NEW YORK, NY — As the criminal trial involving former President Donald Trump winds to a close, the presiding judge instructed jurors that they don’t have to believe Trump is guilty to convict him.
— Read on babylonbee.com/news/judge-instructs-jurors-they-need-not-believe-trump-is-guilty-to-convict-him/
For Christians, that contentious time of the year is approaching—pride month. As June unfolds, relentless LGBTQ propaganda will practically engulf our lives. You’ll see it everywhere—on television, in your children’s schools, in your workplace, on billboards, in the streets, in restaurants, in advertisements, in social media feeds, in corporate logos, in sports arenas, in entertainment venues, in public libraries, and even in some synagogues of Satan that some people call “churches.”
The nation will essentially be draped in the rainbow flag for at least an entire month, and the parades and festivals will continue throughout the entire summer. It will be inescapable, barring quitting life altogether, locking yourself in your homes, and closing the blinds.
As Christians, how should we approach this onslaught of God-hating foolishness?
— Read on disntr.com/2024/05/28/how-should-christians-approach-pride-month/
One month as a Christian and Russell Brand already has a better grasp on repentance, sanctification, and humility than many lifelong Christians.
— Read on notthebee.com/article/russel-brand-posts-update-on-christian-journey-and-it-is-very-encouraging/
That quote by Dwight Longenecker succinctly captures a thought-provoking progression. Let’s break it down:
This progression serves as a cautionary reminder to remain vigilant and uphold moral standards. It prompts us to question our own complicity and the impact of our choices. 🤔
For many years, Lucille Ball was queen of primetime television in the 1950s through her hit sitcom I Love Lucy. The show I Love Lucy became the most-watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons and it was the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings.1DOSTIS, MELANIE. “Looking back at ‘I Love Lucy’ 64 years later”. nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020. Through the years, the once blockbuster show has remained a constant rerun favorite on television.
In 2009, an artist was given the task of sculpting a statue of Lucille Ball for her western NY hometown. The 400 lb. bronze statue was placed in the selected location and unveiled before fans in Celoron, NY, but the residents rejected the statue. In fact, they took to Facebook and created a page dedicated to its removal. They nicknamed the statue “Scary Lucy” because the image of the statue looked nothing like the image of the actress. It outraged the fans and they demanded its removal.
On August 6, 2016, a new statue was unveiled which was well received by the residents of Celoron, NY as they gathered together for a “Lucille Ball Comedy Festival” in honor of the late actress.
On a daily basis, Jesus Christ is greatly misrepresented. Sometimes the false Jesus is presented openly through the teachings of mainline false religions or cults. At other times, a false Jesus is subtly presented through entertainment outlets. Christians should be more outraged over the misrepresentation of Jesus than the fans of Lucille Ball were in 2009 when the “Scary Lucy” statue was unveiled.
Beware of gross misrepresentations and the false teachings that present a deformed Jesus that does not fit with the clear revelation that has been supplied by the Spirit of Christ in the pages of Scripture.
The subtle false Jesus is often presented with good intentions that appear to be in line with the teachings of holy Scripture. We see this within evangelicalism as a form of Jesus is presented through social justice ideologies. The social justice Jesus is a deformed Jesus transformed into a community organizer who is interested in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives rather than proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God and laying down his life as the sufficient sin atoning sacrifice for his people (John 1:29; 1 John 2:1-2).
The social justice Jesus is a deformed Jesus transformed into a community organizer who is interested in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives rather than proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of God and laying down his life as the sufficient sin atoning sacrifice for his people (John 1:29; 1 John 2:1-2).
In recent years, a rise of the social justice ideologies such as intersectionality and CRT (critical race theory) has been popularized within conservative evangelical circles—including the Southern Baptist Convention. This was clearly visible with the adoption of the infamous RESOLUTION 9 – ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND INTERSECTIONALITY in 2019. Today, an infusion of social justice ideologies continues to plague the Southern Baptist Convention as they debate the clear teachings of Scripture regarding whether or not a woman can hold the office of pastor (elder, minister, overseer).
Another popular way in which a subtle false Jesus is presented is through music lyrics or a hit series like The Chosen. This is a dangerous means of infusing a false Jesus into the minds of people through popular songs by singer-songwriters who are given open door access into the minds and hearts of their fans. In the case of The Chosen, a false Jesus can be presented in cinematic form that’s appealing and well received by people inside and outside of orthodox Christian circles.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”
Christians must learn to exercise discernment in order to detect the false Jesus that is often presented with subtle variations, who cannot save sinners, and does not deserve the worship and honor of the true Christ. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not the ability to tell the difference between right and wrong; rather, it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”
References
| 1 | DOSTIS, MELANIE. “Looking back at ‘I Love Lucy’ 64 years later”. nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020. |
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Scripture has much to say about Heaven, but it has even more to say about Hell—as does Jesus Himself. Similarly, there are repeated warnings not to be deceived.
The post Do Not Be Deceived first appeared on The Christ in Prophecy Journal.
Some years ago, I wrote a brief book to help readers deal with difficult individuals because, well, the world is teeming with them.
Like people who like to control everything and everyone, for instance.
It may be tempting to argue another person we know fits the bill, but this article asks the uncomfortable question—what if we are that bossy individual?
This is a difficult proposition to entertain. I get it. For one thing, if you have a niggling awareness that you can be pushy, there’s probably a real resistance to asking those around—family, friends, colleagues—for confirmation.
Who wants to hear them snicker—as you see DUH! written in their expression?
Since it’s hard to find an impartial observer who can verify whether or not we are controlling, the best way to discern the answer is by doing an honest self-assessment.
Which is why I’m issuing a fair warning: this article will trudge into some tender areas.
I don’t wish to heap shame or blame. Every time I write, my intention is to edify. Since there are exponentially many more souls I can help through my articles than through my psychology practice—at least in theory—I dedicate all my writing endeavors to facilitating wholeness and healing.
So, here’s a proposal.
Let me apologize in advance if anything you read here triggers you. However, remember that you can pause and intentionally breathe. Deep breathing is a reliable practice to resort to any time you feel triggered, including while reading this piece.
I’m sneaking in a few deep breaths too.
Ready?
You may be a controlling person if any of the following resonates.
How frequently do you find yourself smiling? What about slowing down or enjoying the day? Does laughter seem like a relic from bygone days?
If your mood usually dips into the negative range, investigate inwardly. Could it be you’re often irate or tense because of others?
Let me be more specific.
Are there individuals you disapprove of—complete with a list of actions they did or didn’t do?
Check if deep down, your frustration with them has to do with a wish to control their behavior.
Are you quick to let your relatives know whenever they fail your expectations? Is your tongue bent on criticizing? Do you feel the impulse to inform others about the weakness of their choices, whether it’s about something frivolous or weighty with eternal significance, like selecting the right church?
Consider how “fools find no pleasure in understanding, but delight in airing their own opinions” (Proverbs 18:2).
Nobody enjoys being called a fool, so let’s make sure we don’t find a home in this verse.
According to this particular Proverb, fools are people with zero interest in understanding the whys behind others’ actions. They’re only invested in broadcasting their own perspectives, including why the other is wrong.
Instead of criticizing, try being curious about why so-and-so decided to do life differently than you.
This is one of the most obvious signs you might have a habit of controlling others. God Himself gave us free will because the freedom to choose is vital to our existence. Nobody likes to be told what to do.
So, if you’re accustomed to micromanaging those around you, don’t be surprised if those you’ve befriended eventually ghost you, or if your colleagues distance themselves from you.
Since nobody relishes being controlled, your effort to tell another what to do will likely meet resistance—which, in turn, might fuel your anger.
But if you tend to erupt if angry outbursts, don’t be surprised if your body also suffers in the process, as the next point shows.
Do you deal with physical challenges on a regular basis? It could indicate a problem with anger. Studies have shown how anger can lead to:
In addition, one book explains how anger breaks the body down by increasing health risks for hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease. The effects of anger on the body are similar to those of smoking.
And if you’re married, getting into just a 30-minute argument with your spouse will add one whole day to the time it takes for your physical wound to heal.
While others have the liberty to walk away, family doesn’t. Therefore, your relatives may still lend you their help—say, in a crisis—regardless of your tendencies. But it doesn’t mean things are rosy.
If you have truly been bossy, they might keep their distance from you or strive to keep communications to a bare minimum.
Are you in a serious relationship? A controlling tendency predicts frequent fights for you and your significant other. While you may attribute these rifts to your partner’s flaws, it’s also possible that being domineering is destabilizing your relationship.
My standard practice is to rewrite and ruthlessly review all of my articles at least a handful of times prior to submitting them. Every piece I’ve authored, including this one, has to survive the brutal protocol before the world—including my editor—is allowed access to it.
I’ve strived to scrub this article from sharp words or injurious innuendos.
Even so, I’d be the first to concede that it’s possible I didn’t speak the truth in love enough (Ephesians 4:15).
Again, if I hurt you, I apologize.
But might it also be possible you’re upset because the words here hit home? To quote the apostle Paul, “Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16, GWT).
If you realize you’ve been a controlling person, there’s hope.
You can change.
However, you need to cultivate such change. Brace yourself; this process won’t bear fruit overnight. Still, even if it will take some time, your relationships are apt to fare better. People will respond to you with more smiles than sarcasm. Your overall health—physical and mental—will likely improve.
Unsure how to become less controlling?
Consult God. He has promised to give us wisdom if we lack it (James 1:5). Pray about why you’ve tried hard to control your world and what you can do moving forward. Did something happen earlier in life that threatened your sense of safety? Perhaps you’ve learned to compensate by always striving to exercise control. If so, ask the Lord to heal this initial injury.
Having said the above, this article is toothless to truly diagnose you. To get an actual read— whether or not you tend to be controlling—make an appointment with a psychologist. This professional can not only help you understand the controlling parts of your personality, but also offer you a roadmap toward living with more freedom.
May I arm you with a tip? I have seen the power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) to transform lives. As such, I highly recommend therapists who are certified in this modality. Head to the IFS Institute website if you’re intrigued.
Whether you choose to hire an IFS therapist or not, I’m cheering you on.
Here’s to a less controlling—and more contented—life!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Shutter2U
Audrey Davidheiser, PhD is a California licensed psychologist, certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, and IFSI-approved clinical consultant. After founding and directing a counseling center for the Los Angeles Dream Center, she now devotes her practice to survivors of trauma—including spiritual abuse. If you need her advice, visit her on www.aimforbreakthrough.comand Instagram @DrAudreyD.
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/signs-you-might-be-a-controlling-person.html
5 The fact that evening is placed before morning throughout this chapter is not a foolproof indication that the OT reckons a day from sunset to sunset. There is some evidence that strongly suggests that the day was considered to begin in the morning at sunrise. For example, this view is supported by the fact that when the OT refers to a second day the time reference is the morning (Gen. 19:33–34; Judg. 6:38; 21:4). Similarly, the phrase “day and night” is much more frequent than “night and day.” Thus it seems likely that this refrain in Genesis refers not to the computation of a day but rather to the “vacant time till the morning, the end of a day and the beginning of the next work.”9[1]
1:5. And God called the light ‘day’ and he called the darkness ‘night’. And there was evening and there was morning, Day One.
Here God was naming objects of creation. Prefixed to the words ‘day’ and ‘night’ are lamed prepositions. Many translators leave these prepositions untranslated, as if they were serving as signs of the direct object In reality, they may be spatial lameds which mean ‘to’. If so, the first half of the verse may read: ‘And God called to the light “Day!” and to the darkness he called “Night!” ’
This activity reflects the ancient idea that all objects are inextricably bound to the spoken word. In fact, many believed that an object took its identity from its name. In other words, things had no being or character unless they had been named. A good example of that belief is the Hebrew practice of giving names that fit individual characters and personalities (3:20; 4:2; 25:25). In the creation account, the naming of the created objects certified their essence and existence. Without names they had no real being.
In addition, the act of name-giving reflects God’s authority over the objects that he named. For further work on this concept, see commentary on 2:19.
The word ‘one’ is a cardinal number. When it is found with an indefinite noun it may have an emphatic force. The meaning ‘first’ given in many translations ‘is derived solely from context’.20
The temporal framework of creation was ‘evening’ and ‘morning’ (literally ‘sunset’ and ‘sunrise’). Together they constitute a figure called a merism, which signified the end of light and encompassed the entire period of darkness. Thus Day 1 began with the entrance of light and it ended at the departure of darkness. Day 2 began at sunrise. Cassuto comments: ‘An examination of the narrative passages of the Bible makes it evident that whenever clear reference is made to the relationship between a given day and the next, it is precisely sunrise that is accounted the beginning of the second day.’ This accounting of time was the same as that held by the ancient Egyptians.[2]
Ver. 5. And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night:—Light, natural and spiritual:—
The Holy Ghost mysteriously quickens the dead heart, excites emotions, longings, desires.
I. Divine fiat: God said, Let there be light, and there was light. The Lord Himself needed no light to enable Him to discern His creatures. He looked upon the darkness, and resolved that He would transform its shapeless chaos into a fair and lovely world.
1. We shall observe that the work of grace by which light enters the soul is a needful work. God’s plan for the sustaining of vegetable and animal life, rendered light necessary. Light is essential to life. It is light which first shows us our lost estate; for we know nothing of it naturally. This causes pain and anguish of heart; but that pain and anguish are necessary, in order to bring us to lay hold on Jesus Christ, whom the light next displays to us. No man ever knows Christ till the light of God shines on the cross.
2. Next observe it was a very early work. Light was created on the first day, not on the third, fourth, or sixth, but on the first day; and one of the first operations of the Spirit of God in a man’s heart is to give light enough to see his lost estate, and to perceive that he cannot save himself from it but must look elsewhere.
3. It is well for us to remember that light giving is a Divine work. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4. This Divine work is wrought by the Word. God did not sit in solemn silence and create the light, but He spake. He said, “Light be,” and light was. So the way in which we receive light is by the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Christ Himself is the essential Word, and the preaching of Christ Jesus is the operative Word. We receive Christ actually when God’s power goes with God’s Word—then have we light. Hence the necessity of continually preaching the Word of God.
5. While light was conferred in connection with the mysterious operation of the Holy Spirit, it was unaided by the darkness itself. How could darkness assist to make itself light? Nay, the darkness never did become light. It had to give place to light, but darkness could not help God. The power which saves a sinner is not the power of man.
6. As this light was unassisted by darkness, so was it also unsolicited. There came no voice out of that thick darkness, “Oh God, enlighten us”; there was no cry of prayer. The first work of grace in the heart does not begin with man’s desire, but with God’s implanting the desire.
7. This light came instantaneously.
8. As it is instantaneous, so it is irresistible. Darkness must give place when God speaks.
II. Divine observation. “And God saw the light.” Does He not see everything? Yes, beloved, He does; but this does not refer to the general perception of God of all His works, but is a something special. “God saw the light”—He looked at it with complacency, gazed upon it with pleasure. A father looks upon a crowd of boys in a school and sees them all, but there is one boy whom he sees very differently from all the rest: he watches him with care: it is his own child, and his eye is specially there. Though you have come here sighing and groaning because of inbred sin, yet the Lord sees what is good in you, for He has put it there. Satan can see the light and he tries to quench it: God sees it and preserves it. The Lord watches you, and He sees the light. He has His eye always fixed upon the work of grace that is in your soul.
III. Divine approbation. “God saw the light, that it was good.” Light is good in all respects.
1. The natural light is good. Solomon says, “It is a pleasant thing to behold the sun”; but you did not want Solomon to inform you upon that point. Any blind man who will tell you the tale of his sorrows will be quite philosopher enough to convince you that light is good.
2. Gospel light is good. “Blessed are the eyes which see the things which ye see.” You only need to travel into heathen lands, and witness the superstition and cruelty of the dark places of the earth, to understand that gospel light is good.
3. As for spiritual light, those that have received it long for more of it, that they may see yet more and more the glory of heaven’s essential light! O God, Thou art of good the unmeasured Sea; Thou art of light both Soul, and Source, and Centre.
(1) It must be good from its source. The light emanates from God, in whom is no darkness at all, and, as it comes absolutely and directly from Him, it must be good.
(2) It is good, again, when we consider its likeness. Light is like to God. It is a thing so spiritual, so utterly to be ungrasped by the hand of flesh, that it has often been selected as the very type of God. Ignatius used to call himself, Theoplioruc, or the God-bearer. The title might seem eccentric, but the fact is true of all the saints—they bear God about with them. God dwelleth in His saints as in a temple.
(3) It is good, also, in its effect. It is good for a man to know his danger—it makes him start from it. It is good for him to know the evil of his sin—it makes him avoid it, and repent of it.
(4) It is good, moreover, because it glorifies God. Where were God’s glory in the outward universe without light? Could we gaze upon the landscape? Spiritual light shows us our emptiness, our poverty, our wretchedness, but it reveals in blessed contrast His fulness, His riches, His freeness of grace. The more light in the soul, the more gratitude to God.
(5) Let me say of the work of God in the soul as compared to light, that it is good in the widest possible sense. The new nature which God puts in us never sins: it cannot sin, because it is born of God. “What!” say you, “does a Christian never sin?” Not with the new nature; the new nature never sins: the old nature sins. It is the darkness which is dark: the light is not darkness; the light is always light.
IV. Divine separation. It appears that though God made light there was still darkness in the world: “And God divided the light from the darkness.” Beloved, the moment you become a Christian, you will begin to fight. You will be easy and comfortable enough, as long as you are a sinner, but as soon as you become a Christian, you will have no more rest.
1. One part of the Divine work in the soul of man is to make a separation in the man himself. Do you feel an inward contention and war going on? Permit me to put these two verses together—“O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” How can these two things be consistent? Ask the spiritual man: he will tell you, “The Lord divideth between light and darkness.”
2. Whereas there is a division within the Christian, there is certain to be a division without. So soon as ever the Lord gives to any believer light, he begins to separate himself from the darkness. He separates himself from the world’s religion, finds out where Christ is preached, and goes there. Then as to society, the dead, carnal religionist can get on very well in ordinary society, but it is not so when he has light. I cannot go to light company, wasting the evening, showing off my fine clothes, and talking frivolity and nonsense.
V. Divine nomination. Things must have names; Adam named the beasts, but God Himself named the day and the night. “And God called the light day, and the darkness called He night.” It is a very blessed work of grace to teach us to call things by their right names. The spiritual aspirations of God’s people never can be evil. Carnal reason calls them folly, but the Lord would have us call them good. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Lessons from the night:—
1. One of the first lessons which God intends us to learn from the night is a larger respect for wholesome renovation. Perhaps this may not show itself in any great lengthening of our bodily life, but rather in a more healthy spirit, less exposed to that prevailing unrest which fills the air and which troubles so many minds.
2. The night is the season of wonder. A new and strangely equipped population, another race of beings, another sequence of events, comes into and fills the world of the mind. Men who have left their seal upon the world, and largely helped in the formation of its deepest history—men whose names stand up through the dim darkness of the past, great leaders and masters, have admitted that they learned much from the night.
3. The next thought belonging to the night is that then another world comes out, and as it were, begins its day. There is a rank of creatures which moves out into activity as soon as the sun has set. This thought should teach us something of tolerence; senses, dispositions, and characters are very manifold and various among ourselves. Each should try to live up to the light he has, and allow a brother to do the same.
4. Such extreme contrasts as are involved in light and darkness may tell us that we have as yet no true measure of what life is, and it must be left to some other conditions of existence for us to realize in anything like fulness the stores, the processes, the ways of the Kingdom of the Lord which are provided for such as keep His law.
5. Let us learn that, whether man wake or sleep, the universe is in a state of progress, “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together.”
6. Let us learn to use day rightly and righteously, to accept the grace and the forces of the Lord while it is called to-day, and then the night shall have no forbidding, no repulsive significance.
The evening and the morning were the first day.—The first day:—
I. Think of the day’s beginning. Evening came before morning. Light issued out of darkness. The first goings of creative power were in obscurity.
II. The day’s character—“Evening and morning.” In all life are alternations of darkness and light—shadow and sunshine. Rest is the condition of labour, and labour of rest.
III. The day’s religion. There was a morning and an evening sacrifice.
IV. The day’s end. That which began in darkness is followed by darkness, which ushers in a new day. “The night cometh.” (The Preacher’s Monthly.)
The evening and the morning:—
I. Let us reflect on what is God’s way of estimating the periods of history. I do no unjust disparagement to the common way of recording the course of human history, when I say that it takes the form of a record of failures and catastrophes coming down upon splendid beginnings of empire. It is the morning and the evening that make the day; not the evening and the morning. For one Motley to tell the story of the Rise, there be many Gibbons to narrate the Decline and Fall. History, as told in literature, is a tragedy, and ends with a death. So human history is ever looking backward; and the morning and the evening make the day. But it is not so that God writes history. The annals of mankind in the Holy Book begin in the darkness of apostasy; but the darkness is shot through with gleams of hope, the first rays of the dawn. The sentence of death is illuminated with the promise of a Saviour: and the evening and the morning are the first day. There is night again when the flood comes down and the civilization and the wickedness of the primeval world are whelmed beneath it. But the flood clears off with a rainbow, and it is proved to have been the clearing of the earth for a better progress, for the rearing of a godly race, of whom by and by the Christ shall come according to the flesh: and the evening and the morning are the second day. And again the darkness falls upon the chosen race. They have ceased from off the land of promise. They are to be traced through a marvellous series of events down into the dark, where we dimly recognize the descendants of heroic Abraham and princely Joseph in the gangs and coffles of slaves, wearing themselves out in the brickyards of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. And this—is this the despairing evening of so bright a patriarchal age as that gone by? No, no! it is so that men reckon, but not God. This is the evening, not of yesterday, but of to-morrow. The elements of a new civilization are brooding there in that miserable abode of slavery: of a civilization that shall take “the learning of the Egyptians” and infuse into it the spirit of a high and fraternal morality, that shall take its religious pomps and rituals and cleanse them of falsehoods and idolatries and inform them with the spiritual worship of the one invisible God. The holy and priestly civilization of David and Solomon, of the sons of Asaph and the sons of Korah, is to come forth out of that dark chaos of Egyptian slavery. And the evening and the morning shall be the fourth day. We need not trace the history of humanity and of the Church on through all its pages. We have only to carry the spirit of this ancient story forward into later times, and the dark places of history become irradiated, and lo! the night is light about us. We behold “the decline and fall of the Roman Empire”—that awful convulsion of humanity; nation dashing against nation; civilization, with its monuments and records, its institutions and laws, going down out of sight, overwhelmed by an inrushing sea of barbaric invasion, and it looks to us, as we gaze, like nothing but destruction and the end, ruin and failure. So it seems to us at this distance: so it seemed to that great historian, Gibbon. But in the midst of the very wreck and crash of it sat that great believer, Augustine, and wrote volume after volume of the Civitas Dei—the “city of God,” the “city that hath foundations,” the “kingdom that cannot be moved.” This awful catastrophe, he tells the terrified and quaking world, is not the end—it is the beginning. History does not end so. This is the way its chapters open. The night was a long night, but it had an end: and now we look back and see how through all its dark and hopeless hours God was slowly grinding materials for the civilization of modern times. So long, so long it seemed: but the morning came at last. And the evening and the morning made the day. And we, to-day, are only in the morning twilight, after just such another convulsion and obscuration of the world. I have spoken to you now of this principle of the divine order, which begins the day with the evening, as illustrated, first in creation, and then in history; and now, can I safely leave it with you to make the more practical application of it—
II. To the course of human life? For this is where you most need to know and feel it, and where, I suspect, you most fail to see it. It has been such a common blunder, from the days of Job and his friends down to the days when Christ rebuked the Pharisees, and from those days again down to ours—the blunder of supposing that the evening goes with the day before, and not with the day after—that the dark times of human life are a punishment for what is past, instead of being, as they always are to them that love God, a discipline and preparation for what is coming. There are many and many such eventides in life—times of enforced repose; hard times, when business stagnates or runs with adverse current; times of sickness, pain, seclusion; times of depression, sorrow, bereavement, fear. Such are the night-times of life; and blessed are they who at such times have learned to “look forward, and not back”; to say, not, What have I done, that this thing should befall me? but, rather, What is God preparing for me, and for what is He preparing me, that thus He should lovingly chasten and instruct me in the night season? Then lift your heads, ye saints, and answer: “No, no! this is not the end; this is the beginning. The evening is come, and the morning also cometh; and the evening and the morning are the day. Look! look at the glory of the evening sky. It shall be fair weather in the morning, for the sky is red.” So shall it “come to pass that at evening time it shall be light.” (L. W. Bacon.)
The first day:—
“The evening and the morning were the first day.” The evening came first. God’s glorious universe sprang into existence in obscurity. “There was the hiding of His power.” It is very remarkable that the creation-work and the redemption-work of God were both alike shrouded in darkness. When God spake, and the worlds were made, it is said, “darkness was upon the face of the deep.” When Christ hung upon the cross, having finished His work of love, it is said, “There was a darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” What a lesson does this teach us! The glory was so exceeding that it needed to be overshadowed: for us the veil was thrown over Jehovah’s brightness; the light would have been too strong for mortal eyes; the diadem of the King of kings would have been too dazzling to meet our gaze, had it not been dimmed for our sakes. Nevertheless, hidden as He is in unapproachable majesty, His secret is with them that fear Him; and while the evening lasts, they wait with longing expectation for that morning when they shall see no longer through a glass darkly, but rather face to face. “The evening and the morning were the first day.” It was the alternation of light and shade which constituted this first day; and is it not so with the spiritual days of a Christian? Darkness and light succeed each other. If, then, thou art one who, as a child of God, art sitting in darkness, there is comfort in this word for thee. If it is evening now, the sunlight shall arise again. Even the record of God’s creation speaks to thee of consolation: there is in it a promise of joy to come; thy day would not be perfect, if there were not a morning to succeed thy night. But if thou art one with whom there is the brightness of sunshine in providence and in grace, this sentence speaks to thee in warning. Although now thou canst look up to an unclouded sky, and there is light in thy dwelling and in thine heart; remember the evening shadows. The longest day has its sunset. God hath ordained the alternation of light and darkness. As it is with individuals, so it is with the whole Church of Christ; and now it is peculiarly with her the night-time, the deepest night she has ever known, and, blessed be God, the last night. She standeth now beneath the darkened sky of that “tribulation” which is to issue in the millennial brightness of her coming Bridegroom’s kingdom. How often does she inquire, “Watchman, what of the night?” and the answer is, “The morning cometh, still as yet there will be night: if ye inquire already, yet must ye return; come and inquire again” (Isa. 21:12, Geneva version). It shall be darker yet with her, ere the breaking morn appeareth: but how glorious will be the dawn of that light, when the Sun of Righteousness Himself shall arise with healing in His beams. Truly, said David, when he saw the glory of the King of kings and spake of Him—“He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun ariseth, even a morning without clouds.” “Even so,” Saviour, “come quickly,” “The evening and the morning were the first day.” I cannot help noticing another thing in the consideration of this subject. The evening of a natural day is the season of rest from labour: “Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” In the darkness of the night, the various occupations of busy men are laid aside, and the world is hushed in silence, waiting the returning morning. Is there nothing of this in the Christian’s experience? Can he work when the night sets in upon his soul? Does not he, too, wait and long for sunrise? “The evening and the morning were the first day.” There is yet another lesson in these words, which I would notice. What is it which constitutes the evening of a natural day? It is not that the position of the sun is changed; but that the inhabitants of the earth are turned from Him. Let us not forget that it is so with the evening of the soul. There are some in the religious world, who seem to be just like the philosophers of a former day, who believed and taught that the sun moved round our planet; they speak as if the light of the Christian were caused by some change in Christ, the eternal Sun of Righteousness. Nay, it is not so. Our Saviour God is ever the same, in the glory of His salvation, in the brightness of His redemption; but we, alas! I turn away our faces from Him, and are in darkness. It is sin which causes it to be evening with us; it is our iniquity which has made it dark. There is one thought connected with the evening and the morning, which is so precious to me, that I cannot pass it over. There was, under the law, a sacrifice appointed both for the morning and the evening. Ah! when it is day-light with thee, Christian, and thou goest into the sanctuary, having boldness to enter into the very holiest, having free access unto the Father; thy soul can there offer its sacrifice of willing, loving praise. But the evening cometh, and then thou dost shrink back from saying aught to God, from bringing thine offering with so heavy a heart. Still, go even then; and pleading the blood of that richer sacrifice which never faileth to bring down a blessing, lay the tribute of thy broken heart beside it, and ask thy God, for His sake not to despise it. He will not do so, for, in the provisions of His temple service, there was a sacrifice for the evening too. (The Protoplast.)
The record of the first day of creation reminds us of the first day of human life:—
How rapidly do the “few days” which succeed the first evening and morning in the life of man, pass away. I think I have somewhere read of a philosopher who was seen in tears, and on being asked, “Why weepest thou?” answered, “I weep because there is so much for me to do, and my life is too short to do it in.” Whether the philosopher said so or not, I am sure my own heart has said it oftentimes, and so, I doubt not, have the hearts of others. Sorrow and sickness are the two great means by which many a young heart has become aged; the mind is early matured, and the stranger wondering says, “How old such an one is in character!” Yet every day of natural life has its burden, as fore-ordained of God. There is one thought connected with the day, that is a very solemn one. The evening and the morning will succeed each other, without break or change, year after year; but a day will come upon us, the evening of which we shall never see; a sun will rise that we shall never see go down; the morning will come and find us in a body of sin and suffering, and before the evening we shall have passed away. (Ibid.)[3]
[1] Hamilton, V. P. (1990). The Book of Genesis, Chapters 1–17 (p. 121). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
[2] Currid, J. D. (n.d.). A Study Commentary on Genesis: Genesis 1:1–25:18 (Vol. 1, pp. 62–63). Evangelical Press.
[3] Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: Genesis (Vol. 1, pp. 44–48). James Nisbet & Co.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:12-13
The forgiveness we do not give, the forgiveness we withhold— will hold us back in our relationship with the Lord and the plans He has for us.
Unforgiveness will become a stumbling block in our walk with the Lord and with others. It doesn’t matter if the person receives it, and it doesn’t matter if the person does or does not acknowledge wrong doing.
Forgiveness is about our heart letting go instead of staying in bondage to that circumstance. Forgiveness isn’t about changing the offender. It is about a change in us.
When we fully forgive, we will stop playing the same tape in our head, going over and over the wrong committed against us. When we stop playing that tape over and over again, life will become fuller and richer and the past pain will noticeably subside, leaving us wishing we had granted ourselves this freedom much sooner.
God is the ultimate healer and when we forgive and let go, He comes in with His balm of healing and tender care and does a work on our wounds that will truly change our lives. This change will take us to a place of continued and complete healing.
When you hear yourself saying this is too hard, ask yourself – is it too hard for God? Does God want you to stay stuck living in that pain, and living in that past that is keeping you from living today and embracing the future with hope?
Unforgiveness is the precise reason we can’t get past the pain. Letting go and moving past the pain will bring you peace and peace will bring you a new and fresh outlook on life as you discover a joy in your heart that you have not known before.
In the strength of the Lord, you can forgive and let go, you can heal and move forward in complete wholeness.
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “
By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission
Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/
Feelings, Forgiveness and Peace | by Dr. Muriel Larson
The Power of Forgiveness | by Dr. Henry Brandt
How to Experience God’s Love and Forgiveness (3 parts)
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The post The Stumbling Block of Unforgiveness can be found online at Daily Thoughts about God.
God has a new heart for us that cannot be offended, an “unoffendable” heart. Beloved, possessing an unoffendable heart is not an option or a luxury; it’s not a little thing. An offended heart is endanger of becoming a “heart of stone.”
Consider: Jesus warns that, as we near the end of the age, a majority of people will be offended to such a degree that they fall away from the faith. Listen carefully to His warning:
“Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another . . . and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew. 24:10-12 KJV).
“Many” will “be offended.” The result? The love of “many” will grow cold. My prayer is that we will hear His words with holy fear.
When we allow an offense to remain in our hearts, it causes serious spiritual consequences. In the above verse Jesus named three dangerous results: betrayal, hatred and cold love. When we are offended with someone, even someone we care for, we must go to them. If we do not talk to them, we will begin to talk about them. We betray that relationship, whispering maliciously behind their back to others, exposing their weaknesses and sins. We may mask our betrayal by saying we are just looking for advice or counsel, but when we look back, we see we have spoken negatively to far too many people. Our real goal was not to get spiritual help for ourselves but to seek revenge toward the one who offended us. How is such action not a manifestation of hatred? For an offended soul, cold love, betrayal and hatred are a walk into darkness.
People don’t stumble over boulders; they stumble over stones, relatively small things. It may be that the personality of someone in authority bothers us, and soon we are offended. Or, a friend or family member fails to meet our expectations, and we take an offense into our soul. Beloved, if we will “endure to the end,” we will have to confront the things that bother us.
When Jesus warns that we need endurance, He is saying that it is easier to begin the race than finish it. Between now and the day you die, there will be major times of offense that you will need to overcome. You might be in such a time right now. Do not minimize the danger of harboring an offense!
No one plans on falling away; no one ever says, “Today, I think I’ll try to develop a hardened heart of stone.” Such things enter our souls through stealth. It is only naiveté that assumes it couldn’t happen to us. I know many people who consistently become offended about one thing or another. Instead of dealing with the offenses, praying about them and turning the issue over to God, they carry the offense in their soul until its weight disables their walk with God. You may be doing fine today, but I guarantee you, tomorrow something will happen that will inevitably disappoint or wound you; some injustice will strike you, demanding you retaliate in the flesh. Will you find more love, and hence, continue your growth toward Christ likeness? Or will you allow that offense to consume your spiritual life?
By Francis Frangipane
used by Permission
Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughts-about-god.com/four-laws/
Forgiveness is Good for Your Health
God Forgave our Sins, Past, Present and Future
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The post Unoffendable can be found online at Daily Thoughts about God.
Adoration
I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:1–3)
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous;
Praise is becoming to the upright. (Psalm 33:1)
As for me, I will always have hope,
And I will praise You more and more.
My mouth will tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come in the strength of the Lord God;
I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone.
Since my youth, O God, You have taught me,
And to this day I declare Your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 71:14–17)
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
The Lord, He is God.
It is He who made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving
And Your courts with praise;
I will give thanks to You and bless Your name.
For the Lord is good
And Your lovingkindness endures forever;
Your faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:1–5)
Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.
Confession
Have mercy on me, O God,
According to Your loyal love;
According to the greatness of Your compassion
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge. (Psalm 51:1–4)
Who can discern his errors?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
Keep Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
And innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:12–13)
Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.
Purge me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Cause me to hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have crushed may rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
Or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You. (Psalm 51:7–13)
Renewal
Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:
May I return to my God,
Maintain mercy and justice,
And wait on my God continually. (Hosea 12:6)
May I rejoice in my tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit who was given to me. (Romans 5:3–5)
May I rejoice in hope, persevere in affliction, and continue steadfastly in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
May I not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.
Petition
Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning growth in holiness.
If I abide in You, and Your words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish, and it will be done for me. By this is Your Father glorified, that I bear much fruit, showing myself to be Your disciple. As the Father has loved You, You also have loved me. May I abide in Your love. If I keep Your commandments, I will abide in Your love, just as You kept Your Father’s commandments and abide in His love. You have told me this so that Your joy may be in me and that my joy may be full. (John 15:7–11)
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts,
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23–24)
O Lord, set a guard over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart turn aside to any evil thing. (Psalm 141:3–4a)
Direct my footsteps according to Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. (Psalm 119:133)
May I be diligent to add to my faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are mine in increasing measure, they will keep me from being barren and unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5–8)
I will not let sin reign in my mortal body that I should obey its lusts. Nor will I present the members of my body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but I will present myself to God as one who is alive from the dead and my members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:12–13)
As an alien and a stranger in the world, may I abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against my soul. (1 Peter 2:11)
The works of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:19–23)
May I put away all filthiness and the overflow of wickedness, and in meekness accept the word planted in me, which is able to save my soul. May I be a doer of the word and not merely a hearer who deceives himself. (James 1:21–22)
As I walk in the Spirit, I will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; for they oppose each other, so that I may not do the things that I wish. But if I am led by the Spirit, I am not under the law. (Galatians 5:16–18)
Pause here to express any additional personal requests, especially concerning spiritual insight:Understanding and insight into the word Understanding my identity in Christ Who I am Where I came from Where I am going Understanding God’s purpose for my life
My activities for this day
Special concerns
Intercession
Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for believers.
May your love abound more and more in full knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ—having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)
In the spirit of these passages, I pray for:Personal friends Those in ministry Those who are oppressed and in need Special concerns
Affirmation
Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these truths from Your word concerning my identity in Christ:
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, they have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
If I died with Christ, I believe that I will also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, may I consider myself to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:8–11)
I did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but I received the Spirit of adoption by whom I cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with my spirit that I am a child of God. (Romans 8:15–16)
My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in me, whom I have from God, and I am not my own. For I was bought at a price; therefore may I glorify God in my body. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.
Thanksgiving
For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1–2)
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
Lord, thank You that You have made these promises:
For those who revere Your name, the Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And they will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. (Malachi 4:2)
Because I love You, You will deliver me;
You will protect me, for I acknowledge Your name.
I will call upon You, and You will answer me;
You will be with me in trouble,
You will deliver me and honor me.
With long life You will satisfy me
And show me Your salvation. (Psalm 91:14–16)
Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.
Closing Prayer
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)
Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them, will sing:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be blessing and honor and glory and power
For ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip us in every good thing to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. (Hebrews 13:20–21)
Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.
MATTHEW HENRY’S “METHOD FOR PRAYER”
We must acknowledge it an unspeakable favor and an inestimable privilege that we are not only admitted, but invited and encouraged, to draw near to God in prayer.
You have commanded me to pray always, with all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and, to that end, to keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints; Ephesians 6:18(ESV) to continue in prayer, and in everything, by prayer and supplication, to let my requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6(ESV)
You have directed me to ask and seek and knock, and have promised that I will receive, I will find, and it will be opened to me. Matthew 7:7(ESV)
You have appointed for me a great High Priest, in whose name I may draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16(ESV)
You have assured me that while the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, the prayer of the upright is acceptable; Proverbs 15:8(ESV) and that the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies you; Psalm 50:23(ESV) and the sacrifice of thanksgiving will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:30-31(ESV)
You are he who hears prayer, and therefore to you shall all flesh come. Psalm 65:2(ESV)
You say, “Seek my face,” and my heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8(ESV) For, should not a person inquire of his God? Isaiah 8:19(ESV) To whom shall I go but to you? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68(ESV)
•Because of all You have done for me, I present my body to You as a living sacrifice for this day. I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, affirming that Your will for me is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)
•Offer a brief word of praise to God for one or more of His attributes (e.g., love and compassion, grace, mercy, holiness, goodness, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, truthfulness, unchanging character, eternality) and/or works (e.g., creation, care, redemption, loving purposes, second coming).
•Thank Him for the good things in your life.
•Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness. (Psalm 139:23–24)
•“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
*I have forgiveness from the penalty of sin because Christ died for me. (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3)
*I have freedom from the power of sin because I died with Christ. (Colossians 2:11; 1 Peter 2:24)
*I have fulfillment for this day because Christ lives in me. (Philippians 1:20–21)
*By faith, I will allow Christ to manifest His life through me. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
•Ask the Spirit to control and fill you for this day.
•I want to be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) When I walk by the Spirit, I will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) If I live by the Spirit, I will also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)
•Pray on the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)
•“Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
•I want to love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and I want to love my neighbor as myself. (Matthew 22:37, 39) My purpose is to love God completely, love self correctly, and love others compassionately.
•I will seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
•I have been called to follow Christ and to be a fisher of men. (Matthew 4:19)
•I will be a witness to those who do not know Him and participate in the Great Commission to go and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8)
•I want to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit, and so prove to be Christ’s disciple. (John 15:8)
•I will trust in the Lord with all my heart, and not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
•“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28; also see 8:29) I acknowledge that You are in control of all things in my life, and that You have my best interests at heart. Because of this I will trust and obey You today.
•Review and commit the events of this day into the hands of God.
Against the World: Renew
•I will set my mind on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)
•Since I have been raised up with Christ, I will keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. I will set my mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2; also see 3:3–4 and Hebrews 12:1–2)
•I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I will let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, I will let my mind dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:6–8; also see 4:9)
Against the Flesh: Reckon
•I know that my old self was crucified with Christ, so that I am no longer a slave to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin. I will reckon myself as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. I will not present the members of my body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but I will present myself to God as one alive from the dead, and my members as instruments of righteousness to God. (Romans 6:6–7, 11, 13)
Against the Devil: Resist
•As I submit myself to God and resist the devil, he will flee from me. (James 4:7)
•I will be of sober spirit and on the alert. My adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But I will resist him, firm in my faith. (1 Peter 5:8–9)
•I will take up the full armor of God, that I may be able to resist and stand firm. I put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness; I put on my feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; and I take up the shield of faith with which I will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. I take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition I will pray at all times in the Spirit and be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:13–18)
•Your kingdom come, Your will be done. (Matthew 6:10)
•You have said, “I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
•I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to me. (Romans 8:18)
•I will not lose heart, but though my outer man is decaying, yet my inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for me an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while I look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
•My citizenship is in heaven, from which also I eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:20)
Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.
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