Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

1 Kings 19:12-13, “And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak, and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”

What gets you down? Often, hardships, and misery, when seeming to not be shortened in time, spiral one into feelings of depression if we dwell on them too long. It takes turning our thoughts instead into praising God for being with us and being steadfast in our faith and trust in God to see us through is the mindset we need to put into practice on our journey. Living out that God is always in control and we are not. Reading the Psalms can be of great comfort, as David often lamented, expressing deep sorrow and distress and a plea for God’s intervention, emphasizing his need for God’s help.

We see in Genesis 4:13-14, a biblical definition of depression that Cain had as “Cain replied to the LORD, “My punishment [or my sin] is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me.” Did you realize that Cain is the first example of someone having depression in the Bible? His jealousy over his brother caused him to choose to do wrong by killing his brother Abel and had no remorse. Cain’s punishment from God was to be a homeless wanderer on the earth (Gen. 4:12). 1 John 3:12 helps us understand Cain – “We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.”

The second example in the Bible is Elijah, who, after receiving two great spiritual victories, the defeat of the prophets of Baal and that miraculous answer to prayer for rain, was at the depths of fatigue and discouragement. He was depressed. This can happen after great physical and emotional effort. He thought he was the only person who was still faithful to God. God came to him and confronted him with the need for Elijah to return to his mission of speaking God’s words to Israel. God still had a purpose for Elijah to do despite his discouragement. Elijah recognized God’s voice as a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12-13) and is not always in a loud, powerful, miraculous way. Because he had a humble heart he heard God. Remember, when troubles surround you, God still has a purpose for you to do and submit to His schedule. Then you won’t waste your time in nonproductive thoughts. Often, Satan uses our business of activities to distract us away from listening to God for needed guidance.

Two verses to fight feelings of depression are in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, MSG– “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.”

When going through an emotional upheaval and time of depression in my life several years ago, I found Psalm 119:92, which became my prayer, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Teach me Your Word during this season of my life as I have never known it before and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place.”

Yes, a gentle whisper of guidance from God – listen for it as Elijah did and recognized in 1 Kings 19 as you emerge from that place of discouragement, displacement, sorrow, regret, frustration, whatever it is, put up your shield of armor with God’s Word in fighting against the fear of failure and discouragement. Ask God to exalt you in due time and leave the results with Him. Then listen humbly and quietly for direction, guidance, reassurance, and comfort which could be found in a gentle whisper from the Holy Spirit illuminating a verse you are reading as you will eventually emerge from it all.

Listen to The First Hymn/Chris Tomlin & Ben Fielding (Official Lyric Video).

Galatians 5:16-17; 22-23, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But the Holy Spirit produces the kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The Bible teaches us a lot about anger. It is a common problem, a human emotion that is sometimes hard to control. Anger results from one’s beliefs, feelings, and perceptions against something. It could be an adverse reaction against someone’s incompetency or inefficiency. Others may give into anger from not protecting themselves by overdoing and overworking and then lose all patience from being emotionally stressed out and exhausted (how I can relate to this one). There are numerous reasons we all react without self-control, known as triggers to feeling wronged. However, that is not biblical, and it is not obeying and honoring God, if we examine it by God’s standards. So, how can we produce what Paul calls the fruit in our lives created by the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit gives us the sensitivity to discern our feelings and thoughts. I want to live each day controlled by Him, so I have more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Proverbs 29:11 states, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly holds it back. Then Proverbs 19:11 declares, “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.” Ask yourself, do others see me as a critical person or an impatient person in light of these two verses on anger? Can’t we all relate? One must discern when correcting wrongs if it is needed and when grace needs to be shown in being a “sensible person” or one with greater wisdom.

I came close to being hit by a car running a red light this week. I admit I reacted angrily, blared my horn at the culprit, and yelled at the driver. But I quickly thanked God for keeping me safe and alert to see that I needed to quickly slow down and stop, even though I had a green light, and let this guilty person not engage with my side of the car in a crash. I am challenged every day to need the Holy Spirit to lead my life so I will experience more joy and freedom from letting Him rule my life. I need to pause and listen because “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8.

If we think more about having the same attitude Jesus had as Paul taught in Philippians 2:3-4, it will help one with anger, for it says, “Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  Lastly, forgive as God forgave you. Use the pause technique in asking the Holy Spirit to give you the right words and attitudes to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness, portraying a gentle spirit, and be reminded of verses in Scripture to give you a better understanding and wisdom in handling conflict. Nothing is a surprise to God. Be specific when you tell someone you are sorry for what you said or how you said it. Remember God’s mercy to you. Listen more carefully. Ask the right questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your thoughts and mind so you have a clean heart when squished. Draw on God’s grace and remember to use the pause technique in using Holy Spirit filled self-control over anger.

Listen to Newsboys – Fortress (Official Lyric Video).

Proverbs 18: 13,15: “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.”

How often don’t we react to situations of conflict or in conversations, and our words come out faster than our brain is understanding and interpreting? Haven’t we all been there? But this proverb holds so much wisdom in the importance of being a wise listener before speaking. It takes humility to be patient with others and to pause and wait for the Holy Spirit to minister to oneself before speaking one’s opinion too quickly. Proverbs 11:2 instructs, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Listening well, being able to repeat back to someone what you understand they are saying, asking them if that is correct, would be better, so the other person can correct the listener if they are getting it wrong and misinterpreting what they meant in what they were saying. Proverbs 18:1&2 is something to heed as it warns, “Unfriendly people care only about themselves; they lash out at common sense. Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” God’s Words of truth is always so relevant and gives us instructions, warnings, and teachings, all to apply to our situations in life and to relationships with those we interact with, be it family, co-workers, or anyone else we encounter. So, be a good listener. Learn to ask questions for clarification. Be ready to learn. Ask God to speak words of truth to you as you read His Word giving you additional information. Then the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say. Ask – listen – think through – then give your reply. That is how not to be foolish. Lastly, Colossians 3:12-13 gives wise instruction that Paul taught offering a strategy to help us live for God, day by day in not being foolish: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

Lastly, learn to use the pause technique, and be a good listener. It will serve you well in not being foolish as Proverbs 19:2 warns, “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”

Listen to Matthew West – The Last Song (Official Music Video).

Mark 6:50-51: “Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.”

It is common for everyone to have anxiety and stress throughout their life. No one is exempt. We all seem to get through one hurdle that we know our LORD got us through, and then a few days pass, and something else strikes us, but how do we react then? What does God say to us in His Word? We have the same scenario with Jesus’s disciples, who had just witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 people by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:35-44). Afterwards there were twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish to boot. Jesus had done that. They had seen Him heal people, had commanded the wind to stop in the storm the disciples were in and were afraid of sinking, and suddenly the lake was calm, and now this situation again of another storm, and they see Jesus’ walking on the water, got into their boat with them, and the wind ceased. God’s power is also continuous today, in providing for our needs.

Jesus said: “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed.” Mark 6:50-51. Jesus was in total control of their situation, got into the boat with them, and rescued them from futility in trying to save themselves from this danger. Dear friend, Jesus is with you in your ship of troubles. Listen to Him immediately speaking to you through His Word. Take Mark 6:50-51 to heart. Jesus later rebuked and warned the disciples in Mark 8:17-21, “Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? You have eyes – can’t you see? You have ears – can’t you hear? Don’t you remember anything at all? . . . Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.”

As Christians, we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, but what do we do with that when trials hit us? I, too, have been of little faith at times. I don’t like change. New things can be hard for me. I don’t like uncertainty. Yet Psalm 23:1 declares, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Then Hebrews 13:5b-6 promises, “I will never fail you. I will never abandan you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

If we listen and seek Him, Jesus speaks to us immediately so we can be completely amazed, too. Just ask Him and wait expectantly for His answer. Jesus sees your difficulty just as He saw the disciples’ futile attempt to cross the lake in the windstorm. You may feel you are not making any headway but take heart; remember the same mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and is seated at the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20-21). God’s great power helps us grow in the grace and knowledge, through faith, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Jesus is telling us immediately – “Take courage, I am here!” Listen to the truths found in God’s Word. Know what it says. Trust that He is there for you (Matt. 28:20). Now go and be amazed immediately and completely!

Listen to Rend Collective – Hallelujah Anyway

Mark 4:40-41, “But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25, and Mark 4:35-41, have the same report of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, which is known for its sudden violent storms. The disciples and Jesus were together in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Mark 4:35-39. Jesus was asleep in the stern, the back part of the boat, sleeping on a pillow, as he had just spent time teaching the disciples off the shore from this boat. Jesus was weary and needed rest, and He told them to cross the lake in the boat. Next time you feel totally exhausted remember Jesus can relate to you, due to His humanity. Then a furious storm arose, and these experienced fishermen knew they were in trouble as the waves beat into the ship and was filling the boat with water (Mark 4:37). “Jesus had taught about His Word, and had given His word that the disciples would make it to the other side. But whether regarding a promise Jesus gave to His disciples, or one He gives to you, after teaching comes testing. Always.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament. Something to remember.

The disciples were annoyed that Jesus was sleeping and not helping them during the storm. How would you react knowing that Jesus was in your boat? I think I would urgently wake Him up too. The storm didn’t disturb Jesus, but the unbelief of His disciples did because they shouted to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38b NLT. That was the issue.

There were other boats around them as well, “When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39. Jesus subdued the force of the sea and the storm by His sovereign word of authority, which is His deity. Then Jesus chastises the disciples and says, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” “It was not their fear of the storm that made Jesus say they had no faith. A small boat in a big storm is a scary place, and the initial fear itself isn’t wrong. What the disciples chose to do with the fear made all the difference.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary. Jesus had told them they were to cross over to the other side of the lake, so in this situation, they did not believe His promise. At this pivotal time, they still did not understand who Jesus was.

Don’t we often face the same situation? God has performed miracles in our lives, much as He had done that the disciples had witnessed firsthand, and yet when troubles come, we get discouraged, maybe fearful, have wrong thinking, and we are afraid our boat is going down too. We must remember that Jesus is working behind the scenes and knows the big picture. We can only see what is right before us. We need to trust in God’s promises as we have the reassurance of Hebrews 13:5, that He will never leave us or abandon us. Romans 8:28 declares He will work out everything together for the good of those that love God and are called according to His purpose for them. God has begun a good work in you as Philippians 1:6 promises that He will continue His work and complete it. So, remember, your boat cannot go down because Jesus is on board! Get to know Him better. That is where your hope lies.

Listen to Songs of Wisdom, His Grace Will Carry You (Official Lyric Video).

Mark 4:14-20, “The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

This parable, taught by Jesus to His twelve disciples, had spiritual meaning and represents four different ways people respond to the truths of God and act on them or not. It shows the conditions of our hearts at any given time. It also shows the importance of believing in Jesus’ words and using them immediately to hear what He is saying to one in making decisions and having an attitude based on the roots of one’s faith. One needs to pray for the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to be ready to receive His truth and act on it. This parable speaks to those who are hard-hearted, those with shallow hearts, crowded hearts, and those who have decided to hear the Word and succeed in understanding or gaining insight and have it change one’s heart condition to the soil in their spirit. That is where potential fruit can be produced miraculously.

How often don’t worries creep into our lives, and we become dismayed, discouraged, and distraught? It can stem from an overload of one kind or another in our daily schedules, which is so common. The disciples had worries and the same problems just as we do today. Jesus was teaching them that they must be like good soil at all times and in every area of their life. We are not to let problems keep us from applying what we heard God saying to us from the truths of God’s word to guide, teach, direct, counsel, and persevere. As James 1:22,25 states, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

Hear Jesus’ words, meditate on them, believe them, accept them, and now act on them. What is He saying to you today?

Listen to Anne Wilson -Strong (Lyrics Video).

Psalm 146:3-5, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God.”

Has someone ever broken their promise to you that you admired due to their position? The psalm writer of Psalm 146 portrays influential people making false promises they cannot supply or fulfill. They are an inadequate protector, defender, shield, and redeemer. Yet Jesus Christ is the Redeemer, the Messiah, our LORD and Savior. He brings hope and help to those in need.

We need to choose Jesus Christ to be our supreme influencer. Have you ever had a time in your life where it could only be explained as God did that? I have had several. Remind yourself of those past provisions of blessings you received undeservedly. Yet God did that for you because He loves and cares about you. There is hope because He will supply all of your needs because He is your great shepherd, as David declared in Psalm 23:1 and said that he “lacked nothing.”

Need real help? Trust God to do mighty things as David prayed in Psalm 60:11, “Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless.” Maybe you are frustrated with your circumstances or inconsistencies in others. We have Psalm 33:10-11 to reassure us as it says, “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts their schemes. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” When you wonder if there is anyone you can really trust, remember your Creator, the great I AM, as it states in Psalm 71:5a, “O LORD, you alone are my hope.” Seek His counsel.

Your life is a testimony of what God has done in your life. Place your confidence in Him. Powerful people will come and go, but you have God as your helper. He will give you all you need, and here is where and who your hope rests in despite any powerful person– “The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” Psalm 145:13b.

Listen to Jon Reddick – What A Love (Official Lyric Video).

Matthew 6: 27, 33-34, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. NIV

Have you been worrying about anything recently? Excessive worrying and chronic stress can cause a multitude of health issues. We have all been there and me included. It has been documented and is considered a scientific fact that excessive worrying can affect the heart, blood vessels, muscle tightness, digestive problems, and cause headaches. One source reported a higher risk of diseases and even diabetes, can be brought on by excessive worrying. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is where logical thinking and decision making happen. But when anxiety kicks in staying calm may be more difficult. The body’s nervous system will then release stress hormones such as cortisol. These hormones can boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides (perhaps this could contribute to my high cholesterol). These hormones can cause physical reactions such as muscle tension, fast heartbeat, and other health problems. Yet God’s Word provides comfort and reassurance that we are not alone in our concerns. God is concerned about our well-being, so how can we, instead of carrying our burden, better commit our needs to Him and leave them there for Him to handle?

Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught the disciples that what matters is faithful obedience to God from the heart, which leads to genuine love for God and others and transforms lives. In Matt. 6:25-34, Jesus taught against worrying because it stems from a lack of faith and trust in God’s provisional care. God wants us to give it to Him – cast it onto Him (1 Peter 5:7), because He is our divine caregiver who created us. He promises to uphold us and sustain us.

• “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.
• “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22.

David Guzik states in his Blue Letter Commentary of Matthew 6:25, “We are to be concerned with the right things; the ultimate issues of life – and we then leave the management (and the worry) over material things with our heavenly Father. . . Worrying accomplishes nothing; we can add nothing to our lives by worrying. There may be greater sins than worry, but there are none more self-defeating and useless.” Think about it, worrying cannot change the future or one’s circumstances.

Instead, hold tight to Scripture verses that give direction, wisdom, comfort, and direction as you seek to be free from undue concern about a trying and seemingly impossible situation. Seek after God as He will never ignore those who depend upon Him (Matt. 6:28-30). Look closely at verse 33 in Matt. 6. Did Jesus just tell them to stop worrying? No, He told them to replace worry (fear) with concern for the kingdom of God. Worrying can be a habit and must be replaced with a more excellent habit or passion for finding out the will of God and a commitment to align with His purpose first and totally. We need to rest in fellowship with our lovingly heavenly Father. The choice is up to us, taking one day at a time and growing in our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior. Worry and anxiety is one’s enemy. Instead, thank God for today. Thank Him for His goodness. Focus on Him instead of the problem or the mistake you have made. Say, “Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10). Then you will experience God’s peace (Philippians 4:7), one day at a time.

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

1 Peter 4:7, “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.”

Everyone, no matter who they are, is saying more and more, “We are living in unprecedented times.” Historically, there have always been times of crisis. Now, we have new issues in our world, and in my business, we are telling our customers, “We are living in unprecedented times. So now is not the time to panic.” We see in Scripture warnings about unprecedented times, and therefore, we should watch and be ready for Christ’s return. I like how the Amplified Bible states 1 Peter 4:7: “The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him].” We are living in “end times” right before our eyes; therefore, we need to be diligent in praying for others and investing our time and talents where they will make an eternal difference.

Matthew 24:42-44 declares, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. . . because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 also declares, “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.” We are to use good judgment and stay calm with a spirit of prayer, in light of Christ’s return. “Prayer sharpens our awareness so that we are able to be more discerning. It gives us genuine hope and confidence in Christ in the midst of confusion. When you’re panicking, you’re not praying. When you’re reacting, you’re not trusting in your sovereign God.” Chuck Swindoll’s New Testament Insights, 1 Peter 4:7, page 218.

We all need to spend more time in prayer, especially myself. The following verses emphasize this:

• Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18.
• Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2.
• Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
• Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:5-6.
• The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7.

We all face anxiety from time to time. Nobody is exempt. You don’t have to be an expert in everything you do or understand everything you need to grow your business or opportunities before you. Pressures will surround us, competitors will attack us, and your supply chain will challenge you, especially during these unprecedented times. It all comes back to our hearts and trust in the LORD – not just on Sundays. We all must be willing to be used by God in whatever His purpose is for us to do in our life for God’s glory. It often takes the tough times to cause us to long for heaven. Stay balanced and focused on Christ’s return. Ask God to make you of benefit just where He has placed you. Then pray for the people around you. Be watchful. Be thankful. Stay balanced and focused on His return.

Listen to Somebody Prayed (Lyrics) – Crowder.

Ephesians 4:23-24, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”

The Holy Spirit empowers and transforms those who are Christians, exalts Christ, provides knowledge and application of the Scriptures, guides us into truth, helps us grow in holiness, and enables believers to live out their faith. We read in John 14:26, Amplified Bible: “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf]. He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”

 Do you sometimes have problems with your thoughts and attitudes when challenged, or something goes wrong? I do. It can be as simple as my printer or computer not working or something that went wrong in my job that was out of my control. It is a continual process of not giving in to one’s feelings and emotions when under stress. Instead, we all need to head in a new direction and use the new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit will give us instead.

The prophet Isaiah recorded the LORD saying in Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT: “My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” So often we have our preconceived cookie cutter solutions. But since God is sovereign, we need to strive to fit into His plan and purposes and pray for discernment in the right reactions and words we speak for every challenging unpleasant encounter that we face. He is faithful and good. As we talk things over with God, we need to ask Him what His thoughts are about the predicament, and what He sees and knows that we can’t see, and that His will be done instead.

At the end of the day, Christ is all that matters because He lives in us (Col. 3:11). He knows and will work in ways we did not expect or imagine. He always knows best. So today, instead of stewing and fretting when encountering problems, “Instead, let the Spirit renew (my) thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.” Ephe. 4:23-24. How will that look now?

Listen to NEEDTOBREATHE – “I’ve Got A Story (feat. Tori Kelly)”