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