Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Exodus 17:15, “Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner).” NLT

“And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is My Banner.” ESV

Throughout the book of Exodus, we see the Israelites complaining about many things. How quickly don’t we forget all God has done for us and blessed us when a troublesome circumstance arises, and we fall apart in fears and doubts brought on by our self-inflicted anxieties? I wish I could say I have trusted God in every moment, but I haven’t, and then we read about the Israelites, and we judge them harshly due to our emotional feelings. Reflecting on how we can practically develop greater trust in God’s provision during trials can inspire us to deepen our faith and self-examination.

These people had been miraculously rescued in crossing the Red Sea and saw their Egyptian enemies drowned and died right before their eyes. They witnessed the water crashing down on their enemies (verse19). They sang a song of deliverance recorded in Ex. 15. However, right after that, they complained about the water being bitter. Moses cried out to God for help, and He again miraculously provided for their needs. In chapter 16, we see that the Israelites encountered shortages of food and inconveniences, and God provided manna and quail for them. However, when they arrived in Rephidim, there was no water to drink. So, they complained again, dissatisfied and lacking trust in God. Moses had had enough of their negative complaints and shouted, “Quiet! Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the LORD?” Ex. 17:2b. Moses goes again to the LORD for counsel in what he should do with these people. In our situation, how could we change our outlook by using prayer to calm our minds and listen more clearly to God’s guidance? Prayer helps reduce our stress and opens our hearts to God’s voice. This is what Moses chose to do as their leader.

God brought a major victory to the Israelites, demonstrating His power and inspiring confidence in His ongoing support, which should reassure the audience of God’s unwavering strength and faithfulness. Their defeat of the Amalekites, descendants of Esau, who had a reputation for being fierce and relentless enemies of Israel, shows God’s faithfulness. This victory highlights the biblical theme of faithfulness to God’s commands and serves as proof that God was with them, as He had promised, through every situation. After this victory, “Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”). Ex.17:15.

The lesson for us is:

• When we face trials and troubles, we need to remind ourselves that God is our shield, our protector, our guide, and the supplier of all that we need. Philip. 4:19.
• God will bring victory, as our identity is found in living a cross-centered life.
• We need to remind ourselves of all Jesus has done and be confident that He will do so again. Heb. 13:8.
• Like Moses, we should let everyone know we belong to God. He is our banner. Ex. 17:15; Ps. 60:4, “You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.”
• Worry does not bring solutions – only prolongs the stress. 1 Pet. 5:7.
• When we seek God, He will find us when we seek Him with all our hearts. Jer. 29:13.
• As God defeated the Israelites’ enemies, God will stand with me, even in my regrets, because God is sovereign and works everything according to the counsel of His will. Ephe.1:11.

My emotions may be fragile, but I trust that the Holy Spirit will transform me into a new person by changing the way I think through the truth of God’s Word, re-educating and redirecting my thoughts as I learn to wholly worship my God (Rom. 12:1-2), be in His presence, and serve Him, as Moses did for the Israelites. This banner, symbolizing God’s guidance and support, serves as a visual reminder for you and for me of His presence and promises in our lives, reassuring us and inspiring trust in His plan.

Listen to Matthew West – Good (Music Video)

Exodus 3:14, 15, “God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.”

When you feel inadequate, remember Moses. Picture in your mind the most powerful, wealthy, influential, lying, verbally and physically abusive person in a high office that needs to be confronted, who is anti-Christian, and has caused and done unjustified harm to fellow believers in Christ. How would you react if God chose you alone to bring freedom and stand up to this government official? This was Moses who felt hindered and insecure, so he lacked confidence in his ability to speak and lead the Hebrew Israelites out of the land of Egypt, in order to stand up to Pharaoh as God instructed him to do. So, he argued against God’s chosen intention for him in freeing the Israelites and bringing them to the promised land.

Moses had insecurities with his inability to speak well, and his fears were an attack on God’s character due to his arguing and protesting against what God told him to do. Moses had sinful fear controlling his thoughts when it tempted him not to follow the revealed will of God (Ex. 4:10-14). We see in Ex. 4:10, “But Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then God asks him, “Well, who do you think made your mouth – I did!” God reassures Moses that He will be with him as he speaks and will instruct him in what to say. Moses was overthinking everything out of fear, worried about people’s reactions and how they might respond to him, and that he would embarrass himself. Sinful fear was controlling Moses’ thoughts when he was tempted to fear man more than he feared God. Moses failed to focus on God’s attributes – grace, deliverer, sustainer, omnipotence, sovereignty, and ability to do anything consistent with His desires as God, omniscience – has complete knowledge of everything, even before we say it, omnipresence, and He is righteous. God is always present everywhere with the fullness of who He is -Yahweh -the great I AM.

Moses was a strong leader in the end and God allowed his brother Aaron to help him. But at first, Moses was fearful, insecure, had false pride, low self-esteem, and lacked the courage to be God’s sole mouthpiece to Pharaoh, the political king. We must not make that mistake. We must be mouthpieces for God as Moses was. God will provide us with strength and ability where needed because He can see the end of our journey and knows the best and safest route to get there, just as he did with the Israelites, so that we will know that He is the LORD, which God declared throughout the book of Exodus, to Moses and regarding Pharoah.

Yes, we have modern Pharaohs in our time, as Moses had in the book of Exodus. Not willing to concede that there is a divine creator whose power is higher than themselves will be reckoned with at God’s appointed time, which gives us hope. Jesus stated in Matthew 8:28, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM!” Then in Hebrews 13:8 we read, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”

Human leaders have much to offer and answer for in their governmental responsibilities, yet we, above all, must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader. He will never change as He is the great I AM, Yahweh, Lord, Jehovah, The Self-Existent One. Ask Him to show you something new about Him today that you have never seen before. Remember He is the great I AM, the Self-Existent One, the promise keeper!

Listen to Thank You Jesus for the Blood by Charity Gayle.

Genesis 39:21-22, “But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.”

Joseph’s life is an example of someone who experienced disappointments and betrayal. His hardships were the training ground for repeatedly severe setbacks that ultimately positioned him for God’s ultimate purpose for Joseph, a role he could not see at those times of suffering, which shows us God’s omnipotence, who works everything according to His will.

When Joseph was young, he wore his special, king-like robe, which his father Jacob had given him, around his brothers. However, it was a type of robe, primarily worn by royalty in those days, that indicated status. It was ankle-length, long-sleeved, and colorful. This display of favoritism may have contributed to Joseph’s perceived arrogance and boastfulness, which created tension with his brothers. The robe was a symbol of Jacob’s favoritism of his son Joseph, which aggravated his brothers. In that day, most people wore a knee-length robe, like a jacket or coat, that could be used to bundle belongings for a trip, wrap up babies, and serve as a knee-length blanket to sit on. So, you can see the difference between Joseph’s robe and the robes his brothers would wear.

 Joseph’s brothers never spoke kindly to Joseph due to their hearts that were filled with anger, envy, jealousy, hatred, and the eventual plot of murder (Gen. 37:21-22). But Reuben, recognizing the gravity of their actions, convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph and had a plan to rescue him. Judah realized that if they killed Joseph, they would have to cover up their crime, so instead came up with the idea to sell Joseph to a group of Ishmaelite traders, which they did. Their actions teach us about the destructive power of envy and anger, and how God’s mercy can still work through human mistakes to fulfill His divine plan.

Now fast forward to Genesis 39:21-22. Joseph learned the value of righteousness, loving God with all his heart, soul, and mind, and endurance in his faithfulness to God, despite unjust circumstances. Joseph’s brothers tried to cover up their sin with trickery, deception, and lies against Joseph to their father, Jacob. Still, God saw it all and had His divine plan for them, showing God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and wisdom in guiding Joseph through his trials, and integrity in Joseph’s life.

Joseph’s talents and knowledge came from God, as they also do for us. Joseph had specialized training (while in prison, of all places) that prepared him for the future position God had in store for him all along. While in prison, he learned a new language (Egyptian), a new culture, gained new intelligence and skills, had a positive attitude, and did his best to do the best job he could, no matter how small the task. But he also saw the spiritual blindness around him. Joseph then grew in discernment, which prepared him for his eventual promotion to be the king’s governor. He went from being Joseph, the favored son of Joseph, to a slave in Egypt, a prisoner, and ultimately the governor in Pharaoh’s court (Gen. 41-42). Side note: Egyptians considered themselves superior to Hebrew shepherds, calling them uncultured and lower in rank. Joseph’s family were Hebrew shepherds.

Are you feeling great disappointment? Do you feel you are being treated unjustly? Trust that God’s presence is with you, guiding and strengthening you through every challenge. Above all else, guard your heart, for it determines what flows out of your mouth– Proverbs 4:20-23. Kill those seeds of sin that will destroy you as they did to Joseph’s brothers. God sees your efforts as he saw Joseph’s: to have integrity and to work hard, doing his best even in small tasks, while he was in prison. Those efforts paid off: they pleased God and earned Joseph recognition and advancement for his diligence, and he was promoted to prison administrator. Joseph’s reputation was enhanced, his confidence grew, and he gained more experience, knowledge, and spiritual maturity. The warden, in the prison where Joseph was kept at this time (Gen. 39:21-22), “had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.” Remember, you are not alone, and trusting in God’s presence will bring comfort and hope during your struggles because you are secure in God’s almighty hands.

Listen to Aware Worship – Trust In God (Featuring Mark Gutierrez).

Genesis 22:14-15;18, “Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed – all because you have obeyed me.”

Abraham was not a perfect man, as we see in the book of Genesis. But Scripture clearly shows us God’s mercy, holiness, omnipotence (God is Sovereign), omniscience (God never faces any of the limitations we face), and omnipresence all throughout the life of Abraham. He listened to God’s instructions and obeyed Him, steadfast in his faith in God’s character.

God provided a substitute for one of the most difficult assignments, which was a test to deepen Abraham’s capacity to obey God and to develop his character: offering Isaac as a sacrifice. All because of Abraham’s trust and obedience in complying with God’s instructions, God provided a substitute for Isaac, a ram, as Christ was offered as a substitute for us on the cross, whereas God did not spare His own son, Jesus, from dying on the cross for us. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

As you go about your day, when hit with stressful challenges, and feeling you need wisdom to carry out whatever is seemingly impossible being required of you, remember Gen. 22:8 and Gen. 22:14, where Abraham tells Isaac “the LORD will provide,” and names the mountain, Yahweh-Yireh in verse 14, Yahweh-Yireh (which means, “the LORD will provide”) NLT. The KJV uses the word Jehovah Jireh, which translates to, “The Lord will provide.” How will He provide? All because God can do anything consistent with His desires as God, He will provide if you have asked Him to. The point is, God is omnipresent -He is always present everywhere and is always there for us. All because He is God, just as He was with Abraham in Genesis 22 with His son, Isaac. God will be with us, and our responsibility is to do what God wants from us – to have faith and trust that He will work out everything for our good (Rom. 8:28). Abraham believed that God was sufficient for all of his needs, no matter how big or small they might be, so we must as well.

So don’t get discouraged. The trials we all go through are part of the process of sanctification in our lives, bringing us opportunities to see God’s character, expose any sin in our lives, grow in our faith, and trust in God no matter what, all because Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. That is living the cross-centered life.

Now look at what we learn from Abraham’s oldest servant, who was given the job of finding Isaac a wife, from Abraham’s homeland. This man asked Abraham, “What if I can’t find a young woman who would be willing to go back with me?” Abraham’s response was, “The LORD in whose presence I lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful.” Gen. 24:39,40a. Again, all because of God’s character, what God has done for you in the past, He will do for you again, all because He is the great I AM – Yahweh-Yireh, Jehovah Jireh, which signified God’s provision and foresight in the life of Abraham.

Listen to Matthew West – Good (Lyric Video)

Job 23:11-14, “For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”

We see the character of God throughout the book of Job, yet Job was never told God’s motives for his suffering. Trust and time spent with God is how we will get to know God better, as Job did. We may not understand the why, but we get to understand the who – the great I AM better.

The omnipotence of God is shown in Job 23. Despite the suffering Job was going through, he maintained that God is able to do anything consistent with His desires, as God is sovereign. The doctrine of God’s omnipotence teaches us that any power we have is derived from the sovereign God, the source of all power. Job firmly acknowledged that God is able to bring about what we need and has complete knowledge of everything, pointing to His omniscience. But we should not measure our circumstances by our own goodness or God’s. Sometimes they are related, but not always, as was the case with Job, because our feelings will often lead us astray.

“The reality Job brings to light is that our lot in life isn’t a good barometer for the state of our heart. Good things do happen to wicked people, and it doesn’t seem fair.” Tara-Leigh Cobble, The Bible Recap, page 34. So how should we look at ourselves and others when going through trials? Eliphaz, Job’s friend, was a poor example of one of his counselors. He lacked humility in his words to Job, thinks he knows it all, and states in Job 22:21, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.”  Eliphaz based his opinions on the general assumption that Job needed to repent of some sin. His advice did not explain Job’s circumstances and was taken out of context. His words were not “apples of gold” in any encouragement for Job and had limitations of human understanding in assuming that troubles are a sure sign of God’s judgment, as Job’s other friends did as well in their harshness to Job.

The way we respond to our personal struggles shows our attitude towards God. Job shows us his attitude in these verses in response to Eliphaz’s wrong judgment of why he was going through these trials. Questions about God, life, and justice are not as simple as Eliphaz and his other friends assumed. Job’s life, as he states in verse 11, was one of faithfulness to God. Psalm 17:5 is how he lived, “My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.” Job’s response to Eliphaz in verse 10 shows us his steadfastness in his faith in God despite his circumstances as he declares, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

In our struggles, as we see Job had through no fault of his own, we have to trust God’s character. Satan tried to drive a wedge between Job and God by a lie – that God’s governing of the world was not just and good. However, Satan had to ask permission of God to take Job’s wealth, children, and health away. He cannot exceed the limits that God sets. God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God never faces any of the limitations we face. He is wise and understands what is wrong and what we need.

God knew the backstory of Job’s trials but never explained it to Job. Despite this, Job never gave up on God. He never placed his hope on material possessions or personal success. God understood Job when none of his friends did, and Job pointed to God as the source of all wisdom. Job didn’t know the backstory, yet in his heart, he knew God controlled his destiny. Walk closely with God daily, talk to Him, and acknowledge God’s sovereignty – ultimate control over your life. Trust God for who He is for He is providentially working in all things for His glory!

Listen to Phil Wickham – “God I’m Just Grateful”

Ezekiel 1:26, “Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man.” NLT

Ezekiel 10:1, “In my vision I saw what appeared to be a throne of blue lapis lazuli above the crystal surface over the heads of the cherubim.” NLT

Exodus 24:10, “There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.” NLT

Ezekiel is rich in prophecy and revelations about present-day Israel and the end times. The book of Ezekiel gives a vivid picture of God’s unchangeable holiness and reminds the people of Israel who they were – God’s chosen people. “Jerusalem and their country were about to be leveled and their sin was the reason . . . He [God] needed a nation that would allow Him to show the world who He was through the display of His merciful attributes of grace, long-suffering, and forgiveness.” Exploring Ezekiel. The Next Big War, Earth’s Final Days, And Your Eternal Destination, Amir Tsarfati with Dr. Rick Yohn, p. 8 & 10. The books of Ezekiel and Revelation are parallel. The end-time application is judgment before Christ’s return, so that no one will escape.

We see the theme in Ezekiel of:

• God’s holiness and sovereignty, as it says, “the hand of the Lord was upon him.” Ez. 1:3b, to deliver God’s message – that of the prophet Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel’s vision continually influenced his thoughts, and that was understanding the knowledge of God, who is holy and sovereign over all creation, no matter how great Babylon and her gods seemed.
• Ezekiel did not live by his environment’s predicaments. He lived by how great God is, despite overwhelming surroundings and circumstances.

 What is the gemstone lapis lazuli? It is an azure-blue semiprecious stone. It is mentioned in Ex. 24:10 where Moses and the elders met God for a meal after the people reconfirmed the covenant, and the lapis lazuli gemstone reflected the glory of God and His superiority over all other beings. It was one of several gemstones that God created and chose for the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:17-20). “God made a prophecy about Lucifer, the “anointed guardian cherub,” before Lucifer was filled with pride that led to his downfall, all prior to his temptation of Eve, “Thus says the LORD God; . . . “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx and jasper, sapphire [Hebrew – lapis lazuli], emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. (Ez. 28:12-13).” Quote from: Answers in Genesis, Dr. Andrew A. Snelling on September 6, 20-25. This gem is also seen in the description of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:19-20. So, this gemstone, lapis lazuli, amongst others, was present in the heavenly garden where Lucifer dwelled before he pridefully rebelled and was cast out of heaven. These gemstones were on the high priest’s breastplate as a reminder of these heavenly realities. To think that God, who already had this and other gemstones beautifying His heavenly home (Ex. 24:10), replicated them in His creation on earth in our earthly home.

Most Bible commentators today believe that Bible translators mistranslated both the Hebrew and Greek words as “sapphire” rather than as lapis lazuli. It has a crystalline structure and is deep blue to greenish blue. Today, it is mined in Afghanistan. In recent years, the Taliban used lapis lazuli mined there to fund its military campaign. Substantial amounts are also produced from mines west of Lake Baikal in Russia and in the Andes Mountains in Chile. Smaller quantities are mined in Pakistan, Italy, Mongolia, the United States, and Canada.” Answers in Genesis. Dr. Andrew A. Snelling, Lapis Lazuli – The Forgotten Heavenly Gemstone. September 6, 2025. 

The figure in Ezekiel 1:26, “whose appearance resembled a man,” revealed God’s presence, who sat on the throne in all His holiness, and prepared Ezekiel for what God was about to tell Him. Ezekiel’s prophetic message was to condemn the sinful actions of seven nations.  Ezekiel saw a vision that revealed God’s absolute moral perfection in judgment, and God had him be the prophet and the watchman who saw the glory of God on the mighty throne of God in his visions of sin and impending judgment. The people, unfortunately, doubted God’s ability to defend His people and the city of Jerusalem. However, God was and is superior to corruption and will judge with righteousness.

Think of the magnificent beauty of blue lapis lazuli that we will see in the new Heaven and new earth, where the sun is not needed, Satan is defeated, sin is banished, God’s city is glorified, paradise is regained, death is defeated, and believers live forever with God. The foundations of the city will be adorned with every kind of jewel, such as lapis lazuli, amongst many others, as it is declared and promised in Revelation 21:10-20.

So, will we keep our eyes fixed on God rather than on our trials and struggles in life, as Ezekiel did? Stay faithful and reflect on God’s holiness and who works all things in accordance with the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:11) – omnipotence. Eventually, all will kneel and be accountable before God out of reverence or fear of His judgment, and it is one day sooner than it was yesterday.

Lamentations 3:22-24, “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”NLT

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” KJV

In God’s mercy, He shows compassion, undeserved kindness, and is related to grace. However, sin does have consequences. God’s wrath was revealed to the people during the prophet Jeremiah’s time, bringing their affliction to bear on them to bring them back to Him, as expressed in Lamentations. Without God, there is no hope and no comfort for the future. Jeremiah had warned the people for years that destruction would come, but it could have been avoided. God’s wrath was held back for just so long as Lamentations 2:22 states, “You have invited terrors from all around, as though you were calling them to a day of feasting. In the day of the LORD’s anger, no one has escaped or survived. The enemy has killed all the children whom I carried and raised.” He wept not for himself, but for the people who had rejected God due to their selfishness and sinfulness, which would bring them much suffering. His heart was broken for the same things that broke God’s heart (Lamentations 1-2).

Yet, Jeremiah had hope in the midst of affliction and all the sin he saw around him. It was due to the “faithful love of the LORD” and His faithfulness and mercies that He gives brand new every morning. The LORD gives us our own “manna”, new mercies each new day. You and I just received them when we woke up today. Therefore, we should not be consumed, as Psalms 131:1b states, “I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp,” because our hope is in the LORD (Ps. 131:3). Lamentations 3:32 promises, “Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love.” Psalms 86:15 declares, “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” God’s mercy, holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence never dry up and fill us with daily renewal in supplying our needs each day.

In the face of adversity and problems, we have to admit that they are beyond our control. These are times of reflection and remembering past blessings and how God was faithful through each one. There is reason for hope. Depend upon the God who gave you brand new mercies this morning. Be more aware of the grace that has filled your life. God is teaching each of us loving short-term and long-term lessons. What homework has He been giving you? Remember, “Who can command things to happen, without the Lord’s permission,” Lamentations 3:37. There is reason for bright hope even for today and tomorrow. God is training you for a fruitful future. “The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:25 NLT. Wait for His guidance, compassion, and provision, as you seek His light to be shown to you as you read the Scriptures for wisdom, enlightenment, spiritual food for the day to meet your need(s). God is faithful. Choose not to be consumed with challenging circumstances in life, because you, because I, just received new mercies when the sun came up today, which happened at 6:55 AM PST. Look up!

Listen to Chris Tomlin – “Hallelujah, Hope Has Come”

Ephesians 1:10;19-21, “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and earth. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come.”

Paul used verse 10 as the core concept and vocabulary that will be repeated throughout the book of Ephesians. All things – “everything in heaven and earth” become one in the Messiah – Jesus Christ. That is God’s plan and could not be understood until Christ rose from the dead. All will someday answer to Jesus as a Savior or Jesus as a Judge.

The gospel, which was God’s plan, gives us help and confident hope. It gives us discernment as we receive the light of truth through reading, meditating on God’s Word, and praying. How do we get to know God personally? It requires spending time with Him. In verse 17 of Ephesians 1, Paul talks about praying for the believers to know God so they would have a better understanding and knowledge of God. So how can we do that – to have insight and know the incredible greatness of God’s character and His almighty power? I think it takes reviewing and remembering the attributes of God in order to shut out the fearful doubts that bombard our minds when situations arise. I have listed them here:

•  Wrath -Rom. 1:8 -God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Don’t ever doubt this.
• Mercy -God gives His undeserved kindness and goodness to those who don’t deserve it and to those who are suffering. Matt. 5:7 – “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
• Holiness – 1 Pet. 1:15-16, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
• Omnipotence – God’s power is inexhaustible and God is Sovereign and works all things according to His will and plan – Ephe. 1:11. Jesus is Lord and God is in control.
• Omniscience – God has complete knowledge of everything. God never faces any of the limitations we face and knows what we need to solve our problems. He knows what we are going to say before we say it and knows my-your thoughts right now – Ps. 139:1-6.
•  Omnipresence – God is always present everywhere and is always there for us. We can never hide our sinful actions from God because He is always with us. This should be a cure for any loneliness because God’s presence is more important than any other person we might want to be with – Ephe. 4:15-16.

Remember, God is right here with you wherever you go today. He has a plan as He would tell you, “For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him” Habakkuk 1:5b; 2:20. God declared this to Habakkuk, and it is true for us as well today.

The gospel gives us hope in our glorious future of eternal life, freedom from sin, perfected bodies with no health issues, and Christ’s justice once and for all. Meanwhile, here on earth, think about God’s character and remember we have the mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead available to us, which will never have a power outage in our Christian life – ever!

Listen to Cece Winans – Come Jesus Come (Official Audio).

Philippians 4:8, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul wrote Philippians from prison, and joy was his dominant theme throughout all of Philippians, despite his unjust circumstances and environment. He did not have an easy life. Paul lived most of his life in physical pain and mortal danger (2 Cor. 11:25-27) and suffered from some physical ailment that he called “a thorn in the flesh.” So how did he do it – maintain a continual state of joy?

Paul had just reminded the church in Philippi, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Philippians 4:4. He said that twice! Then he taught them not to worry about anything. “Instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7. Can you imagine not worrying about anything? Instead, Paul instructs us to have a consistent, relentless, passionate prayer life, which will be rewarded; by maintaining a continual prayer life and reading God’s Word, we will be given the right attitudes and experience a supernatural joy that the unsaved can see. Then thank Him for all He has given you, done for you, and kept you from. Be specific and have confidence in God’s concern for you and His abundant resources and power to meet your needs.

“No Christian can afford to waste mind power on thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts were shared . . . The Christian who fills his heart and mind with God’s Word will have a built-in “radar” for detecting wrong thoughts. “Great peace have they which love thy law” (Ps. 119:165). Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on the Word of God.” Warren Wiersbe, Be Joyful Even When Things Go Wrong. You Can Have Joy. Page 135-136.

Paul taught by example, because he learned to be joyful despite his circumstances, to utilize the enabling power of Christ, and to be content, even when he felt like complaining: “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.” Philippians 4:11. Paul wrote this at the end of his life, when he was in prison, so that tells us it didn’t happen overnight. It was a process for Paul – learning contentment. Paul remembered that Christ still reigns, He loves and knows us, confidence in the fact that God is sovereign, and therefore we can rejoice at all times, which gives us peace and strength. I so look up to Paul, who did not allow his outward circumstances to dictate his inner attitudes. I fail at that so often! Dear reader, may we both be content with whatever God chooses to use our lives for, in whatever comes our way. Nothing is by accident, as God is our shield (55 verses in the Old Testament use the word “shield”). “For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.” Psalm 84:11.

May you be encouraged, and may the God of peace go with you today as you fix your thoughts on Christ and all He has done for you, and not feel anxious, but feel gratitude and contentment, having the internal peace in honoring Christ and who He is in your life, because God is supplying all of your needs one day at a time. It will take time, as it did for Paul, but notice your thoughts moving to right and correct thinking (Rom. 12:1-2) biblically, giving God all your mind, heart, and soul each and every morning. Then the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9b) instead of worrying, having resentment, etc. This is a daily effort which should never stop moving to right thinking.

Listen to Mix – MercyMe – Sing

Romans 12:1-2, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” NLT

When we hear disturbing news or face troubling circumstances, what is often our first, natural reaction? Fear, frustrations, thinking we are all alone, or feelings of “I can’t take this anymore!” How frequently do we lay aside what we want due to our thoughts, motives, attitudes, and desires, which are the effects of our behavior. Then pause, and examine our own hearts in the heat of the circumstance? Paul teaches in Galatians 5:19-21a , “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy.” These are called “bad roots producing bad fruit.” In contrast, biblically, we should want and believe and therefore respond in our behavior as  Paul teaches, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23. These emotions and actions honor God, ready to transform us into a new person by changing the way we think and by helping us hear God’s voice through His Word.

Yes, many things are out of our control, much like the weather. We may start to feel angry and alone, working harder to control our fear and the circumstances, as I can think of a few in my own life right now. So how can we renew our minds, not copying the behavior of our culture, but worship the Lord by living for eternity, instead of exploding? Romans 8:5 admonishes, “Those who are dominated by a sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”  Our sinful thinking of our behavior, such as impatience, harshness, and anger, is not pleasing the Holy Spirit.

So to get off the merry-go-round in our various turmoils, which we all have, we need to follow Romans 12:1-2 and have God change our thinking, which includes: 1)Take every thought captive immediately. 2)Analyze the thought. What lie(s) are we believing? 3) Replace the lie with the truth from the promises of God in Scripture. God is Sovereign. Remember Ps. 103:19, “The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.” Everything means EVERYTHING. 4)Trust the truth of God’s Word. “Praise the LORD! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just.” Revelation 19:1-2a. God is in control over time and events, so His plans will prevail as Isaiah 46:10 states, “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass.” Last but not least, we have Romans 8:28 to reassure us, even under challenging circumstances: “We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”

Follow Romans 12:1-2, and watch how God will transform you, change your thinking to be in obedience to Him, renewing, reeducating, and redirecting our minds, hearts, and souls to be truly transformed by His grace. His will is perfect – just for you! It all starts in the heart, which is the center of our emotions, longings, desires, thoughts, beliefs, intentions, and determines our actions. Note how God is changing your way of thinking by focusing on Romans 12:1-2 – remolding your mind from within, yielding to the work of holiness in one’s life, confident of Christ’s return, and God’s continued faithfulness. “Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians 3:17b.

So, the real question to ask oneself now is, “What is true here? What does God’s Word say?”