Message to the Overcomer: Elevate Your Thinking

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Philippian 4:8

Words are so important.  So much so, that the Word of God Says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). We are all guilty of thinking negatively at times.  We tend to think that our thoughts are just that, thoughts, and do not hurt anyone.  As you will see, what we think has the power to create.  How?  Once the thought spends time on the inside, eventually we will begin to speak forth what is in our heart.  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it,” Proverbs 4:23.  “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of,” Matthew 12:34b.  Then God creates the fruit of our lips, Isaiah 57:19.

God’s word is true.  I agree with the old saying, “If God said it that settles it”.   Amen!  We must take charge of our lives.  God cannot bless negative thoughts, because He is not a negative God.  God cannot bless anything contrary to His character.  He is the God of peace, and yet we live in hostile environments, are thoughts are in turmoil and life is anything but peaceful.  “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace,” Romans 8:6 NIV.  Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22.  Maybe it is time to elevate our thinking.  Think about peace, speak peace, be a peacemaker and watch God create peace in your life.  Whatever you need, discover the character of God concerning the matter.  Speak what God has to say about it and allow Him to perform it.

To elevate our thinking, we need to take charge of our thoughts, pay attention to the words we speak and practice speaking God’s word.  The Kingdom of God has a language of its own.  We need to learn it and began to speak it.  Just like learning any foreign language, you will need a teacher.  You will need someone to help you understand how to pronounce the words, what certain words mean and how to use the words properly, or in context.  Learning a language takes time and effort.  It does not just happen.  Some may even immerse themselves in a certain culture to learn the language quickly and on the level of the people. The same is true for learning God’s Word.  We should continuously read the word of God, read it out loud so we can hear the word.  Study the word of God in an effort to understand meaning and context.  Spend time with those who are already developing their language of the Kingdom.

Learning the language of the Kingdom leads to having the mind of Christ.  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Romans 12:2.  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5.

How can I let the mind of Christ be in me?  “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others,” Philippians 2:1-4.

To elevate our thinking takes work.  We must purpose to speak life and not death; purpose to live in peace; purpose to develop the mind of Christ.  We must purpose to take charge of our thinking, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak (Luke 6:45). Whatever is on the inside will come out.

Elevate your thinking,

Pastor Rosita