Change the Movie; Change the Tape

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI

You Say ~ Lauren Daigle

 

… and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5 AMPC

 

If you don’t like where the pattern of your thoughts is taking you, think a different thought. ~ Graham Cooke

 

Have you ever watched a bad movie and realized halfway through you could either keep watching or do something else? Graham Cooke’s quote means as soon as you sense the downward spiral in your thoughts, it’s time to make a choice. Maybe, though, you’ve already fought the battle in your mind and are now feeling frustrated at having to battle for it, again. I felt that, recently. It’s not that I’d lost the ground I’d gained – I certainly wasn’t battling depression as I did in my teenage years – but I had become a bit lazy in taking every thought captive. That, coupled with some pain, I was ripe for attack.

 

Falling under attack isn’t the same as losing ground. As Joyce Meyer says in the opening of Battlefield of the Mind, “No matter how much we know in any area, there are always new things to learn, and things we have previously learned that we need to be refreshed in.” Clearly, I needed refreshing in this area, as God spent a week walking me though 2 Corinthians 10:5.

 

Have you ever struggled to follow verse 5? Years ago, a friend told me there were two parts. First, you need to know God’s truths to discern truth from lies. The second part is to take your thoughts captive. Think of your thoughts in a comic strip bubble. Then, you can easily grab and examine them. If they are truths from God, you can let them go. But if not, you need to throw them down and stomp on them. Luke 10:19 says we have the power and authority to trample on the head of the enemy. With your shoes of peace, trample the lie till it’s dead!

 

If you’ve been struggling with fear or lies, here are some truths to help you overcome. God says you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14); more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37); more precious than rubies (Pr. 31:10); and created for a purpose (Jer. 29:11). He also said you are unique, lovely, cherished, forgiven, victorious, chosen, and His (Ps. 139:13; Dan. 12:3; 1 Pet. 2:9; Ps. 103:12; 1 Jn. 5:4; Jn. 15:16; Is. 43:1). Don’t take this battle lying down; conquer it with God’s truth!

©Heather Potts 2022

Most Essential Need

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLBvCTV23qw

Nothing Else ~ Cody Carnes

Glory in His holy name; 

Let the hearts of those who seek and require the Lord [as their most essential need] rejoice. 

~ Psalm 105:3 AMP

Have you ever noticed that when you’re trying to pray or have quiet time with God, it doesn’t take any effort for you to get distracted? That happens to me more often than I’d like to admit (even to myself). When you confess those times to God and ask for His help, He is faithful to help.

Yesterday morning, at church, we heard from some missionaries our church supports. Though we often hear from missionaries, yesterday’s story hit me differently. The missionaries told a story about someone who’d been walking around in darkness and was so desperate for the Light that, once exposed to it, this person asked, “Where can I get my hands on a Bible?”

Like many people, I have access to multiple versions and copies of the Bible, but sadly, my greatest times of hunger and thirst for God’s Word (with only a handful of exceptions) have been either during a fast, during a very hard time, or when I am seeking a specific answer. Yet this person’s desperate need and desire was for God’s Holy Word. I prayed in that moment, confessing the times I’ve let emails, the budget, the dishes, the laundry, TV, social media, even the hamster distract me from God’s Word and His presence. I prayed and asked God to give me a hunger and thirst for Him, again. Not for the purpose of blessings, or filling my needs, but just to know Him better. Just an opportunity to be with Him.

If this resonates with you, then my prayer is that you’d cast aside the distractions - taking thoughts captive is a huge help - and seek the Lord as your most essential need.

Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might];

Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually. ~ Psalm 105:4 AMP

©Heather Potts 2021

Stand

Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground… ~ Ephesians 6:13-14 AMP (emphasis added)

For a long time, I was lackadaisical in taking my thoughts captive. Though I heard God speaking to me regularly, I wasn’t standing firm against the enemy. In my laziness, I began to listen to the enemy’s voice, too. The more I listened, the more the enemy’s lies became my thoughts and before too long, I found myself too weak to stand. But God wasn’t giving up on me. At the October Worship Wednesday, Pastor Bryan Meadows challenged us to get real, really real, with ourselves and with God. It wasn’t easy, but when I did, my Father told me I was ready and He challenged me to STAND!

The armor of God is for standing. We are able to stand because Christ holds the victory. Because He is in us, we hold the position—the proper and appropriate place—of victory. If you’ve been lackadaisical in taking your thoughts captive, if you’ve been entertaining the lies of the enemy—as true as they may sound—I challenge you to get really real with God and then stand your ground. When you do, the enemy will flee from you.

And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I’m not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I’ll never regret this. ~ Isaiah 50:7 MSG

©Heather Potts 2016