Part 6 ~ Chapter 45

Written with almost uncontainable excitement:

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning, new mercies I see...

(from the chorus of the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness)

and today is no exception! God never ceases to amaze me when I am still and seek His face; sit at His feet and stop to take a drink of the Living Water.

My cup runneth over this morning as I write, and as I bask in the Glory of our Lord.

After a horrible bout with the enemy, I am walking in victory and liberty this morning as I thank God for delivering me out of "my Egypt" and allowing me to see the truth in the circumstances in which I am!

All the details are just that... details at this point, and they don't really matter.

What matters is God Almighty has brought me out of slavery to the wicked ways of the world and has set me high upon a rock of revelation! I hope He is doing the same for you.

Have you tasted the honey and drank of the milk?

How refreshing is it to you, today, that God teaches us grand life lessons... using the very things satan has tried to use to defeat us?

When God gets through to you, teaching you these grand life lessons, I want you to "forget {those} former things. Do not dwell on the past" (Isaiah 43:18 {emphasis mine}).

"See, I am doing a new thing," says the Lord. "Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:19).

Friend, if you do not see it, I encourage you to sit at the feet of Jesus and lay all your burdens down. Cast them on Him! Tell Him your troubles. Relinquish your sorrows. Trade them in for the joy of the Lord!

He's got beauty for your ashes; strength for all the many fears you hide in your soul. He will pour the oil of gladness over your sweet head and your tears of mourning will be swept away in rivers of mercy and grace. He will robe you in a cloak of righteousness and you will sing eloquent praises... forgetting all that lies behind and looking towards the hope and the future He has planned for you.

Don't you want that? Don't you want the life of liberty God has destined you to experience?

I do!

Please forgive me for typing away this morning. I know I promised I'd try to keep these posts shorter so you can read chapters at a time and then come on the blog and discuss several chapters at a time without having to spend all day at the computer : ) .

I am just full of gladness this morning... in awe of all the things He has done. It's not that there's anything, earthly, out of the ordinary today. I'm still sick and my husband still does not have a job. Our finances are very limited and our one car sits out in the driveway (granted, I am extremely thankful that we have that one!).

I just had a REALLY good time reading Scripture this morning and was hopping all over the Bible soaking in the Word of God.

After some time in the desert, that's all you need. He is ALL I need when I'm surrounded by the throes of the enemy. ALL I NEED!

* I just realized that I'm singing Bethany Dillon's song, All I Need in my head. I just searched for the lyrics so I could show the reference, and lo and behold... it's my song today! In the second verse, she even says:

When the morning comes

And Your mercy is renewed

There's a fire in my bones

I'm not afraid to go alone

You're all I need

I couldn't have said it better!

It's rising up all around!

Can you feel it?

The anthem of the Lord's Renown!

Holy is the Lord, God, Almighty!

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 6 ~ Chapter 44

In Chapter 44 Beth Moore says, "... any benefit missing in our lives is an indicator of a stronghold, an area of defeat."

She's referring to the 5 benefits of a covenant relationship with God, and Beth also helps to answer a question I was asked very early on in our study: What exactly is a stronghold?

The quote above adds more insight to the definition we discussed. It's easy to recognize a stronghold when we look at areas of defeat. How simple is that?

What strongholds are currently in your life?

What/Who is the desire of your heart?

Stop, Drop and Pray that you may be a witness today.

Part 6 ~ Chapter 43

Do you display the beauty of the Lord?

Do you sit at His feet every day and walk away reflecting the beauty of His glory?

Are you an oak of righteousness planted by the living waters?

Do you love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? (see Mark 12:30)

Stop, Drop and Pray. We're on the final stretch!

Part 6 ~ Chapter 42

This is another "WOW" chapter for me and one that I'll refer to frequently! The final illustration to "bow thought to the truth" (Beth Moore page 246) completes the extreme makeover I described in the last post.

With vibrant paint and/or updated wallpaper in hand, lovingly apply truth to the primed walls of your soul. When truth covers the walls, your thoughts become captive. * Remember the 1st illustration Beth Moore describes on page 243? The skeleton figure was captive. And, in the last illustration (page 246), the thoughts are captive.

Stepping back and allowing God to do a holy makeover in your mind takes you from "Captive" to "Captor." Hallelujah!

The last paragraph on page 248 is one that I encourage you do highlight and/or copy and post somewhere you'll see it often. It is the study of our last couple chapters in one paragraph. It is a great reminder on how to renew your mind.

What are your thoughts on renewing the mind? Is this something you struggle with or do you have some tools/tips you could pass on to the rest of us? Please do, share!

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 6 ~ Chapter 41

This is the concept, in my own words, that I walked away with from Chapter 41:

Allow God to do an amazing makeover in your mind (soul). You start the process by stripping the walls of your mind that are covered in layers and layers of leaded paint (ie, toxic thoughts) and/or 80's wallpaper (ie, ancient thoughts that keep you plastered in an era of sin).

Now, if you need help, just ask God to empower you with the Holy Spirit at work in you. He will do it!

Do not leave the walls of your mind bare. It is imperative that you not procrastinate; however, you must move on quickly to the next step.

Then, prime the walls of your mind with the TRUTH! This is a simple, yet often overlooked step. Pick up the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), search for the truth, and apply it liberally.

Next, DO NOT allow the enemy to go shopping with you for the new paint and/or wallpaper. If you let satan pick out the colors and/or pattern, it will look good in the store. BUT, when you get it home you'll realize you made a big mistake. I can promise you anything he picks out will not look good in that beautifully renewed, perfectly primed soul of yours.

*** If you fall prey to the enemy while searching for new wall coverings, a refund is just a prayer away. You don't even have to go back to the store. Just get on your knees. God will honor your refund request with or without a receipt. Sweet Mercy!

Finally, apply a fresh coat of vibrant paint or that updated wallpaper...

it sounds like we'll be covering (ha... pun intended instead of deleted) that step in the next chapter. ; )

I am so full of love and freedom this morning! I hope and pray you are, too!

Anyone for a shopping trip?

Stop, Drop and Pray... Then SHOP! we've got new wallpaper/paint to pick out today!

Part 6 ~ Chapter 40

I've enjoyed reading the whole book, but this chapter really excites me!

Practical application and a step-by-step process make things attainable and simple for me. That's exactly what this section of our study brings to the table. Are you ready to break free?

When I've heard this verse in Scripture in the past, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5b), I have to be honest in saying that I only thought I knew what that meant.

I got the general gist, mind you, but there was still a part of me that stayed angry because I was still having the same thoughts that I "took captive to God." At one point, I even believed that there must be something wrong with me because I was still having the same thoughts and "God had not taken them away from me."

Side but important note here: God gave us all a soul (mind, will and emotions) so that we have the freedom to think, make decisions and feel as we please.

Then, I had a personal revelation. God was doing His part. I wasn't doing mine.

I was praying for God to take the thoughts away... help me not to think them anymore.

I wasn't taking them captive by coming to the same understanding God has of my sinful, idolatrous actions.

That's the aha moment for me today. It is not a matter of simply admitting my sin: It is a matter of agreeing with God, understanding His Word, and learning "to 'think the thought' as it relates to Christ and who we are in Him" (Beth Moore page 233-4). I do not have to stay in bondage because of my thoughts: I have the freedom to take my thoughts captive to Christ... the One who can deliver me from my own, raw thoughts!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (sung on a high note as opposed to letting out a sigh... although it is a relief to hear the truth ; )

What is being revealed to you as you study these practical applications and truths? How did you answer the study questions?

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 6 ~ Chapter 39

Wow, what a lesson! I have to admit, my brain hurts a little from trying to absorb and hold onto every single truth and tool displayed in the reading.

This is yet another chunk of our study I'll want to go back and review long after our journey together ends.

This chapter has me flipping back to Ephesians 6: I'm specifically looking at verses 10-18 that describe "the whole armor of God."

What would happen if you got up every morning and, before anything else, put on the whole armor of God?

While I'm not asking you to share private information, I do encourage you to give serious thought to the discussion questions on page 286 for this chapter. If you feel led to share, please do so. Someone may need to hear your story.

Consider strongholds in your life, how they gain strength, how your insecurities feed them, and the excuses and/or reasons you use for not taking these strongholds captive to Christ (paraphrased questions from page 286).

I pray that you experience the transforming power of God as you face these issues head on, fully clothed in the garments He has provided you with for battle.

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 6 ~ Chapter 38

As we turn the page to begin Part 6, I'm sad to know that we're near the end of our journey together. What makes me smile, though, is that we are on our way to freedom and living the life God intends for us!

I hope you are smiling today!

On the first page of Chapter 38, I am thrilled to find out that we will be working on developing a steadfast mind.

I believe that being transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) is one of the very first steps to take in drawing closer to God.

Some of you have heard me "preach this sermon" before. If you have, please review. If this is your 1st time hearing it, please absorb the rich truth.

We are made of 3 parts: Soul (mind, will and emotions), Sprit (heart) and Body (physical self).

I believe, that in order to become whole and fit, one must begin in the soul and make up his/her mind to change. It's also important to develop a steadfast mind so that your renewed mind can be firm and unwavering on the truth. You can work on your physical structure all year long and develop a heart of gold, but if you're not in your right mind, you may quickly fall prey to the enemy.

This is serious stuff.

Our minds are a battlefield and spiritual warfare is constantly being waged over our heads (Ephesians 6:12).

While I could take up hours of your time talking about all of this, I encourage you to research God's Word for the truth and talk to a pastor who has studied this topic extensively. I am still learning, but I'll be happy to share my knowledge with you as well.

The truth will set you free (John 8:32).

* Now, I typed all that after reading just the first page (2 paragraphs) of Chapter 38 ; ), so, you can probably imagine how much I have to say on this topic. : )

I'll try to let Beth Moore and God do most of the talking, but I'd like to add a few "Amens":

"Few biblical subjects are more controversial than spiritual warfare and the battlefield of the mind" (page 222).

"He will give us perfect peace in our imperfect minds" (page 223).

"Just as surely as the kingdom of God prospers when we are steadfast in Him, so our own hears and minds benefit" (page 223).

I pray that you rest in Him today and use His word as your pillow. ; )

Stop, Drop and Pray

p.s. While I can't remember the exact day, I do remember warning you about satan trying to keep you from a particular section. This is another one. I have no doubt that the enemy will try everything in his power to keep you from completing this section of our study. Don't give in to the enemy! Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)!

Part 5 ~ Chapter 37

I believe that different aspects of God's love have greater meaning at different times in our lives.

So...

Based on discussion question #4 in the back of the book, I'd like to ask you this question today:

Right now, what aspect of God's love means the most to you? Why?

Leadership, Salvation, Mercy, Comfort, Defense, Other

For me, it's definitely mercy at the moment. I have been overwhelmed by His mercy and Fatherly Love lately. It means so much to me that God looks at me with the eyes of a Loving Father and has mercy on my soul!

No matter where you've come from, no matter what you've done, you can trust God to forgive every sin and redeem you from the pit in which you live.

Sweet Mercy!

Stop, Drop and Pray. Thank the Lord today!