PART II - Conditions of the mind......

Hello.....sort of took a Spring Break ...break....did you?    Have you fallen behind on your reading too? 

NOT a problem, let us GET back on track!     I was so thankful for this introduction to PART II...but, here is the HARD part....I need   you......yes you.....to join in. 

I believe in the beginning of this book I asked you to comment 'what' was on your mind, at that time.  Do you remember? 

The first question was  IN WHAT condition is your mind?  ........

And it started off...'have you noticed the condition of your mind changes'......  OH yeah baby! 

I loved it when she said -- it will TAKE TIME.....
I loved it when she said -- our minds are not born again with the NEW BIRTH....they have to be RENEWED...See Romans 12.2. 

She also reminded us NOT to be devestated if our minds don't 'look' and 'sound' like victory right away....and most of the time, our minds will be in a state of 'abnormal'....if we are seeking Christ.

Wow...what a statement....

So,  this journey...this ride in life is NOT going to be easy? 
This life with Christ is not going to be smooth?
This path I want to do well on ......may be HARD?     Yes, dear sister ..yes........

ARE you ready? 

I am! 

I will give you an example that HIT me square in the face on Sunday morn.  I awoke, and went to check emails.  The settings were off on my computer ( the kids and my husband usually always use it )  and it bothered me.  So, I had to go to history to find my 'spot' and immediately something hit me in the history.  I saw the words WTF...and a comment about a photo.  

Now...you can imgine what I thought of...but, instead of yelling...instead of assuming...I really had to pray and believe that my mind was NOT going to get caught up in a trap. 

Right away, the Enemy wanted me to assume the conditions or the state of mind of the last user on my computer....Right away, if I would of allowed myself...I would of started a firestorm of  just YUCK within my family.  Instead I prayed and renewed my mind. 

I actually checked out the site and it was a photo of a 80's icon wearing something VERY stupid, but by today's lingo...WTF...well...it ..sorry, I should not even use that initials.....but anyway.....

And, within the hour, in a mild conversation, I was able to ask my family about 'what' one was searching and to be careful...that was my school computer...etc. etc.  etc.

God worked it out..because I choose to renew my mind and now allow the enemy to GET in there and cause doubt.  That is all he can do you know - cause doubt..he has NO truth!

OK.  as we get back on track and read chapter eight...let us take this next part of the book and focus on really doing the hard work to RENEW our minds...so that we can have that VICTORY. 

Please...share a comment -- what is on your head...how you are liking the book so far...or what is up - share, I dare ya....

Michelle

Chapter Seven Think about What you are thinking..

Hello Ladies,  did you think I forgot?

With a soccer tourney this weekend and getting a cold, I was a bit behind.  So sorry, and I guess I wasn't ready to blog just yet....I see it was one week ago that I posted for Chapter Six....

So, how are you?  I did not see any responses, but trusting that the book study is going well and that you are beginning to see how you can get complete FREEDOM in this battle....

Chapter Seven was  a good chapter as well.  It started with the scripture:  "I will mediate on YOUR precepts and have respect to Your ways"...Psalm 119.5

Quite frankly the chapter was very specific and to the point -- we must mediate on HIS word.  What we spend our time on...is what we are ....this makes so much sense to us moms.

It is very easy for the Enemy to lie to us and tell us how un godly we are when we are in the middle of changing diapers and making lunches.  And then we have so many other tasks and we practically don't have any time for our husbands.....does this sound familiar?  

I so want to be like the tree that is firmly planted...what she reminded us of in Psm. 1.3...

How about you?

Mark 4.24 tells us to be careful in WHAT we think.
I loved how she gave her own testimony on her thought process..she would read the word and listen to the word but not ATTEND to HIS word..and when she began to put effort into learning HIS word and seeing what it said to her...she got her freedom.

I also could relate when she stated our flesh is basically LAZY...can I get a witness?

I want to walk in the counsel of the godly....I want my delight to be HIS desire and I want my delight to be the desire to SEEK HIS word and instruction  and HIS teachings...

And she reminded us that we should meditate on it day and night..that was in Joshua 1.8

I believe she also had great insight toward the end of the chapter when she said, there are going to be many saved people in heaven...but they won't be free....they could of been.

I want that victory.  I believe I have found that freedom and victory, my walk with Jesus and God is so different now ...so alive.

However, I am sorry to admit it took a LOT of pain and wake up calls to get to this place, but so be it.

I just want to encourage you, to continue to read and  as we approach the 2nd part of this book, the Conditions of the Mind...I pray that you are thinking positively and that you can see and feel the victory that HE wants for you.

I also pray that YOU are enjoying a closeness with our Heavenly Father..one that is so different..one that is not like anything else...and may the two of you grow even closer.  HE loves you so.

Amen.  

PS.  I am attaching a photo of my husband and I.  It was the 'first' photo I asked him to take  in  awhile. For so long he did not want to be near me....near us...and today when I asked for photo and he sweetly bowed his head, I melted.  There has been so much ugly and unpositive between us, praise God, HE did a miracle....HE can heal.


The photo reminded me today - to focus on the positive. Period.


Whatever hurts, whatever is going on in your life, I KNOW HE knows and HE can make a way when there seems to be no other way -- just ask.

now here is chapter six

Hello dear beloved,

How are you?   I think it is important to give yourself a PAT on the BACK...way to go...finding the time to read and much less post a response on a book blog is a challenge!   Give yourself credit for keeping up with the reading and praying and thinking!

I hope this finds you very well.  I am sorry this came a bit late,  if you did not know, we moved again.  This is our 2nd major move to a new spot in 6 months.  Prayerfully....we are hoping this new home could be our next real home.  We are renting it for now, for the same price we were paying for the last house we were renting, but his house is a dream.  It really is everything we have ever wanted and it has a pool....so, God willing, we may be able to make an offer on it in a year or less.  That is what we want to do.  We are going to see where God takes us.

We are still in a state of restoring and rebuilding and even with the stress of moving, there were many laughs.  I used my thoughts and stayed positive.    How about you?

Chapter Six is titled:  Mind-Binding Spirits.

I can relate.

The scripture, "let the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus"......that peace, is something I strive for each day.

I could really relate to her story in this chapter.  Joyce was given a vision, God promised her stuff and when things just did not happen as fast as maybe she thought...the enemy came right in and caused doubt and lied.  It is easy to listen to the lies if we are not prepared.

I can attest to that.  Can you?  Satan knows that if he can control your thoughts...he can control you life.

Moving brings forth memories.  When you pack something up, stuff just floods your brain.  Many of the memories were awesome and good, but the enemy had to attack...he thought reminding me of past hurts would get me off track.  Praise God, I am reading Joyce's book....these mind-binding spirits had NO control over me.

I did as she said, and cast them out.

How about you?

I would like you to take a chance this week and respond and share something that had been trying to get to you...what is the Enemy using to hurt you?  How is he lying to you?

Please share, remember what is said in this blog response will stay here and your sisters in Christ will help pray.

That is your assignment for this week:

These are my siblings....I pray for them each day...I pray that they get freedom from any mind binding spirits!  

I pray that you can relate because you recognize those mind binding spirits and I pray you have overcome them as well, and then share -- your victory.

Faithfully,
Michelle