Watch your thoughts

31 August 2011 

              A thought is only an idea  that takes root in our heart ,if it is stays for a long time it becomes an action. Our thoughts determine our heart, which determines our words and actions.  To bring our thoughts in confined state ,we have to hold them within Godly bounds.“..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. Whatever you have learned or received ……put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9).“The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. “(Genesis 6:5 ) .

           All thoughts are getting its origin from  the heart.“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”(Matthew 15:19).

         Wandering thoughts has to be controlled and managed then it  is beneficial and important.  Apostle Paul wrote “…casting down arguments …. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

           You may have a question in your mind -How can I control my thoughts? How can to manage my thoughts? Thoughts are largely hidden beneath our conscious. Our ‘thought life’ contains a huge collection of information’s such as beliefs, values, attitudes, opinions,  ideas , remorse feelings,  ethics , principles etc,  they have accumulated for years and stored in our minds.

           We use these thoughts to give meaning to our external social, physical, emotional and spiritual life. Voluminous amount of stored information may be accurate, blind or vague. Hence Paul wrote, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (1 Corinthians 4:4).

            Thoughts are wingless idea or opinion, which can go to any extend to do anything. So the importance of managing our thoughts can be stressed as “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2).

              You can control those distorted thoughts that race through your mind causing destructions and damages. It has a long routine course of action such as:

• identify your  internal thoughts, that wait or live below your sub- conscious level.
• try to analyze your thoughts that comes to mind – the good or bad,
• Do not censor  or evaluate, monitor, or change  the pattern of thoughts.
• Write all your thoughts on a piece of paper-Analyse- how can we be manage your thoughts .
• Identify the illogical and defeating thoughts. It is very disturbing to do away with those thoughts.
• You can memorize a Bible verse to knock -out the distorted thinking. Every time a thought of self analysis and criticism comes up, you  can counteract by clinging on to the promises of God like, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).” “If God is for us, who is against us…Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies” (Romans 8:31, 33).
• Substitute evil thoughts with a New Thoughts- may be biblical, positive , negative or a accurate thought, whatever seems to be a right thought.
• Develop a new attitude or environment in and around you,  no matter where you are  and what you are.
• Try to manage and control  your thoughts with prayer. Prayer causes new thinking in the form of faith. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
• Ask God for strength, wisdom, guidance, and better understanding .Always ingrain in your mind that,  "I(you ) can do all things through Christ  who strengthens me”.( Philippians 4:13).Paul stresses the  principle of positive thoughts as:“…. brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
• Finally try to apply all your new thoughts into Practice, and  there by it will be accustomed as your  new behavior. Read this instruction, “The things you have learned and received and heard’ …..practice these things” (Philippians 4:9).
• Learn to pass it  on to others, what you have found supportive in your own life. Let God be glorified.

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways 
and my thoughts than your thoughts”. ( Isaiah 55:8)

 

     BEAT NEGATIVE BY POSITIVE!

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Heart needs Guidance

30 August 2011

            The heart needs guidance because naturally it undertakes selfish pursuits. The heart of man is not a safe place, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” Bible says “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,” ……For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”(Isaiah 55:8-11)  It is obvious that the word sown in the heart will not go as a waste, it will perform wonders.

There are some valid reasons why the heart needs guidance:

• We are ignorant and desperately need the wisdom and direction of the Lord to understand the world and its activities because our own heart is all filled wickedness. “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the LORD.” (Proverbs 19:3) warns us that our foolishness threatens or changes or over turns  our way.
• We are selfish by nature as we read “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;”( Isaiah 53:6). We want to live independently in order to control and direct our own dealings . and inherently disobedient by nature .
• The heart is more deceitful and wicked, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  (Jeremiah 17:9)  We can not trust our own heart because of it is, self-centered, and self-protective in  behavior and in its strategies,  hence we need to learn, to lean on the Lord, ignoring the circumstances. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”( Proverbs 3:5).” "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:”( Psalm 37:5)  But our heart, misleads us through its futile information . Beware.
• The heart is desperately sick, and  incurably wicked and “beyond cure”(Jeremiah 17:9) We cannot eradicate or  improve, or modify the feelings of the heart, it consist of the mind, its emotions, the will power and the whole features of the  inner man.
• The heart cannot be understood by our own wisdom. God  alone can reveal “ I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10) God knows our heart “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (Proverbs . 17:3)
• It is in your hands to enable the heart to move in the right directon.“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm 139:23).  Obviously, We are talented and able to deceive ourselves.

• The heart is the wellspring of life; the fountain of attitudes, values, beliefs, aspirations, and pursuits, “…..guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs. 4:23) If you loose the chance of protecting your  heart ,it may lead us astray
•  The heart is the fountain, and it has streams flowing from it—the eyes, the mouth, the feet, the ears (i.e.), it implies on the words and  the actions and reactions. In this world , to balance our character, and to improve the traits, we have to guard our hearts. No other chance you have. “…be wise, and set your heart on the right path”( Proverbs 23:19)

           On the reverse side you have to give your heart genuinely what it needs- sacrifice, risk, accountability and involvement etc. It is our source of strength, joy, and the real  meaning of  life. We should not withhold the heart - it exposes our inability and our reluctance to give our hearts to God. “…These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” (Isaiah 29:13)

Henceforth the Heart needs a methodological preparation. The rebellious  nature has to be tamed, with wise words ,wise speech, pure thoughts, clean habits and ideas, of course with proper understanding.“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD. Their hearts are secure, (Psalm 112:7-8). Person with well prepared heart will be able to respond to God in any different and difficult situations of life.

       A well guarded heart is to be purified, Cheered, Encouraged, Comforted and   to be strengthened.

 A joyful heart makes you as a cheerful person. Let not your heart be troubled. “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”(Psalm 37:4)

“Teach me your way, LORD, 

that I may rely on your faithfulness; 
give me an undivided heart,  

that I may fear your name. 

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; 

I will glorify your name forever.” ( Psalm 86:11)

A cheerful heart is good medicine.  Proverbs 17:22

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NONE CAN COME NEAR TO IT!

Heart needs Guidance

29 August 2011   

“Above all else,guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it".

( Proverbs 4:23)

            We live in a highly, materialistic society,  where we are turned on to  please the ‘self’ and  always got used to the luxurious way thinking and living. Happiness comes to us through various sources, through  accomplishments, recognitions, appreciations, material possessions, comforts and luxuries. We have our own programs through which we search for success or happiness.

            However success focuses  its  attention on two things. Physical and mental abilities -majority of thinking, writing, talking etc, focuses on the outer self and little importance given  to the inner man, ( the heart). It consist  of our thoughts, motives, ambitions, values, and decisions. Nevertheless the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and because we are easily influenced by the world around us, Hence our hearts need guarding.

               The heart is an important because God is so deeply concerned about the inner man or the condition of the heart,it refers to the mind, its emotions, its thoughts etc ,

 “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature,.. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) and “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”(Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Lord looks at the heart,the inner person.‘cause the heart so important. All the issues of life—our actions, works, pursuits, etc.—all proceed from the heart. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mathew 6:21).  “……how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”(Mathew 12:34).“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”(Mathew 15:18)

              Whatever we do in words or actions are the  product of what we are inside ,that the heart consists of the intelligence ,the motivation, decision  emotion and the conscience.“I will give you a wise and discerning heart,…”

(1 Kings 3:12). and “understanding with their heart" (John.12: 40). Hence, the intellect or reasoning ability lives in heart.

           The heart possessing emotions,and conscience - Emotions such as joy, love, and desire may come from the heart. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God (John 14: 1).We have an obligation to take care of the heart because we have the responsibility of keeping our heart in a good shape ."Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4: 23)."…..be wise, and set your heart on the right path:”( Proverbs 23:19).

          Always remember that God knows everything and nothing is hidden and “..... he knows the secrets of the heart?  (Psalm 44: 21). Lord's word is power packed that “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”(Hebrews 4: 12).So, God knows our motivation, our emotions, intellect, and conscience. All things are plain and open before God.

God expects us to keep the commands in our heart “The wise in heart accept commands,….(.Proverbs 10:8)  Write the laws in your heart as Bible says  “The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”( Psalm 37:31) “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.”(Psalm 119:36) “keep my commands in your heart” (Proverbs:3:1)  You can say with a confident heart that,

“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart  that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm119:11)

      Actually we need a very strong inner person to put us in the right path. Follow the command:

lone road @ kodaikanal  

“Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart”. ( Proverbs7:2-3)

 Our walk with God is always

 a matter of the heart. 

      Arise and Shine

          GOD BLESS