For every life event, God has a take on it. It’s all found in His word. In order to know God’s take we have to be diligent in reading His word.
Have you ever looked at your life and thought; I want to change?
A little over a year ago. I was looking at pictures and decided, I’ve talked about getting healthy for to long. I need to get healthy. I wrote the goal down, I then shared that along with my nine other goals with some Pastor friends of mine, and shared it with Melissa.
Now as you know, just because I thought about it, doesn’t make it happen. I had tried before. I had a built-in excuse, I had, had some health issues, and the steroids that I was on added nearly seventy pounds, that I just couldn’t get off. So anytime someone would ask me about my health or my physical looks, that was my go to excuse.
Now if you know me, I like to listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I am a spotifier.
Michael Jackson’s song “Man in the Mirror” has been a theme song of sorts, for our family. These words at the opening of the song, have always spoke to my mind.
I’m Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .
Or maybe you’ve heard of this really spiritual band named Sister Hazel. It’s a spiritual name. Sister Hazel.
They have a song named “Change Your Mind”
Here are a few of the lyrics that stood out to me.
If you want to be somebody else,
If you’re tired of losing the battle with yourself,
If you want to be somebody else…
change your mind.
I’m not interested in being another person. I am interested in being the best me that I can be.
One of the best things that you can ever do in life, is get really good at being you.
Everything that you need, and everything that God requires out of you, is already on the inside of you. You already have what it takes to be the best you can ever be.
If you want to be the you that God placed inside of you, and maybe you’re tired of losing the battle with your old self, in trying to become the new self. You are going for that changed life, than a changed life comes about with a changed mind.
We have to be diligent about reading God’s word, it’s how the old thoughts are replaced by the new thoughts.
You have an image or a desire, that you are going after and you get frustrated that it isn’t happening…
Paul wrote about the being transformed, moving from the before picture to that after picture.
For every before and after shot there is a process in the middle that isn’t shown. Bypassing the process of renewal, refinishing, and restoration, will distort the final picture.
What changes the perspective, keeps us motivated and moving forward from the before to the after? It’s the word of God.
Have you ever refurnished anything?
There is an entire process (before process)… stripping sanding, etc…
It’s the beginning of the process. You cannot negate the process, you have to stay disciplined…in order to ever realize or possess the final project.
2.) A Disciplined life
Many people believe that praying a prayer is the magic bullet, it’s the pill, that if you take it, your life is magically transformed.
It’s the six days to a better husband, five days to a better wife thought process.
In the process of renewal, you must understand that it isn’t instant.
After a prayer of faith, you are in the identity of Christ. However, you have old mindsets that must be changed.
I had an address change from Indiana to Illinois. However, I still say I live in Illinois, but I am from Indiana. There comes a point though where life in Illinois will outweigh the life I had in Indiana. The more experiences and time that passes, I will be from Illinois.
You had an address change, but now the process of removing old mindsets, old thoughts, old habits, old ways, with new ones begins. It’s a process.
Taking off the old, and replacing it with the new is a process.
Lies must be replaced with truth. In order to do that though you have to be disciplined in learning the new truths, in order to dispel the lies.
You must discipline yourself in making God a First Priority!
You have to be dedicated, diligent, and disciplined to change your life.
Other things will creep in, other people’s opinions will creep in. You have stay disciplined.
We live in a world that always want to make you into something other than what God has intended for you. You cannot allow other people’s expectations to dictate who you are going to be.
Jesus is our example of this.
15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.
16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Lk 5:15–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Jesus didn’t allow other people’s _expectations_ to shape His priorities.
(Luke 5:15-16)
There was a design for His life, and He wasn’t going to allow other people’s opinions, approving or not to deter Him from His mission. Good things, just like bad things can deter you from your destiny.
Jesus came to do the will of the Father, in order to do that will, He had to know that will.
He spent time in prayer, not just talking, but listening to God.
There are times when you will need to put your spiritual life ahead of other peoples spiritual/physical needs.
Jesus shows us the importance of getting alone with God. If your life is always dictated to you by someones else word from God for you. You can be manipulated. I want to hear from God for myself. I trust God and my relationship with God more than anyone else’s.
You need to get Alone with God.
How can you get alone with God? When can you get alone with God?
When is there no one else around? Where there no one else around?
It maybe late at night, it may be early…
Ten words that most people detest… Very Early in the Morning, while it was still dark…
Mark 1:35 (Matthew 6:33)
You will do something first every morning. You will find the time to do what you want to do. If you want to talk with God, you will find the time. If you want to change your life, you have to start by changing your mind, the best way to change your mind is to get alone with God and read His word, and listen to His word.
What did Jesus do when He got up early and went to His place? He Prayed!
Praying isn’t just talking it’s also listening!
Many people may look at a season of solitude as punishment, its actually preparation.
If you want power with God, you must first be in prayer with God. Power always follows prayer.
You can prepare for everyday by having a season of solitude with God.
4.) Fundamental Fours (basics, myths, guidelines)
Four Basic Fundamentals
1.) Read the Word of God
2.) Pray and communicate with God
3.) Write it down – journal what God is teaching you
4.) Remember the Word of God. Put to memory the Word of God. Memorize
Four Myths About Quiet Time
1. Your quiet time must be between 4:00 and 6:00 am.
2. Your quiet time must last at least one hour.
3. Your quiet time journal must sound like the Bible.
4. Your quiet time must be every day.
1. Quiet your mind.
Remove all of the busy thoughts from your mind that
distract you from the Lord.
2.Focus your mind.
Worship helps us focus on God when we meet with Him. Just as in any relationship, we must focus on the other person.
3. Pray your mind.
We were not designed to carry burdens. We were designed to cast or throw them on the Lord. Prayer is transference of the burden from our shoulders to the Lord’s.
4. Renew your mind.
Read the Word of God in a version you can understand. God understands your heart and desires for you to share it with Him.
The reason that this is so important for you.
By reading, spending time with God, writing it down, and the memorizing or remembering it. You are changing your thought life. A changed mind is a changed life.
You will find that as you begin to change your mind, that you won’t lose as many battles with yourself.
You will find as the writer of Hebrews declared
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God isliving and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is in the word that you will find the condition that you are in, and the condition that God wants you in. You will find out things about yourself, but also find out things about God.
You will see the destiny that God has over, that God wants you to have a great life, and He gives you the keys to that Great life.
As you begin this process of reading, talking, writing, and then remembering. When life’s challenges come at you.. you will respond differently.
You will respond with Truth… you will be able counter the lies that are being told, the temptations that come at you.
You will find that this way of life isn’t a duty, but it is a Life of abundance, blessing, and love.
Paul wrote to people in Rome and said that they had become filled with ….
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 1:29–31). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Jesus said…
20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
The New King James Version. (1982). (Mk 7:20–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
So How do you go from that life to a New Life … the answer is in the Word
Psalm 119:9-12
9 How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Ps 119:9–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.