Renewing Your Mind

Renewing the Mind

Part 1

I wanted to talk about renewing your mind.  Have you ever been in a place in your life where you needed to step back and take a good look at your life?  When you took the time to do this, did you like what you found?  I have to say that I recently took a good long look at my life and realized that I am missing something, I don’t feel whole, I am lacking in so many different areas.  Let me tell you taking a good long look at your life and not liking what you see and being truthful about it is not easy.  But I can tell you that it is completely worth it.  You want to know why?  Because it shows you what you are lacking.  Even as a Christian we have difficulties walking the path the Lord has for us, and sometimes we would rather take our own path thinking that would be better.  All I can say is been there, done that and got the T Shirt LOL. 

I realized that the places where I am lacking are the places that I haven’t allowed the Lord to work in those areas.  So I come to the conclusion that the one thing I need more than me is the Lord God Almighty.  My Savior, Rock and Fortress, the Great Abba Father.  One of the areas I needed help in was my mind.  I don’t know about you but I think too much, worry too much and replay everything in my mind over and over again.  Also controlling your own thoughts and not allowing the enemy or your flesh to scramble your mind.  So I started to read Ephesians and came across this scripture that we probably heard before but this time it’s different. 

Ephesians 4:22-24

(22)  Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.   (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We will first discuss putting off the old man.

Ephesians is telling us to put off the old man which is corrupt and unholy.

The Old Man – The un-renewed man, the natural man in the corruption of sin, the sinful human nature.  The flesh which is the whole nature of man, which is devoted to self and earthly things.  The Old Man is “in the flesh”, also works of the flesh.  The old man which is the life we lead before God.    The old man is our sinful nature also known as our flesh. 

So we now know that we are to put off the old man (our sinful, corrupted, and selfish flesh). 

Colossians 3:8-11

 (8)  But know ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;   (10) And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.  (11)  Where  there is neither Greek,  nor Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, Barbarian Scythian, bond nor free but Christ is all and in all.  

Colossians states what are old man thoughts are, so we know what to look at when we are in the flesh and our thoughts go wrong.  More or less when we have stink-in think-in.

Galatians 5:16-21

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  (19) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (22) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Romans 8:12-17

(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors - not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (13) For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  

You are Valued

You are Valued

Hello my friends hope this post finds you blessed and highly favored.  Hope you are spending time with the Lord on your faith walk with Him. 

Today I would like to have a discussion about value, your value.  Do you think you are valued?  How much do you think you're worth?  I'm not talking about your net worth; I'm talking about your self-worth.  If you take a moment and look deep inside yourself do you think you have value? Do you have value as a person?  Do you think you are valuable to someone else?

Let’s look into the definition of the word value so you can have an understanding of the word value.

Definition of Value:

·       Highly regarded or esteemed

·       A valued friend

·       Having value of a specified kind

·       Relative worth, merit, or importance

·       force; significance

·       Liking or affection; favorable regard

·       To consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance

·       To regard or esteem highly

·       Value, worth imply intrinsic excellence or desirability

·       Worth implies especially spiritual qualities of mind and character, or moral excellence

·       Value is that quality of anything which renders it desirable or useful

1 Corinthians 7:23
You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him, be free now from all these earthly prides and fears.

Matthew 6: 25-27

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

1 Samuel 26:24    

Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress.”

The Lord God says not only are you accepted; you're valuable.  So the Lord, your creator thinks you are valuable and worth something.  What is that something?  For God sent His only Son to die on a cross that we may be saved. 

The Bible says, “You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him—be free now from all these earthly prides and fears.” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB)

You have been bought and paid for by Christ. You belong to Jesus. How much does that make you worth? 

Now ask yourself, ‘Who do I belong to?’ The Bible says you belong to God. God exchanged His own Son for you!  The Cross proves your value. Jesus didn't die for junk. You are incredibly valuable. Nobody has ever paid a greater price than God paid for you. You are acceptable and you are valuable!

Here are some scriptures to prove that you are desirable, worth, valued and wanted by God.

Psalms 139:13-15

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

 Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Colossians 3:12-14

But on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience

God knows your value; He sees your potential. Hold your head up high, knowing that God is in control and he has a great plan and purpose for your life.  God stands before you with His arms open wide. He always accepts you. He always confirms your value.  You are His prized possession. No matter what you go through in life, no matter how many disappointments you suffer, your value in God’s eyes always remains the same. You will always be the apple of His eye. He will never give up on you, so don’t give up on yourself.

Remember you are loved and you are valued.  The Father see’s you as a beautiful jewel.  You are the apple of his eye