Chapter 5 Thoughts, Words and Habits

"Where the mind goes, the man follows" - Joyce Meyer

Joyce says what we think and speak is one of our most important habits because it determines the other habits in our lives.  Negative self talk sends good intentions to the grave.  We must capture those words and thoughts or we will find ourselves stuck in the same self destructive rut.  We can literally speak ourselves into victory or defeat.  We must practice, practice, practice.  Just having the knowledge isn't enough.  Wanting to changes isn't enough.  We must implement the knowledge and take action. Satan would love nothing more than keeping us mired in his lies instead of living in obedience to Christ.  We must learn to say what we truly want, not what we have or how we feel.

I Can't Help It

Thoughts can come in uninvited, but we choose whether or not they stay.  God is good and His Word speaks the truth to us.  When negative words enter our thoughts, we need to address them by speaking positive words.  Verbal affirmation helps stop our self destructive behavior.  let's take responsibility for our thoughts and words.  They are the raw material for our actions.  Start saying it differently, say it as the Word says it, as God says it.  Choose carefully.

God's Good Plan/One Good Habit

God will meet us right where we are.  His plan trumps any other plan we could possibly come up with for our lives.  Our lives can become a painful journey if we are trying to be god over our lives instead of following His plan.  Will it be easy?  Of course not! It will take time and action, a lot of hard work.  God's Word is full of promises and we need to focus on those promises and believe.  Read and believe. DAILY!

Our words and thoughts define us.  Are they filled with satan's lies or God's truth?  The words we say and think, the words we believe can lead to our greatest positive changes or into a pit of destruction.  The choice is ours.

Try It

What do we want to see happen in our lives? Envision it and then find scripture to back it up.  Confess those scriptures, those promises aloud daily.  Use them when satan tries to fill your mind with lies.  We need the constant reminder.  God knew we would need them to be successful.  We have to believe we can make healthy changes.  We need to turn our negative thoughts into empowering thoughts that will lead to lasting victory.

Reprogram the Computer/You Are Filled With Possibilities

Isaiah 55:8  My thoughts are not  your thoughts...declares the Lord

We need to reprogram our minds to focus on positive truths, God's truth, and not on negative thoughts or satan's lies.  Refining our strategies to be efficient and reprogramming our minds help us to be the best we can be.  Spending time with God and learning His truths is the only way our possibilities can become realities.  God wants us to enjoy ourselves and every moment of our lives.  That can happen if we develop life giving habits.

thoughts...

As we read His Word, our thoughts change.  This change in our thought pattern changes what we say about ourselves.  Our words begin to echo God's will.  God's truth can transform us.  We need to decide we have too much invested to turn back now.  Choose to believe His Word, regardless of how we feel or our circumstances.  Hold tightly to His promises and don't be deterred.  Aggressively choose to believe and confess God's truth.  Do not let anyone steal them from you.  It will be a life changing decision.

Rick Renner interprets Hebrews 10:23 like this:

"Let us come into agreement with God and begin to speak what He says, tightly wrapping our arms around the promise we are confessing - embracing it with all our might, holding tightly to it, rejecting all attempts of anyone who tries to steal it from us...determined to be inflexible and unmoving from that which we believe and confess"

Lord, Thank you for Your Word and the promises it holds.  Give us strength to unwaveringly believe and confess Your truth.  Help us put our foot down on the devil's lies.  Allow Your Holy Spirit to keep us focused on Your Word, Your promises so we can follow Your plan for our lives.  Do not allow satan to keep us from enjoying every moment of our lives.  In Your precious and holy name I pray, Amen