"Mental Shift"

 

Reflections4Life™ September 12, 2021

“Mental Shift”

“A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.” Titus 1:15 (TLB)

Scripture Contemplation: Exodus 32:14; Ruth 1; 2 Samuel 7:3; Job 12:11; Ezekiel 11:5; Acts 3:19; Romans 8:5-8; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:20

If there is one thing that I am certain of, is the fact that our minds have an integral part in what transpires in our life each day. Our thoughts have a profound effect on what is manifested, whether we see breakthroughs, defeats, healing, and miracles. Whether or not we can move forward or stay locked in a moment in time.

I pray today’s Reflections will bring comfort and peace to your heart and mind. I decree it be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration; bringing revelation to your heart, mind, and soul. Allow the redemptive power of the blood of Jesus to wash your mind, to cleanse your thoughts, as you reach forward to receive all that God has ordained for you on this earth. Let your heart be full of hope, and your mind healed from all fear and discomfort.

One of the most profound lessons I have learned over the years is to come to an understanding, that you will always remain a victim if you do not allow your mind to shift. There are circumstances and situations in our lives that have held us bound to a moment and time. For whatever reason, we remain a victim—no longer of the circumstance or person(s)—but a victim of our own minds and our inability to shift our thoughts and move forward.

It is time for a shift, Beloveds. It is time for a mental shift. Time to change the way we think, what we think about, how we think. It is well past time that we fully dressed in the armor of God, placing the helmet of salvation securely on our heads, which symbolizes a change of thought, a shift in our perceptions; taking on fully the mind of Christ.

In the book of Philippians, it tells us consciously to shift our thinking by thinking of things that are good and lovely…

Philippians 4:8“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

We must also learn to pull down strongholds. Do you not understand that your mind can become the devil’s playground if you are not diligent? Part of that diligence is renewing our mind daily in Christ (Romans 12:1-2). Pulling down strongholds and casting down evil imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

A mental shift desperately needs to take place for many of us before we find ourselves in the midst of a mental break. The enemy has wreaked havoc in our lives, playing his mind games and tormenting us through our thoughts that we have a hard time deciphering the truth from lies, and his not-so-hidden agenda to kill, steal and destroy. Before we know it, our lives are in shambles and the promised blessings of God have slipped through our fingers and out of grasp and not easily attained again.

We walk an intrinsic rope daily. Our minds play a pivotal role in whether or not we make it to the other end of that rope. Though we may trip and fall at times, it is vitally important that we get back up, shake the dust off, renew our minds, put on the armor of God. Be steadfast in prayer, and think on the goodness of God, and His promises for our life; allowing it to wash away all fear, doubts, and stinking thinking that befuddle us from time to time; causing us to blow the blessings that God has brought into our lives.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Allow your mind to shift with the knowledge of who God says you are and where He desires to take you. However, the unknown may seem scary at first; place your trust in the Lord. In the God who has brought you this far. Plead the blood of Jesus over your mind, allowing your mind to be renewed daily, and believing the greatness that God says you do deserve because He has made it so. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.

"Not In Vain"

Reflections4Life™  September 5, 2021

“Not In Vain”

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

Scripture Contemplation: Job 9:29; 39:16; Psalm 127:1; Isaiah 40:4; 1 Corinthians 15…

Praying that you all have a glorious Labor Day Weekend. May it be filled with complete joy, love, happiness, friends and family, and much laughter. May we lay aside every burden, casting them into the Father’s capable hands, and enjoy the gift of life that God has ordained for us.

I’m Free by Milton Brunson

I'M FREE, PRAISE THE LORD,
I'M FREE
NO LONGER BOUND,
NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME
MY SOUL IS RESTING
IT'S SUCH A BLESSING
PRAISE THE LORD
HALLELUJAH, I'M FREE

Praise the Lord! I declare and decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Praise the Lord, I had to get that out, because we are free, Beloveds. No matter what you are facing this week. No matter what comes this way. No matter what doesn’t go your way—know and understand that you are not only free but free to rest in the Lord and trust Him to take care of all things concerning you. Spend some quality time in the Father’s presence this week, and let Him tell you all about His plans for your life, and the blessings waiting to manifest just for you!

Beloved, I have some more good news for you today! Yes, I do! Your labor has not been in vain. Everything that you have done in the name of Jesus; all you have done to give God honor and praise has not gone unnoticed. I implore you, as it tells us in Galatians, to not grow weary while doing well, That if you faint not, you will definitely see come to pass all that you have been patiently praying and waiting for.

Understand, that God is not a man that He should lie, nor the Son of Man that He should repent. (Numbers 23:19) Whatever God has spoken concerning you, it is definitely coming to pass. He is personally seeing fit to make it come to fruition right on time. So, I don’t care what it looks like. I don’t care how many setbacks have occurred…God is moving on your behalf and making things happen.

Yes! Favor! Favor isn’t fair, but God grants us the favor. He grants favor with every breath we take, while we are honoring Him, and living according to His will for our lives. Yes. Bad things happen. Delays happen. Some things do not work out the way we expected. But the truth of the matter is, that God knows all of these things and has shared them with those of us who have an ear to hear and a mind and fortitude to follow what He tells us.

Your labor for the Lord, in love, is not in vain. I promise you that if you hold on, believe in your heart and not just your head, you will see the promises and blessings of God begin to manifest in your life.

I celebrate my Birthday this week. No matter what I am facing right now. No matter what challenges are on my plate, I will celebrate the gift of another year of life, should God grant me another day to breathe the breath of life in this earthly realm. I am going to praise Him and be thankful from the depths of my heart and soul.

There are things I could complain about. I could list for you a list as long as I am tall of all the things that I perceive to be wrong. All the things that are breaking and hurting my heart. All the things that give me pause in this life. I could do that, but then, it would only be right to list all the things that are right. And they far outweigh all the things that are wrong, hurtful, and heartbreaking.

I choose to believe God when He tells me that my labor is not in vain. I am certain that at my very worse—my very worse day—would still be a day of bliss and sunshine and greatness in the life of someone who is suffering a far greater situation than mine.  Yes. No one's pain is counted greater than another's. Pain is pain. But I do understand that some never get to count the joys I have counted or get to count. Some have never experienced the love I have experienced. And still, others have yet to experience the overwhelming feeling of goodness, elation of the spirit and soul, and unconditional love that I have when you do something unselfishly for someone else.

So yes, I am choosing to count my blessings.  Even in that, I am learning valuable lessons. I'm not wearing any blinders or rose-colored glasses. Things are what they are. Yet I am choosing to respond instead of reacting, and give God praise anyhow. At the end of the day, I will rest, knowing that my labor in the Lord is not all in vain. I am blessed, and more blessings are manifesting.

My Beloveds, may the spirit of peace and prosperity find permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. All that you do for God is never in vain. Whether you are out front or behind the scenes, it is all seen by our Heavenly Father. Whatever you do for God, will last. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing!

©2021. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.