Well I know not all of you have had time to respond to chapter 9 but I will be with Joyce in person and won't have a lot of time to post. :) So please post your comments here or on chapter nine and I will check both.
Chapter 10 "A Confused Mind"
Well to some of us in this day and age a confused mind is the normal state of mind. But as we are informed with Gods word a confused mind is not normal at all. There are so many things that can cause us to be confused, but all of them stem from the enemy. Being confused is a type of being double minded, and in James 1:5-8 God tells us a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
A fearful, people pleasing person will often be confused and double minded because they are always trying to do what they think the other person wants.
Reasoning will also cause you to have a confused mind. Have you ever tried to reason and justify doing or not doing something? That is what we do when we try to line Gods word up with our actions instead of lining our actions up with Gods word. The carnal mind is an enemy to God. God is not logical, and often times will ask us to do things that do not make sense to us to stretch our faith and obedience to Himself.
To me reasoning is one step away from an excuse. When I first started to "Woman Up" and put on my "Big Girl" pants, I had to take responsibility for my actions and conform to Gods way. My flesh wanted to make excuses for why I did things or why I acted a certain way. Well God showed me that making an excuse was justifying my actions in my own mind, and as long as I did so I couldn't grow in Him. So then I would say "Well I know this doesn't excuse what I did, BUT this is the reason. Still hanging on to that flesh! Finally I can take the reason and instead of using it as a partial excuse I can so okay God - I do these things because - so change them in me.
I'm lining myself up with Him instead trying to get Gods word to fit me. I'm submitting to Him.
When there is confusion there is no peace, when there is no peace there is no God. God showed me that wisdom comes from Him. When we try to reason or figure things out on our own, we are doing it in our own strength and not His. We essentially are pushing Him out, saying we can handle and figure it out better on our own. By accepting our rationalizations and reasoning's, above His wisdom and discernment we are inadvertently saying our ways are better than Gods. Ouch. A busy cluttered mind has trouble hearing Gods still small voice. Quit trying to figure and reason, ask God for His wisdom.
Letting go of reasoning and people pleasing are things that have to be worked at. Lean on God and He will guide you where you need to go.
Father God, I thank you that we don't have to know it all. Thank you that we don't have to reason and wonder. Please give us you wisdom, help us to let it go and listen for your still small voice. Thank you for your peace that passes all understanding.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Have a great weekend, I know I will.
Be Blessed - In His Love,
Lynn
4 comments:
Lynn,
Hope you are having a great time with Joyce! I've got some catching up to do. Being away so much this month hasn't left me with much time for reading and posting. I will catch up soon. I'm still with all you!
Hello Everyone!
Blessings,
Plant Lady
Hi! I'm a Joyce Meyer follower and I really hate that I won't be going to the Women's Conference!
Please keep us informed about the happenings!lol
Hi Lynn,
I don't know if you are back or not. I hope the conference was renewing and eye/heart opening! I look forward to hearing about it!
As for Chapter 10, it gave me a lot to think about. I am a scientist by training and profession and an intellectual by up-bringing. I stuggled with the part about reasoning being against God. I understand what is said in Isaiah 55: 8-9 "8."For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
9."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts," and so I understand that when we try to conform God to our understanding (and our reasoning) we limit God and my miss the point. However, God gave us a mind to reason and to ask for understanding. " 7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. " (Matthew 7: 7-8). He wants us to keep seeking knowledge and truth.
I think God is logical, but His logic functions in a plane beyond our limited understanding. By the Spirit in us, we are given knowledge of His ways. I believe there is faith-based reasoning (is that an oxy-moron?) that is pleasing to God because it requires active participation on our part.
Have a great week ladies! I look forward to reading your take on this chapter as well!
- Karen
Hi All
Read chapt 10...I agree with the thoughts that thoughts that Karen expressed...I also believe in scripture God said to come to him and reason together...I also think that at time throughout scripture that people were admonished for not thinking not making right judgments...God has blessed us with a mind...I do believe that double mindedness and confusion are not of God...His word tells us not to be double minded and that He is not the author of confusion...so if we are being double minded and confused couldn't we reason that that is not of God...God's word also tells us that He is not a man that He should lie so couldn't we reason that what ever opposes His Word is not truth???
I know I over simplify but I need to start her in order to get to there...
Hopefully I will catch up with the rest of you soon...
In His Love,
Debrah
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