Good morning!! How are we faithing? It's been an interesting time as of late. I'm learning all sorts of things from personal to professional. I also watch others and their reactions and wonder what they're thinking. How did they come to the place they are at. Some I know of their struggles and of their past but some I am clueless about. The consistent thing that I see is the inward vision a lot of people have. What I mean is they are so focused on their own deal they miss or miss read what is around them. Watching people go off over silly things, silly to me anyways, makes one wonder why they cannot see how their reaction is so out of line with the problem. We all do this from time to time and as an outsider we see other bad moves and yet can't seem to see our own. You know, when we accepted Jesus as savior we became a new creature in Christ and yet we still look at things and act just like we did before. We are no longer under the slavery of sin. All of that junk is gone so why do we continue to think and act like we are? Culture, upbringing, influence from our surroundings all have an effect on our behavior but like the Word says, "as a man thinks, so he is". Think about that. If we still think we are sinners and think that we must pay back, we will continue in that bondage. Why in the world would we do that when our savior said we shouldn't? I've had to work at that change in thinking in many arenas because of thinking a certain way for so long. Capturing wrong thinking modes and not holding them takes work. Recognizing unhealthy thoughts so we can modify or toss them out is also not always easy but the first step is that recognition. Try it this week. Look at every reaction to a thought and compare it to biblical principles. That thought about that hot gal or guy, that lust for that car, that overwhelming desire for a bigger house, that woe is me thought, that "I am not worthy" thought. Capturing and modifying these thoughts so they cannot grow is important to us. Don't let the bad push out the good. Think about this...

1 Cor 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
NIV

Prov 23:7
For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
NAS

Phil 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
NIV

Col 1:10-14
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NIV

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all you show us. Keep our minds alert to the wiles of the enemy. Help us toss out the thoughts that harm. Lord we want to see you in all we do and ask for wisdom to act righteously for righteousness' sake and not for our own glory. Heal the sick we pray for and protect those in danger, in Jesus name, amen