Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Mark 11:25, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Colossians 3:13, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

How do you react when you find yourself in a situation where you believe you are right, and another person is wrong? The person may be displaying domineering and dictating words. Maybe they are a manipulator, intimidator, and you were offended. You heard your own perspective in the offensive situation first, in being annoyed, right? It might have gone deeper and caused you to feel rejected. Fear and despair may have set in. But when you look up the word “offended” in almost any dictionary source, the definition always has to do with anger and resentment, which we know as Christians is wrong and sinful. So, can I get to the point and forfeit the right to be offended? It comes down to being obedient in putting off (Mark 11:25) having an unforgiving spirit and putting on (Col. 3:13) a forgiving spirit when seemingly hurtful and overly critical words are said to us. Jesus taught and warned us in Matthew 6:14, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” How would you say this speaks to being offended by someone? What are we entitled to? Can we choose not to be offendable? That seems like such a stretch sometimes.

Sinful and hurtful people hurled spiteful words at Jesus on the cross. Yet He never sinned and declared, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus had compassion on the people responsible for His suffering and prayed for their forgiveness. Some believed and others remained living as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny was destruction and is a fact for all those who deny Christ. What lesson can we apply from this today?

Will I trust God to handle all my frustrations and quit rehearsing in my mind what that other person did or said to me, as Psalm 46:1 promises, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Then verse 11 commands, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Let God have the last word, as Brant Hansen, (Page 79) said in his book, “Un-Offendable” – “I’m not responsible for changing people’s lives. I’m responsible for faithfully loving them. As a believer, that means pointing them to a God who dearly wants them, and for whom I happen to know they yearn.” Forgive, as God’s mercy and grace have forgiven you. Pray for the salvation of those who have offended you and that the gospel will be heard, known, and understood by the working of the Holy Spirit.

So “put off” an unforgiving spirt and “put on” a forgiving spirit. Let God worry about the wrong you’ve suffered. God does not require a probationary period when He forgives us – remember that. Be renewed in God transforming (Rom. 12:1-2) your heart and mind into a new person that is being continually sanctified in becoming more like Christ. Let Christ fill the holes in your heart with love, and removing any vengeance and selfish pride. Seek to be a peacemaker, and when you pray remember the warning in Mark 11:25 and Colossians 3:13. May you too say, No more! No more being offended-release that burden. Let go of hurts, abandon grudges, resentments and anger, and forgive others. Replace your thoughts (recognize who they are coming from) with Biblical truths such as, God knows your name (Isaiah 43:1), Mark 11:25, and Colossians 3:13. Then say out loud, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” Ps. 119:98.

Listen to Mercy Me – Always Only Jesus (Official Live Video).

Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

What comes to your mind when you think of the word “hope?” What are you hoping will happen this week? How will you respond if this doesn’t come to pass? No one is exempt from struggles and discouragements. This is life. Waiting for essential answers in circumstances such as seeking medical advice, facing financial need, waiting for the outcome of an exam, or dealing with a pressing need at work, in our family, or even with political outcomes, all involves having hope. I think of Jonah, who ran from God because he had no hope in the assignment that God had given him to do in ministering to the wicked and ungodly people in the city of Nineveh, that was the rising power of the day. So, he ended up having a lot of time to think while being swallowed by a great fish. It gave him time to reflect on God’s mercy, repentance, and compassion for all people, rather than wanting to die (Jonah 4:3). Similarly, it is the same for us when we are “in the wait” and patiently enduring the need for encouragement. Yet, if we remember what God has done for us in the past, we can be reassured and have greater confidence in trusting Him to do it again. That is our hope for what we cannot see as we wait patiently.

Paul teaches in Romans 15:4 that one can find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures. Have you found a verse or portion of Scripture that you go to see the “hope” that you need?

“Perfect endurance demands just that – perfection – and since none of us is there yet, we must look outside ourselves for hope. Your hope of enduring is not to be found in your character or strength, but in your Lord’s.” David Paul Tripp. It takes perseverance to rest on the promises of God, as found in His Word. It is by God’s grace of endurance granted to all in calling you what He calls you to be between right now and when you go to be with Him.

We have faced financial challenges, physical hardships, and employment fluctuations. During one of those heartbreaking instances, when I was in despair and felt loneliness, I found hope through God’s grace in my weakness, in Psalm 119:92, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” So my prayer then became, “Teach me Your Word during this season of my life like I have never known it before and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place.” That is the verse that God taught me to have hope in His Word to meet my needs, gave me the strength I needed, and that trials provide an opportunity to draw upon divine power because He is my shield. God met me in the midst of a specific situation and sustained me through it because of that biblical truth.

God’s Word makes us wise. But we have to apply the knowledge to transform our life in God’s way and perspective. Intelligent people are not necessarily wise. True wisdom comes from applying biblical truths found in God’s Word. For example, Ps. 119:98 states, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” You may want to write that verse down (NLT version) for easy reference. The Bible gives instruction, counsel, and guidance for every need we are waiting for answers to give us hope in what we do not know, see, or have. So then, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

Listen to Brandan Lake – The Great I Am Can (Lyric Video).

Romans 8:26, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Siprit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Have you had any instances this week where you didn’t know what to do in a situation? You had a concern but were not sure of the proper action to take or what was ahead, so you had some uncertainty. I have had this more frequently, it seems. I confess I don’t always know how to pray or what to pray in each conflictive situation due to my own weakness. But Scripture tells us it is not about the what, but about the who?

What do you think of when you think about the Holy Spirit? The roles of the Holy Spirit are available to us as Christians. We are not left to our own abilities to handle problems. He is our resource available to us 24/7. Don’t know how or what to pray? He is praying for you and with you. Ask Him how or what you should pray for in that concerning situation you are going through, or someone in your family is going through, or a dear friend. The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, into truth, into love, into holiness, gently, so we realize we are nothing without Jesus. Romans 8:14 declares, “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

We are given an example of how David prayed in Psalm 86:1, as he said, “Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.” Then he went on to ask for protection, mercy, and happiness, for God to teach him, cleanse his heart, and show him God’s favor, and to give him strength and comfort. That about covers what I often need. How about you? The book of Psalms is a collection of psalms written by individuals expressing their honest feelings with God. They had feelings of despair, but rose to joy and praise as they grasped the power of God’s everlasting love and forgiveness.

As you go about your day, sing this verse from Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Remember, you are not alone. God knows your name (Isaiah 43:1) and goes before you (Deut. 31:8). Don’t know what to do now? Repeat to yourself this verse, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Romans 8:26. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you and to give you the right words to pray in harmony with God’s will. You are strong in the LORD. Fight back with the Word of God. Now trust Him.

Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Acoustic).

1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Paul defines real love in 1 Corinthians 13. He teaches that love is patient and kind. In comparison, it is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, and does not demand its own way. It is not being irritable and does not keep a running list of when being wronged. Never rejoices in injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Cor. 13:4-7), because God is still on the throne, and is able to deal with any situation (Heb. 4:13). Ultimately, God is who we are accountable to above anyone else.

No matter if one is exceptionally gifted in many areas and has even won various awards for their outstanding accomplishments, this passage teaches that every Christian needs to show a considerable amount of love to others because of their love for God. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3, “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one who God recognizes.” NLT.

“If love for God is not the practical driving force of my life, love of self will be.” Paul David Tripp. It goes back to the greatest commandment, “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Deut. 6:5. It requires resting in God’s control, not in one’s own control, and having compassion to act with kindness and empathy to others, as Leviticus 19:18 and Mark 12:31, which Jesus reiterated and taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

So, the question then becomes, is my love for God the practical driving force of my life, or is it my love for self? Paul taught the most excellent way, as taught in 1 Corinthians 13, which is summed up in the last verse, “These things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” Faith reminds me that my sins are forgiven because of what Jesus did for me on the cross, and He sits on the throne with God. Hope looks to the future when Jesus returns to take us home to Heaven, so there’s nothing for me to worry about in the future. Love tells me I am in the presence of Jesus, my great Shepherd (Ps. 23).

For “the man who loves God is known by God.” 1 Cor. 8:3 NIV. God, my prayer is, may your thoughts be my thoughts today, as I show grace unselfishly to others as You have shown and given grace to me. May I model 1 John 4:7-8, which states, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

“Only the person who has put his past behind him through the power of the Cross, only the person who looks forward to the future through the promise of heaven can truly love in the present.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, New Testament. That is the most excellent way.

Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Official Lyric Video).

Psalm 7:10, “God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.”

The word “shield” is found 51 times in the King James Version of the Bible and 71 times in other translations. We have various types of human shields for protection, such as Webroot on our computers or other antivirus software. Then we have SPF lotions to protect us from UV rays. Seat belts protect our bodies while driving from injury in the event of a crash. But we have a greater, more powerful shield of protection against spiritual warfare, protection in adversities, of divine protection in our faith in God to be our great Shepherd in overcoming challenges, due to our salvation in Christ and the gospel. As Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

In Genesis 15:1, God told Abraham not to be afraid, as He said, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.” As God was a shield to Abraham, He will be a shield to you. God will stay with you through any trial. Here are a few other verses referencing God as our shield and protector:

• “The LORD is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me.” Ps. 18:2.
• “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look, to him for protection.” Ps. 18:30.
• “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Ps. 28:7.
• “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.” Ps. 33:20.
• “For the LORD God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Ps. 84:11.

God is saying, “I am your shield. I am your protector. I am your defender. I am your provider. I am your strength.” Be still before Him and seek intimacy with God. You are not alone. Nothing is hidden from God. He knows our thoughts (Ps. 7:9), whether they are sinless or not. Lay it all out before Him, whatever you are anxious about. My list keeps changing and growing every day. How about yours?

“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Proverbs 30:5. Are you needing some protection right now from having temptations of doubts, anger, or despair? “Hold up your shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil” which Ephesians 6:16 instructs. Then pray as David did, in Psalm 7:10, “God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.”  His feelings then moved from fear to confidence in his faith in his knowledge of God, and he was filled with God’s presence. Yes, you are in God’s presence. Remember that throughout your day, which will help break the habit of fear. Set your eyes on God and not the current problem. Trust Him to help you through any weaknesses and follow Him because He is just and faithful and is your divine shield.

Listen to Ben Fuller – Walk With Me (Lyric Version).

Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God will all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”

Matthew 22:36-37, “Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, this passage is known as the Shema, derived from the first word, “hear,” in Hebrew. It is said that modern Jews recite this in the evening and morning, considering it their sacred duty, as a declaration of their faith and commitment to God. Jesus recited this verse in Matt. 22:36-37, as “the greatest commandment of the law.” Then He explained that the First and Second Commandments are linked together. Jesus didn’t say that to love your neighbor, you need to love yourself first. No, He was saying just as you care for yourself and love yourself, love others in the same way. It would then demonstrate a continual devotion to God over self, despite those who irritate you, undermine you, and so on. It requires continually living to please our Lord and Saviour rather than ourselves.

It requires asking ourselves, ‘How can I increase my awareness of God right now and throughout my day?’ What thoughts can I be dwelling on that are loving (to God and others) that are true, thankful, hopeful, and glorifying to God in light of the gospel? What verses give me transforming, renewing Spiritual strength by the Holy Spirit’s power? One would be Ps. 147:5, “How great is our LORD! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!”

So, how can we grow in our faith, which is ongoing sanctification, and change to obey and follow this greatest commandment God gave us? “Rather, if we really love God, we’ll inevitably love people, and our lives will become like a chicken pot pie. No longer compartmentalized, the peas, potatoes, and chicken will all be mixed together. Truly, if our love for God is genuine, it will naturally flow into a love for people.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. New Testament. Love others as God has loved and forgiven you (me) in His mercy and grace. That is the challenge that we as Christians must live out, as He is always present, always near us (Ps. 139:7-10; Ps. 23:4), because He is omnipresent. So, remember the picture of chicken pot pie, the next time you are frustrated with someone. Love others as God has loved and forgiven you. “Jesus lived the truth of this commandment,” as stated in 1 Jn. 2:8. Therefore, show mercy and grace when needed, demonstrating that your love for God is supreme in your life and is more important than taking your next breath.

Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Official Music Video).

1 John 5:14-15, “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” NLT

Have you had a predicament recently that caused you some stress and anxiety? You know those circumstances that suddenly come up when least expected, and everything else stops for a bit. Fearful thoughts keep entering your mind, and you know the source of those thoughts. So what did you do? What verses did you go to, and how did you pray?

I had one of those situations this past week. Or should I say I had another one of those situations recently? 1 John 1-5 was listed on a biblical counseling exam question I was taking this week that I was working on. The apostle John wrote this book to reassure Christians in their faith, to counter false teachings, and how to achieve victory in overcoming battles is only for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who are Christians, that have become a child of God. Then I read 1 John 5:14-15, and that was just what I needed as I prayed for God to show His infinite and abundant power in a meeting I had to attend. A problem was discovered, and I was afraid I would be blamed for it. How could I have missed it, as I am normally very thorough in every detail in total diligence in every step. This is what I didn’t know in this large problem that had surfaced that had to be addressed now in this meeting that was to take place.

But I did know that I am a child of God, and that does affect my daily choices, so I needed to put off worrying and fear, Matt. 6:25-32 – Jesus said not to worry about everyday life and put on trust – 1 Peter 5:7 – giving my worries and cares in this to God which I did.

John was emphasizing in these two verses that we are to pray for what pleases God, not what pleases us when we talk to God. So, I asked God what He wanted for me in this situation. I of course, asked Him to fix it and to provide an agreeable outcome, which I could not foresee happening. I knew He heard me and would give a definite answer during that meeting, as I prayed with confidence. I also thanked Him for Romans 8:28, that He would work this out for our good, my good, which I had no idea what He would do, but believed in faith that He would provide (Jehovah Jireh).

God did abundantly more than I could have asked, as Ephesians 3:20-21 declares, for God’s power can exceed our requests and imagination, as I was trusting Him to do. Right before we walked in, my boss and the other account manager, we realized what had not been done internally that should have been done. So, we really didn’t have a problem after all, it would be fixed, we would explain this to the customer, and God blessed us throughout the whole meeting from beginning to its end. If it had gone the other way, I would have had confident faith that God was still in control, and I would have thanked and praised Him, which was also my prayer.

Dear friend, dear reader, pray with confidence that God is hearing your prayer. Ask Him to give you His thoughts and to direct you to a verse or verses that will provide you with reassurance and faith in your troubling circumstance, and what pleases Him. That is how to have doubt-free faith.

Listen to Danny Gokey – Only For A Moment (Lyric Video).

2 Corinthians 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” ESV

So how has your week gone? Would you categorize it as smooth sailing, or in a time of rowing, or simply drifting in a boat on calm water, or maybe in a boat that is sinking?

When facing any unpleasant situation and a reaction of thoughts is forming within one’s mind, what if we first took our thoughts “captive to obey Christ” before speaking as it instructs in 2 Cor. 10:5? Do we remember Philippians 4:8, which instructs: “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.”NLT. But wait, there is more! Paul teaches in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t 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 for Jesus.” NLT.

Can you imagine never having to worry about anything? Examine your thoughts when facing a challenging situation. Are you focusing more on the problem or on following Deuteronomy 6:5, Luke 10:27, and Matthew 22:37, which all command to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Then verse 39 & 40, in Matt. 22, commands, “Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Look at it this way, we all need to focus on what we can do to show others our love for God rather on what we should not do.

We are all guilty of magnifying a sudden problem sometimes. I have done that many times. But if we stopped and prayed and then took time to listen to what God wants to say to us, in taking our tumultuous thoughts captive to obey Christ, and transforming our thoughts to be a living and holy sacrifice, centering around what our Lord would find acceptable and worshipping Him, then the Holy Spirit will transform us in the way we think, renewing us, redirecting us, in the way that pleases our Lord and Saviour (Rom. 12:1-2; 8:5). That is the unfair advantage we as Christians have and we can declare and worship our God in singing Psalm 103:2, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” May our every thought and opinion be transformed to obey Christ.

Listen to Brandan Lake – The Great I AM Can (Lyric Video).

Psalm 1:2-3, “But They delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

When someone asks you, “How are you?” and you reply, “I am fine,” but you’re not, how do you bridge the gap between the emotions stemming from concern (and maybe anxiety) about the circumstances you’re going through and handling it all internally? It has been said that for every sigh there is a Psalm. For everything you are going through, there is a Psalm (Jon Courson). David and the other writers of Psalms expressed a wide range of emotions to God, from the depths of despair to rejoicing in worship. “The righteous (Ps. 1:1-2) can have the confidence of Psalm 16:11: You will show me the paths of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. God has a path, and it is a good road to take.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Commentary.

Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, among others, in meditation, aim to empty the mind. The trouble with that is it is Godless and dangerous because an empty mind may give an open door to deception or a demonic spirit (David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary). In contrast, when Christians meditate on the Word of God, thinking about each word and phrase, and then applying it and praying it back to the Lord, it provides protection for feeding one’s soul and is the way to receiving blessings for those that obey it according to the Psalms.

Psalm 1 instructs us to meditate day and night on God’s Word. Then we will become like a strong tree with strong and deep roots and will become strong and stable, drawing closer to the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7-8 declares, “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” God’s wisdom guides our lives and is our life source.

Living and striving to live a righteous life, following God’s standards, does not mean we will be rich and without any material needs when it says in Ps. 1:3, “and they prosper in all they do.” What it does mean is that God will work out everything for our good out of everything– Rom. 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Tough circumstances will challenge each of us, yet they will bring forth more fruit in our lives as a needed result. But it requires us and is a commandment found in Deut. 6:5 and Matt. 22:37, to delight more in God’s presence, loving Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, than reliving and dwelling on hurts and resentments that turn into bitterness which is a sin. Instead, seeking and applying total devotion and commitment to God, filling our minds with the word of God, needs to be accomplished. That is how more fruit will be grown within us, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness (Gal. 5:22-23) from spending time with those that love God and spending time in His Word. That is the truth to grab hold of and meditate on when someone asks you, “How are you?” and you say “I am fine” but you are not.

Listen to Matthew West’s Truth Be Told (Official Audio).