt 6:33). Ask Him for wisdom and knowledge in order to know what you should do to get it (Matt 7:7). He will give you productive ideas, talents, personal skills, gifts, and opportunities, which will help you.

You must look for them, recognize them, develop them, and put them to work!

Keep in mind that, even though God does promise to supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19), it is usually disguised as work!

Therefore…

Work hard with a good attitude as though you are working for the Lord! After all, everything you need will come from Him!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col. 3:23-24)

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“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)

Your labor in the Lord is not in vain!

Sometimes it can be tiring “doing the right thing,” especially when so many others around you are not. It’s no longer popular to live according to God’s standards. But, you may be surprised to know that that is not a new problem. Elijah complained to the Lord, “I am the only one who has remained faithful!” (1 Kings 19:10). But, God told him that He was incorrect. He told him that 7,000 others also had remained faithful. That information must have been encouraging for Elijah to hear.

It’s true! God has lots of faithful followers. You are not alone! So, be encouraged and don’t quit!

At the proper time, we will reap a harvest

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9)

Therefore…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

Quotes:

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” - Warren Wiersbe

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” - C.S. Lewis

“We can do nothing without prayer. All things can be done by importunate prayer. It surmounts or removes all obstacles, overcomes every resisting force and gains its ends in the face of invincible hindrances.” - E.M. Bounds

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