Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Study with Me - Chapter 5 Thoughts

Hi Ladies -

Thank you so much for your patience. Not only was I gone over the weekend the notes I originally started just weren't flowing. I kept trying to finish them and couldn't get them to go. So I scratched started over and it worked so I guess I was just down a wrong path and God wanted me to go somewhere else. I do pray for His leading so I guess that was a tug on the bridle. :)

Father God, I thank you for our time together. Open our minds and hearts to receive your word. Help us to apply it to our lives. In Jesus name, Amen

How many times have we heard or said "I don't want to get my hopes up, then I wont be disappointed if it doesn't come through". Joyce points out right away that this sets up for a negative life style. God tells us that with out vision we will perish -
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he

I went through some very trying things in my first marriage. I believed, loved and feared God, but didn't have a relationship with Him, but I always had hope. Hope for a better life, Hope that some day.... Now that doesn't mean that I was always positive. I dealt with a lot of negativity, and so bounced between the two, hope and negativity.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

And therefore I did not have a lot of success, receiving or walking in faith. See I had to come to the realization that I had to be honest with myself and take ownership of what I was doing wrong. But then what happens? We beat ourselves up for doing something wrong - NO! We need to lay it down, accept that we are a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Give your negativity to God, let Him change it and us.

Again we need to examine our thoughts and what we say. Remember faith comes by hearing.... even if we hear ourselves. Spend a day listening to what you and others say. Make notes mental or written, what positive words and phrases are stated and how many are negative.

Joyce talked about "Evil Forebodings" Have you ever got the feeling that something bad was going to happen? You couldn't put your finger on it but you had this heaviness on you that you just couldn't shake. So everywhere you went you were looking for a sign of what was going to happen. Joyce was experiencing this and God told her is was "Evil Foreboding" Then Joyce came across this scripture:
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].(amp)
We need to shake off these thoughts and meditate on positive thoughts, Gods word and promises for our life.

Keep your tongue from evil.
1 Peter 3:10 “ He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Then please remember as we learn more of Gods word and we strive to change we will transform "Little by Little" as we learned in chapter 4.

Thank you Father God for you mercy and kindness. Thank you for your gentle nudge that helps us to change and the freedom we experience when we do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thanks Ladies for your comments and participation.
Lynn

10 comments:

Plant Lady said...

Lynn and All,

This chapter describes ME! I have told my husband many times that "I expect the worst and hope for the best"! Now, doesn't that sound so negative?

He tells me often that I'm a pessimist so I am working on trying to be more positive. He is truly a very optimistic and positive person and I so wish to be like him.

Talk about "evil forbodings", I guess Joyce and I have the same problem. I can find something terrible in just about any situation and EXPECT it to happen.
I am trying to be more positive in my thought life, but it has been a struggle. I feel I am much better at it now that my struggle with "worry" is well in hand, thanks to the deliverance I received from God!

I am still "pressing on" to eventually conquer my negativity and be the person God wants me to be, not at all by my own strength, but by God's.

Your prayers for me in my struggles will be much appreciated.

Plant Lady

debrah said...

Hi All:
Plant Lady will keep your request in my prayers.
I am becoming aware that fear of being disappointed keeps me from hope. I believe that as I dig into the Word of God...that I will begin to understand and know what is His Will and How and When His Promises apply to my circumstances...I sometimes spend a lot of time wondering if this or that is God's will and does it apply here or there...how does my behavior and walk affect God's promises etc...
Have to get to the Laundry now...so will come back later..
In His Love,
Debrah

SKY4KAT said...

Hello to everyone,
Boy this is hard because what you describe plant lady is me.I have always thought that I was a realist and I have tried hard not to have expectations either positive or negative. It seems my expectations of what I think things should be or how things should happen get me in trouble. I become disappointed or angry if they don't work out.
Deborah, what you said about your fear of disappointment keeping you from hope maybe thats just another side of the coin of not having expectations so we are not disappointed.
HMMM!
The Holy Spirit is continuing to remind me when my thought pattern is turning negative and it is very frequently, but this gives me hope. First to recognize and become aware of these thoughts and then allow Him to help me to change them.
Katrina

Plant Lady said...

Katrina,
I am finding that more and more, we are not alone in our struggles. I have often thought that I was the only one going through a particular situation. I am now coming to realize that God puts those who are in similar situations together so they can help each other in their struggles.

Have you ever wondered how each of us in the Bible study that Rachel did "found" each other and have developed a friendship of mutual care for one another through our blogging? I often have and wonder just what purpose God has for us!

No, we are not alone in this! God is right here with us, guiding us along the way to His destination.

I think we all have areas in our lives that we are ashamed to admit to, but with the "confessions" of a fellow traveler, we find it easier to say "Me,too".

Luv to all,
Plant Lady

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Wow all I can say is AMEN AMEN AMEN

1st Katrina I am so glad you are with us and I have read all your comments in the other chapters, and you are doing great. We are all here because we want fellowship with God and each other. Plant Lady you are so right, we are drawn to each other for a reason of which we may not know.
I must say after posting last night I had a couple situations today where I was questioning my abilities. I second guessed if I really knew how to do my job. I actually had the thought enter my mind "Do they think you don't know what you are doing?" Wow was that some negative attacks or what. See I was in some developement meetings and after putting my input in, I got into second guessing what I said. But you know what was really awesome? This time even though I was feeling a little inadequate, I recognized that it was an attack and not reality. I've been doing this type of work for 20 years and at this job for 8 yrs. I think I have it down by now. Anyway it was stupid and I'm glad I recognized it. God placed us where we are for a reason. (I know sometimes it's our choices but God works with us where we are.)
Hope my trials can help you.
Loves,
Lynn

debrah said...

Hi All- I am getting a real glimpse of not just what comes out of my mouth but the thoughts that I entertain...there is so much garbage in there...and oh boy the excuses I have...from my insecurity to the insecurity of others,being surrounded by sarcastic/cynical people, fears, defending my self from the accusation of others (real and imagined), at the root seems to be selfishness and pride...when I take my eyes off the Lord and place them on self or others...all kinds of thoughts take root in my mind...sometimes I think I have victory in an area only to find that it goes deeper than I first thought...I will be renewing my mind with the word of God especially corinthians(not sure if I or II) 13...about how love always believes the best of others...love never fails...
In His Love,
Debrah

Sallye said...

Ladies,

I have gbabies at my house, once they go home and I get my cat off the top of the fridge, I will comment on this Chapter, it was good to say the lest.

Sallye

Sallye said...

Ladies,

Good Morning. It is a wet day in West Texas, Thank you Father for the rain. Except for some rain we are to far inland to be effected by Mr. Gustav.

When I picked up Battlefield of the Mind to read chapter 5, the first thing that reached out and grabbed me was Matthew 8:13 ..it shall be done for you as you have believed... I read this first, went back and read the whole thing in context and the note I wrote under it is: This scripture can go either way positive or negative, but is a truth. I am still trying to wrap my brain around the fact, that what is in my head is in my heart and in my mouth. I remember when the book "The Secret" came out, and most Christians scoffed and said this was very untrue. I have not read the book nor am I supporting it. What I am saying is that this scripture and this chapter have shown me, that I have to choose whether I am going to believe way deep down in my heart, what my Father says about me, or what the world says about me. I am choosing to believe God. And in believing God, I have to be willing to do what it takes to be transformed and to have my mind renewed. That's my choice, and if I will take that first little step, God will be there to grab my mind and reshape it into the image of Christ's mind.

I am normally not a negative person. I am not a "doom, despair, and agony on me" type. I am a little gullible, and will believe what you tell me. I do not believe; think it, and it will come to you. But there is truth in “as a man thinks so he is.” If we think nothing but negative, we will be negative, in our lives, in our walk, and in our effect on others. Thinking good positive thoughts does not promise no problems or woes, I believe scripture tells us there will be trials and tribulations, but our thoughts effect how we think and how we act. And I think more than anything else this is what God is wanting to teach me through this study.

Have a wonder filled weekend.

Sallye

debrah said...

Hi ladies:
I hope you are all having a glorious week-end. Plant Lady you give us something to think about...how God knits us all together...how He places people in our lives...what an awesome God we serve.

catherine berryhill said...

I feel I have received a great break through tonight on this evil called evil forbodings. I have put up with it long enough. I may still have to deal with it some, because God said to me one time, "my grace is sufficient", before I even knew that was in the Bible. But, oh how I have hated it. Education from God is such a wonderful thing. I want you to understand how much I do hate Satan. These evil forebodings has afflicted me, crippled me to a certain degree. God has placed a very strong calling on my life is why Satan has done this thing to me. For some reason God has chosen tonight to help me with this great evil of evil forebodings. Thank you Jesus.++