Archived Verse Of the Week

- BsL

Have you ever felt as though fighting consumes all of your energy? Do you think your adversary works nonstop to get you to doubt or give up? He certainly is, but thankfully, God has given us the proper instructions to approach this conflict.

Our minds can get so clogged with unfavourable thoughts: fear, anxiety, and worry. These notions might result from feelings of rejection, unworthiness, hopelessness and other negative emotions. This is due to the fact that when thoughts are allowed to enter the mind, they immediately move to the heart. These are not the thoughts and sentiments of God. Most of the time, we are unaware of what is going on. That's how cunning the adversary may be. Remember Peter's warning, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8.

We must meet him at the door when the enemy attempts to enter. Don't let him go any further. So that there is no room for Satan's lies, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and our minds crammed full of God's truth.

How do we seize control of our thoughts? How do we battle? We arm ourselves with scripture! Fill the mind with God's word and allow it to rejuvenate your mind, soothe your heart, and bring joy and happiness to the surface. "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," 2 Corinthians 10:5.

If all we do as Christ-exalting Christians is conform to the society around us, we are completely useless. The fallen world and sinful man are too ready to squeeze us into their mould and cultivate a worldly mindset where God is far removed. Paul warns us not to "conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

As believers, we have been called to a personal consecration, where our lives reflect Christ and our bodies are a living sacrifice to the Lord. It is our spiritual worship and reasonable service to yield daily our lives, ourselves, and bodies to the Lord.

This daily transformation process, in which we are transformed from glory to glory into the likeness and image of Christ as we abide in Him and He in us, is a lifetime endeavour. The enemy of our soul wants to undermine our faith and render our witness ineffective by feeding our egos or instilling fear in us. He has always been a liar and a murderer, so if we want to triumph over the world, the flesh, and the devil, we must put on the armour of God daily (Read Ephesians 6:10-18).

The sinful nature is hardwired to conform to the world. Still, the indwelling Holy Spirit's transformative work necessitates the continuous renewal of our minds so that the mind of Christ permeates our thinking. His heart's desire becomes our desire and delight.

The daily rededication of ourselves to His service is a lifelong program that we must intentionally choose. Transformation doesn't happen overnight; rather, it is the result of the inner values of the heart that must translate into the active practice of our ideas and desires. It is a free-will decision to reject evil and honour the Lord with beautiful thoughts, words, and deeds by doing what is good and holy.

Only the Holy Spirit is capable of bringing about our internal change. He is the One who "transforms through the renewing of your mind" in us. So that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, he does this refining work in the depths of our hearts.

It's necessary to maintain our focus on Jesus and educate our hearts to see heavenly things that are real and honest, just and pure, wholesome, and of good news. Every notion that casts a shadow in our minds must be captured, and every reason that dishonours our Saviour must be rejected.

When we shift our hearts away from the things of this world and toward the Lord Jesus, and if each of us focused our heart, mind, will, and affection on Him, we would not be conformed to the world's carnal leanings. Nonetheless, our new, born-again nature would begin to take on the characteristics of Christ.

To be like the Lord Jesus Christ, may we turn from the things of this world and voluntarily submit to God's child-training program. This enables us to live in Spirit and Truth, to walk in the light as He walks in the light, and to love others as He loves us.