Study With Me - Chapter 25 The Finale

Hi Everyone-
Well we are here - at the end of the book and at the beginning of a new mindset for living. As we have gone through this book I hope you have taken the time to let God's truths sink in and take residence in your heart. There is a lot of powerful information in here and in the future you may want to read this book again. As I stated in the last chapter, I have gained even more from reading it over. Again I want to thank all who have studied with me now and in the future, I hope any and all of what God has placed in my heart to share here blesses you in some way.

If you have come here for the first time - this is my last post of the "Study with Me" series I have been doing using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind". Please click the button on my side bar to start at the beginning or feel free to read and comment on any of the chapters along the way.

Chapter 25 - Wilderness Mentality #10

"I'm going to do it my way or not at all."

There are so many things I want to say here. First and most important, I have learned that if it is not God's way it's not the right way. Now to say I practice that 100% of the time would be a lie, but I do know it. :) My husband uses a term called "unteachable" and when I very first heard him use it I didn't understand what he meant. I thought anybody can be taught. But what he meant was there are people that are so caught up in doing things their own way that you can't teach them any other way. Essentially they are "Know it alls". God has shown me that when we think we can do everything or anything without Him, it's a matter of pride. God has also given me the illustration that when we act on our own without consulting Him, we are saying our way is better than His, that we know more than Him. We know more than God, ouch, I don't think so.

God recently gave me a picture of something that is so big, I want to share with you. God shared with me that we need to look at a bigger picture than ourselves and our world. See each one of us were put here with a purpose, that's why we have desires and strong feelings about certain things, it's because He placed those desires in us. We have a responsibility to up hold what Jesus did for us on the cross. He died so we would be set free, healed and have eternal life. So here is part of what God was showing me. Jesus bought something for me. When I don't operate in the peace and healing that Jesus bought for me, it's like a slap in His face. He gave His life for mine and I won't accept it. And why won't I accept His gift, because "It's too hard" or "I'm content where I'm at" or because "I want to do it my way. "

The other part that God showed me it that "It's NOT all about Me" and how I feel. As a christian, like it or not, the life I live is a witness to others of my God. If I am living a broken down, sick, poverty stricken life, what does that speak of my God. Who wants a God of the barely getting by. Who wants a God that leaves you sick, and crippled. Who wants a God that lets you be tormented in your mind. He gave the gift, we need to accept (receive) it.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (NKJV)

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

28You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
29And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me. (Amp)

I guess at this point the only point left that I can share with you is - I've done it my way and I've done it God's way. God's way is better! I am not perfect and will always be a work in progress, we all should be. God will continue to grow me as long as I am on this earth and submitting to His will and not my own. Seek God and His word in ALL that you do and you will always succeed.

Father God,

Thank you for guiding me on this journey. Thank you for all the wisdom you have shared with me and others as we have dug into our word.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Until Next time,

Blessings my Friends,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 24

Hi Everyone,
Almost there. Thank you anyone and everyone that has taken this journey with me and all who will in the future. This Book has helped me and so many that I know personally that I wish everyone in the world would dig into it. This is my second time through reading it and I got new nuggets from it this time that I didn't get last time. God meets us where we are at. Reading Dick and Jane in the first grade and then re-reading Dick and Jane in the third grade you'll see a different story. Well lets get going....

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter #24 - Wilderness Mentality #9

Why shouldn't I be jealous and envious when everybody else is better off that I am?

Is there anybody out there that has never had to deal with even one jealous or envious thought?

This is such an ugly monster that can creep into any little crack of your life that it can find. It can be as little as, "they got more cereal in their bowl", "their birthday present was better than the one I got", to "I am such a better person, why do they get all the better things in life".

That's not even going into the whole relationship jealousy thing. I have known so many people that have ruined friendships and even marriages by being jealous and possessive.

I like the scripture that Joyce used - Proverbs 14:30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Notice that is says a "calm and undisturbed mind" . Now look at - 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. Again God is talking about having a "Sound Mind". See when we are not calm, when we are not of sound mind, we react in ways we should not. When we get to that point our flesh or carnal nature takes over. Not pretty.

Jealousy and envy is a type of fear. Fear is the opposite of Faith. We need to build up our faith to know without any doubt that God has a plan for each of us. Let God be in complete control. God knows what is best for us and He has us right where we can do the work that He wants us to do.

Father God, as always, help us, to lean on and trust in you. Show us how to rest and trust in where you have us. Give us strength to refuse the evil thoughts that would try to torment us about who we are or are not. Help us to not compare or compete in unhealthy ways.

In Jesus' precious name

Amen

Blessings

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 23

Hi everyone hope you are doing well. We are getting closer and closer to the end and I am hoping that the truths that we are and have learned will be life changing for you.

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 23 - Wilderness Mentality #8

"I don't deserve God's blessings because I'm not worthy"

Well let me just start this right off with - you're right you're not worthy. Brutal huh? Well none of us are worthy in our own strength and ability to receive anything from God. If we were capable to do it on our own, the old testament law would have worked and Jesus wouldn't have needed to be crucified. But there is another side to that as well. Jesus did come to save us, and because He did, we are righteous through Him. All we need to do is accept the gift He gave us, life.

See there is balance in all we do. We can't think too much of ourselves and believe we can do everything without God, because we can't. And we can't think too little of ourselves so that we don't claim what is rightfully ours. God has shown me lately it is like a slap in His face when we won't accept what was given to us when he gave His Son for us. God wants to give us so many blessings, but we all fall short of receiving all God has, for one reason or another.

It may have been a mindset that we were raised with, social conditioning from our childhood or maybe we had bad things happen to us earlier in our lives that has hardened us or made us shrink away, and hide. However, as we have talked about in several of these chapters throughout the book, Satan will pick a little piece of truth or an event that has happened in our life mix it with a lot of lies and drill us with it until it builds a stronghold in our life. These strongholds can be little or they can be so devastating in our life that we are rendered incapable of handling life. That is why it is so vitally important to dig into God's word and see who He says we are.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

2 Corinthians5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Father God, Help us to see ourselves through your eyes. Help us to know that through you we are worthy and that all you gave through the Blood of Jesus is for each of us not just some of us. That all was given as a free gift to all that receive not all that earn. We love you and thank you for your mercy and grace in our lives.

In Jesus Precious Name,

Amen

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 22

Hi everyone,
Hope you are doing well we only have a few chapters left. It seems like it was just a couple of weeks ago I was asking if anyone was interested. Well let's get started.

** If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 22 - Wilderness Mentality #7

My life is so miserable;

I feel sorry for myself because my life is so wretched.

I think a lot of us have thought this at on time or another in our life. I know children can get into this mindset when they don't get their way. The world is against them, nobody understands, and nobody cares. As Joyce points out in the book, this is a result of Satan continually whispering these lies in your ear. Again as I have said in many of my posts, the devil uses a little piece of truth and a lot of lie to convince you how bad your life really is. So we have our party, Pity Party that is. We have the planning of the party, that's where we meditate on all the reasons we should have the party. Then we make up the guest list, this is where we think of all the people we can tell our woe's to, that will agree with us. (You can identify that's what you're doing by the fact that some people are not on the guest list) Next you gather party favors, these are the little tid bits that you are storing up for attack and revenge. By now the party is in full force. At this point, the party its self is doing enough damage in your life, however what other areas besides your mind is it affecting.

Are you murmuring, grumbling, or fault-finding? Are you doing the woe is me martyr dance? Are you over eating or using other substances to medicate your wounds? Stop! I know - easier said than done, especially if you have had lots of parties, it takes a while to learn how to not. But you can do it. God says you can do all things through Him that strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13)

Something that really helped me is the phrase that God shared with Joyce, "You can be pitiful or powerful but not both". There have actually been times when I wanted to break out into a pity party, and God reminded me of that and it stopped me.

Try to identify the things that trigger you to want to have a pity party, ask God to point them out to you. Lay them down to God and let Him correct your thinking about these things.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Father God, Please help us as we continue to renew our mind with your word. Help us to release these areas of our life that are not right. Give us strength and courage to face these wrong attitudes or our hearts. Thank you for your mercy and grace in our lives.

In Jesus Precious Name, Amen

Blessings,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 21

Hello Everyone,

I went a little longer than I wanted to between posts again, but better late than never right?

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 21- Wilderness Mentality #6 -

"My behavior might be wrong, but it's not my fault"

This chapter is so rich, and yet I sit here not knowing what all to say. So I am starting in faith that God will give me the right words. I don't know about you, but in my life, I grew up making excuses for everything. Why isn't your homework done? Why didn't you eat all your lunch? Didn't I tell you not to crawl under the house to play with the puppies? "But ...I...Well I Just" I used to tell my daughter when she was growing up anytime she used the phrase "I Just" to answer a question she "Just" got herself in trouble. That was because I knew it was an excuse or a lie. I want to ask something before we go much farther. When is it an excuse and when is it a lie? There are reasons we do things, but by justifying them with an excuse we are not taking our own responsibility for these actions. There is the other side of this - by not doing something when we should, we can fall into the trap of excuses also.

Let's take a look at Adam and Eve. God gave them the rules and boundaries for staying in good graces with Him. Don't eat from the tree. Satan came and deceived Eve into thinking she was missing out on something and tempted her to eat from the tree. So she ate from the tree. She actively did something she shouldn't have. Then she blamed the serpent. Now Adam eats the fruit that his wife gives him, and blames her for giving it to him, and then blames God for the bad woman that God made for him. In Adam's case he didn't take action where he should have. God gave him dominion, Adam should have said no. Neither Adam or Eve took the responsibility for their wrong doing. I wonder if God's punishment would have been so severe if they had fessed up and repented. Does it make you wonder?

I went through a period of time in my life where I let everyone walk all over me. It always starts so small a little teasing as a child at school, a little beating myself up here or there. Until one day you give up and don't even try anymore. Then I fooled myself into thinking that if I wasn't doing anything, I wasn't responsible. Wrong we each are responsible for what we allow and don't allow in our lives. (Adam allowed Eve to give him the fruit) This is a hard one, because I was in a verbally abusive marriage, and relationship with other family members for a long time. It is easy to shrink down and say I can't help it is not my fault. Not so it was because I allowed it. It took many years after the divorce of my 1st husband, for me to be able to say that. Through God I see that I am free, and part of being free is coming to God, not holding anything back. Give it all to Him and let him give you the strength to face what you must.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Everything we see, hear, touch and do in our lives from babies to adults changes and molds us in some way, good or bad. That's why God so often tells us to be very mindful of what we see and hear. Also be very mindful of what you make as your abode. (the place you camp out and live) It is so hard to take responsibility for your actions, but it is so freeing and you will grow so much, one day you'll look back and won't believe you were ever any other way.

Father God

Help us to see our faults. Help us to not look at other people and other things as our source of excuse. Give us the strength to change in ourselves what needs to change to line up with your word. Help us to be more like you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

In his love, be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 20

Hi Everyone,

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 20 - Wilderness mentality # 5

Don't make me wait for anything I deserve everything right now!

I think we can read the title of this chapter and get an idea where this is going to go. We are living in a "instant" world these days. Everything is about convenience, 7-11, Circle K, Am-PM. It is just so much of our lives we have trouble seeing beyond it.

I have probably told this story before, but it is worth repeating. When our oldest Granddaughter was only 3 or 4 we had run into our daughter and son-in-law in a local store trying to do some Christmas shopping. Well they were struggling since our Granddaughter was with them and asked if I could entertain her for a few minutes while they purchased a couple of "Santa" gifts. So as we strolled through the store her and I talked about what she wanted for Christmas and what Santa would bring. To which she would ask "Grandma, won't you get me this or why can't I have that? My comment several times was "honey we have to wait Santa might be bringing that to you." Here was the topper to our conversation, she looked up at me with the most serious face a 3 year old could have with big wide eyes and stated - "No body believes me, I've got to have it now!" Well of course that has been a favorite saying for our whole family for 12 years now, but it has such a truth to it also.

God tells us we have been give self control as a fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

But as with any fruit, it is not mature once the little bud comes out on the tree. It has to be nurtured and watered and fed, before it is fully developed. So what does that tell us about our impatience. (Opps!)

Patience is something that has to be practiced and developed, just like any of the other gifts God gives us. Anything that is fed will grow. Giving in to ourselves is feeding that impatience in us. But learning to wait on and trust in the Lord, to endure, makes us stronger. It is part of the equipping us that is necessary for us to fight the battles that Satan will throw at us. Notice I said will not might. John 10:10 one of my favorite scriptures says: The thief (that is Satan) comes only to Steal (our peace our happiness , our joy our blessings our prosperity) Kill, (again our peace, but our souls our lives) and destroy (anything that God is doing to give us the better life here on earth and eternity in heaven). But I (God) have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

See God isn't trying to hold out on you. He like any good parent is trying to grow us up. If we don't train our children to tie their shoes and comb their hair and do their homework and eat properly, they will not be able to take care of themselves. It works the same with God.

I could ramble on, but hopefully you are getting the picture. We (yes me included) need to grow up and follow Gods instructions, in Gods timing not mine.

Father God, help us to develop our self control. Help us lean on you and not ourselves. In Jesus name.

Amen.

Until the next chapter - Blessings,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 19

Hello everyone!

It's a blustery day here in the NW and we have seen more snow in northern Oregon than they have seen in 20+ years. I'm enjoying it but I am not out in it. So lets look at the next chapter.

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Study With Me - Chapter 19 - Wilderness Mentality #4

I can't help it I'm just addicted to grumbling, faultfinding and complaining.

Well that pretty much sums it up for most of us, pack up we can go now. :) Sad but very true, we are addicted to grumbling. We don't like this or we don't like that. And if you don't think you grumble, listen to what comes out of your mouth. Because sometimes even when we think we are being good, we are only being controlled, not good.

After reading this chapter again (probably for the 4th or 5th time) I realized there are at least 3 areas that need to be in check.

First of all and I think most importantly, we need to make sure our thoughts and attitudes are in a positive track. This is so important because what we think on we will act on eventually.

This is where the second area comes into play, our body language. We can be a witness, bad or good, with our body language. Don't think for a moment that how you act without saying a word does not get noticed by those around you. I know it's easy to see the the obvious when someone slams a door or stomps off, but what about when we do the heavy sigh every 30 seconds or the scowl when we look someone else up and down and don't know anyone saw us do it. What about the pout because we didn't get our way. What about the refusal to participate in group activity, just because it is not your thing. God showed me sometimes we just need to be grateful receivers, whether it is our thing or not.

The third area I think comes into play is our mouth. What we say is what we speak into existence for our life. Remember God created heaven and earth with words.

Lets read James, it is such a good reminder for us all. (This is the New Living Translation.)

James 3
Controlling the Tongue

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
True Wisdom Comes from God 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, nonspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

This chapter in BOTM (as with all of them) is such a good reminder for me that I need to be thankful in all things. That how I act can be a turn off or a turn on to my heavenly Father. If I seek to draw people to him, then I need to act in a manner that will cause others to want what He has to offer.

I got a nice compliment once. A friend at work asked me how my weekend was, and I said "It was great, how was yours?" She said "Lynn you always have great weekends!" That was so nice to know that I was portraying a positive outlook to the point it was noticed.

In all of this as a reminder to myself and to all of you. Watch what you meditate on, watch what you do and how you act, and watch what you say. Others are watching and what you do will affect them positive or negative. But most of all what you do will affect you, because God and the enemy are always watching too. Don't give the Devil even a crack to enter into your life. So with that being said, we need to look at our life, family, jobs, homes, children in a different light.

I used to have a post-it note on my desk for a reminder "K.M.S." It stood for Keep Mouth Shut. which is good, but it's not enough. If I am still grumbling and fault finding inside, eventually I will break down and blurt it out. What's in a mans heart will come out of his mouth. So I think I need to come up with another post-it, something to do with doing an attitude/heart check.

Father God help us! Help us to quit fault finding and pointing fingers. Help us to be more accepting of others and things that are not our way. Most of all help us to be more like you with mercy and grace and compassion for our fellow man. Help us to pray in faith for the things and people we feel need your guidance instead of ripping them to shreds. And Father have mercy on us when we fall short. In Jesus name, Amen

Have a very Merry Blessed Christmas everyone. Not sure when I'll post again could be later today may be tomorrow, or next week. I haven't been on a real schedule with this like I wanted to but that's okay. God Bless you all.

Lynn