Friday, August 8, 2008

Study with Me - Chapter 2

Hi Everyone
If this is your first time here, we are doing a study using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind" So to go to the beginning click the button on my side bar or scroll down to the "Study with me Intro"

Father God I thank you so much that we can come together and study and fellowship about you. Please help as we desire to know you more. In Jesus name Amen

Chapter 2 A Vital Necessity
Obviously this whole study is going to deal with our mind and our thoughts. In the Intro and Chapter 1 we dealt with thoughts that lead to strongholds in our lives. We also worked on trying to break them a part into the truth and the lie.
In Chapter 2 Joyce wants us to see why it is Vital to line our thoughts up with Gods word. The first part of Proverbs 23:7 says For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. You might wonder, what does that mean? I go back to my saying "What you feed will grow." If you give a fearful thought a lot of attention, it will grow, and you will become fearful. Fearful = Full of Fear, As a man thinks (He thinks fearfully) so is he (He is full of fear)
Now on the other hand you can have a fearful thought come to you, but if you speak to that thought with Gods word-it will shrivel up and die.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
My husband and I had been asked to share a few words at our Bible Study about what has helped us to be friendly and reach out to others so we agreed. Over the course of the next few weeks we prayed about what to say and looked up some scriptures but decided we would let God guide us when the time came so we weren't just reading off a cue card. Well the day of the study came and my husband gets an abscessed root canal. Half of his face is swollen and red. Not only did he not look his best he was in some severe pain. So a couple of hours before the potluck Bible study, that is supposed to have a surprise speaker the surprise is on me. I am the surprise speaker. YIKES!!! See what I hadn't admitted through this whole thing is I had counted on my husband to be the one to speak. After all he's had more experience sharing Gods word and knows the scripture references better. NOW we're talking some fearful thoughts. "You are going to make a fool out of yourself and your husband" and on and on.... Whoa Whoa Whoa God called us/me to do this and if he called me He would equip me. So my husband and I went over some scriptures to share, (I did make some note cards for reference) and some thoughts we had previously gone over. So I packed the food I was taking to the potluck and off I went. (Yes I prayed all the way there) I was still experiencing fear come at me - but I wasn't allowing it to be fed. So after all of us ate and then the surprise speaker was announced - minus 1. Surprise I'm doing this solo. :)
When I started I was nervous, but I leaned on God and the Holy Spirit took over. I can't tell you what all I said,but it was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. For weeks people came to my husband and told him how the words I spoke touched them. It wasn't me, it was God. I let him give the speech.
Now I told you that story to say this - What if I had chickened out? What if I had meditated on making a fool out of myself? First peoples lives would not have been touched and encouraged to reach out to others. Secondly I would still be in bondage letting fear control my life. See when we lean in on God we get to see his glory manifest in our lives. Which in turn builds our faith in what God can do with and through us. (Yeah little ole you from po dunk USA)
See it was vital for me to line up with God's word so I could push past the fear by leaning on Him and complete a task He wanted done. It not only affected me but the people I spoke to and the people that they reached out to, because God showed them how to through me.
Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
Have any of you had an experience where God called you out of your comfort zone?
Did you go or stay back?
How did it affect you walk with God and others?
I'll end with prayer and a few more scriptures to ponder.
Romans 8:5-6For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Father thanks so much for helping me with revelations to share. Thank you that we gain wisdom and insight as we study together. Thank you for my new friends and sisters that are taking this journey with me. In Jesus precious name. Amen
Leave a comment or e-mail!
Blessings,
Lynn

15 comments:

debrah said...

Hi Lynn:
A little of 10 years ago I returned to college to earn my A.A. One of our class assignments was to sing in front of the class...I was so nervous...I did hedge my bet by choosing "He's Got the Whole World"...I opened my mouth to sing and still nervous...then a woman who sat in the back of the class (where I usually sat) joined in and soon the whole class joined in...I felt the peace...on the way home I felt that the Lord did not give me confidence so I could do the assignment He gave me confidence through the assignment...I still struggle with fear and a lot of the times I outright choose fear over faith(not something I like to confess)...but God has shown me numerous times that you step out afraid and He is well able to keep you...I found out even if I fail my world didn't fall apart (that was huge for me)...not sure why I find myself trapped in thoughts that the Lord long ago set me free...it's like walk, walk, clunk!!!, walk, walk,clunk, clunk...
What I am seeing today is that most if not all of the time it is that I am making choices to think certain ways...This is Fresh to me...I didn't realize my part...playing the victim...being passive...as Joyce said we need to be serious and I just wasn't serious...Well no time like the present...
In His Love,
Debrah

Plant Lady said...

Hi Lynn and Debrah,

Sorry, I've been away all evening. I'll comment on Chapter 2tomorrow afternoon.

Have a good night.
Plant Lady

Sallye said...

Ladies,

I like what Joyce said on page 29 of the book "our thoughts bear fruit". Just as Jesus said to either make the tree good and it's fruit, or the tree bad, and the fruit bad. It's our choice. We can either choose to let God's word wash and refill our mind, or we can choose to let the world wask and fill our mind. It all goes back to a favorite saying "Where the mind goes the behind follows". I like the scripture from last week, about where our treasure is. If we treasure God, we will naturally lean toward the things of God. If on the other hand our treasure is in the world, our mind will lean toward the things of the world. This is something that is very hard to discipline our brains toward. We are bombarded with the things of the world, but you really have to hunt to find things of the Word. We live in a carnally minded world. But God knew that and He is preparing us to live a spirit led life. We are children of God, and He is trying to teach us to live as such with freedom, and peace.

Sallye

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Debrah and Sallye thanks so much for your comments. I'll add more in the morning.
Blessings,
Lynn

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Debrah
Fear is a real hard one to deal with and something that I let have way too much controll over my life for too long. But I love the freedom that I have now that I choose to stand up to it. It's not that I don't still feel it, I just got to a point that I feared not having the peace of God more than whatever I was facing.
Thanks for your comments and openness.
Lynn

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Hi Sallye
I like your comments and I too like the saying Where the mind goes the behind follows. And yes we are bombard with carnal things and when we have a carnal flesh, we have to fight. Maybe that's how God knows we love Him is because we are willing to fight for Him. Thanks for your comments and insight.
Have a great day.
Lynn

From the Heart said...

Lynn, Please come to my blog, I have a surprize for you.
AliceE. (I left this on your other blog also just in case you did not see this one.)

Karen said...

Hi Ladies,

Sorry this is so delayed; I was traveling at the end of last week and got back last night. I think the stories you all have shared are great! I too have let fear paralyze me and influence my actions and decisions. I retreat behind my "wall" and I don't get to experience the blessings and joy God has in store for me. Debrah, your story about singing in front of the class gave me goose-bumps! I am very impressed with how God supported you through it. Thanks for sharing!

Karen

Sallye said...

Ladies,

I have a question. What is the difference between fear and lack of faith?

We are told in scripture that we were not given a spirit of fear. So if this is not something that God gives us where do we get it? Is fear a learned behavior? God very clearly says fear not for I am with you.

What causes some people to appear braver than others?

Sallye

debrah said...

Hi Ladies
Sallye- Great question...what first came to my mind is the following:


I John 4:18,
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

So I would add to your question how are we made perfect in love???

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Sallye,
What came to my mind 1st was Satan.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden it let Satan in. I've heard the there are 365 times in the Bible one for each day of the year where it says not to fear or fear not. Because if it is not from God then it's from Satan. I have also heard that dreading something is a from of fear.
In comment to Debrah's comment I would say Perfect Love is lining ourselves up with Gods word. We can't be perfect down here on earth but the closer we are to acting the way God says to in his word the closer we are to walking in Perfect Love. Because God is Love.

How are things for you?

Is everyone ready for chapter 3?
I will try to post tonight or tomorrow morning.
With Love,
Lynn

Plant Lady said...

Lynn,
I'm ready for Chapter 3.

About the question, I agree with Lynn that the fear came in as a consequence of the Fall.

Debrah, I believe that when we accept the sacrifice (The Perfect Sacrifice and Perfect Love)fear is cast out. With the continual battle that rages within our minds, we have to make a conscious effort each day to "put away fear". I hope you understand what I am trying to say. This scripture says it better:

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

See, we have to choose which direction our mind will go. We can choose fear or faith. I am not trying to over-simplify. It is truly a very difficult task at times, at least for me. I have found that the more I practice faith, the easier it becomes. Any thoughts?

Karen said...

Salley, Debrah, Lynn, and Plant Lady,

The postings last night were great and very thought provoking! I need to visit here in the night I see... :)

I would agree with what everyone has said about fear. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is succumbing to doubts that are the attacks of Satan on our thoughts and our spirit.

I have included some verses that talk about the restorative power of God's love. I don't know if they help address the questions, but for me they say much the same thing as Matthew 6: 25-34 (the do not worry verses) about not succumbing to fear or hardship, but to put our trust in God who is sufficient to provide all things for us and who restores us.

Ephesians 3:16-21.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 91: 9 – 16

9.
If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge--
10.
then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12.
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Even though these verses promise God's provision for us, they do not guarentee that nothing bad will happen to us. God uses the trials in our lives to strengthen us. To cause us to trust Him and to rest in Him.

--1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

The story of Joseph is a good illustration of this. He suffered much. He was almost killed and then sold by his brothers, became a slave in Egypt and was falsely accused by the wife of his master, and thrown into prizon. He was left in prison because a fellow prisoner forgot his promise. But at the end of it all he became the second most powerful man in Egypt and was put in charge of all the food supplies. He helped many people live all because he trusted God. He says to his brothers in Gen 45:5 “But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives”... God DID it (to fullfill his purpose).

So fear is Satan's way of attacking our will and preventing us from following God's plan for us. Becoming perfect in God's love is leaning not on our own understanding, but putting our full trust in God that His plan is right for us. That He will protect us. That He loves us and will not give us more than we can stand, but will provide means to overcome the trials. Be encourage by this!

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

May God's love bless you and keep you this day!

Love,

-Karen

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Karen
That was great. You gave some good verses and thoughts.
You're right God didn't say things wouldn't come against us, and temptations wouldn't come, or thoughts but He did say we are overcomers.
Thanks for your comments.
Lynn

SKY4KAT said...

Great comments,
My 1st thought on fear being different than lack of faith is its not. If we have faith that a bridge is going to support us as we cross it we are not afraid. If we don't have faith either through bad previous experiences with untrustworthy bridges or what ever, then we lack the faith and are fearful.
If our trust is truly in the Lord and that is built on continued and renewed experiences with him then that faith builds and we trust more. Its like the more bridges we cross that are safe and trustworthy the more faith we have in all bridges.
As I said before one of my struggles, strong-holds is trusting. Trusting God, man friends but as I cross more bridges that is slowly changing.