Tag: Mind

Freedom From Your Thoughts

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Freedom From Your Thoughts ~ Week Three

Simple Truth

~ Warfare is not a typical conversation among girlfriends. “Typically” our strongholds take precedence in our conversations. Easily we spit out the things that annoy us about ourselves. Throwing ourselves under the bus, so to speak. In return, we lay down our own card of self-annoyance to level the playing field. In this, we connect. Oddly, it’s truth. It’s real. In the end, It’s not all that bad. For, in sharing our truths, we become relatable.

But what if we enter weapons greater than that of mass destruction into these conversations. What if we respond with a sword?

What if we respond with a helmet?

What would happen in the midst of that girlfriend conversation if we held up a breastplate?

Friend, when was the last time you laid out shoes for a friend in the midst of a battle? Come on, shoes?!

We have weapons of warfare that have divine power to destroy strongholds. What would happen if we helped a girlfriend use them?

What, Sweet Friend, would happen if we used them when our own thoughts attacked?

Consider: the purpose of a weapon is for self protection. Yet, when we attack ourselves it is difficult to hold up that weapon. We become torn within. Wanting to defend ourselves from the thoughts that rage, yet wanting so desperately to cling to the Truth. What weapon of divine warfare can help you defend yourself from your inner thought battle?

Challenge: Who can you ask to help you use that weapon? Is there something you can ask them to do specifically to help you bring freedom to your thoughts?

Video Lesson

Watch Freedom From Your Thoughts Video here:

YouTube Video Lesson

Scripture

~ 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,

We have the ability to transform our thoughts. Scientifically and Spiritually, we have the resources and ability to rise higher than the thoughts we give permission to linger within us. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a brilliant resource in this matter. I have read two of her books. This, her most popular, is next on my list. https://www.amazon.com/Switch-Your-Brain-Happiness-Thinking/dp/0801018390

Jaclyn

🍁 Fall Outline 🍁
Week One: Free to Be You
Week Two: Freedom from Your Past

Freedom From Your Past

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Freedom From Your Past ~ Week Two

Simple Truth

Freedom is equally given and received.

The moment you called upon Jesus Christ to be your Savior you were given freedom from your past. It is now in our hands to choose to open this gift.

I wonder if fear of opening up our Pandora’s Box of the past will be void of the presence of God.

Sweet Friend, whether or not you were a child of God during your moments of the past, God is your Creator and Father today. Trust Him to be present in your future, in your today, and in your yesterday. He will heal. He will renew. He will make all things new. The good and the bad are washed in a Newness that will outshine anything the past has to offer.

Consider: Do you have a success statement you tend to share when you need to build yourself up? Do you have a fail statement you cling to when Jesus desires to draw you forward? Are you willing to share one with a friend today? Are you ready to replace these (and the other statements on your personal list) with what Jesus has for your future?

Challenge: Consider giving your past to Christ Jesus. Write them down in order to see what you truly cling to from “what lies behind”. Ask a Sister to help you replace each statement listed with “what lies ahead”.

*Cheat sheet: What Lies Ahead is LIFE. Life Everlasting! See that.

Video Lesson

Watch Freedom From Your Past Video Lesson:

Week Two

Scripture

~ Philippians 3:13

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”

Not all past is bad. Some is good. But all past has a voice that is either silenced, comparable to loud noise, or held by the voice of God. My prayer is that we will study Scripture to find freedom from our past and choose which voice we desire our past to have.

Jaclyn

🍁 Fall Outline 🍁
Week One: Free to be You

Prayer for Our Thoughts

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Oh, Lord God,

How I have been wrestling with this study of Freedom from our Thoughts throughout this week. Where does one go with one’s thoughts. This is my question. Why are we prone to assume that our thoughts are evil and sin-filled and self-condemning? This also is my question.

Personally these two questions scream within me. Daily I ponder my thoughts. Daily I sit on guard of myself, working diligently in controlling my thoughts. Fighting, as with a Sword, the cruelty that resides within my inner self-condemnation, within my thoughts.

Yet, tonight I sit here at your feet surrounded by your words as if they are a belt wrapped tightly around me. Words that straighten my posture. Words that keep me centered. Words that cause my head to relax, to breathe.

These are the words I find myself sitting with. These are the words my heart is pondering louder than that of my internal thoughts. These are the words penned years ago for your daughter today. These are the words of my Father.

The thoughts of the righteous are just. (Pr. 12:5)

Father, this is your thought process. I sit in that truth. I sit in Your thoughts of Your presence in me, making me righteous and my thoughts just. Yes, Father God, I have been sitting in this truth for quite some time. Selah

The simple believes everything; but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps. (Pr. 14:15)

I am not a simple believer. I do not easily believe what is laid before me. That is not my character. That is not my person. Quite opposite, really. Yet, when I speak within myself, simple statements of unjustified depth, I believe me. Lord Jesus, this is causing my heart to want to fight for me the way I fight for my Scripture, for my country, for my family, for my Sisters far and wide. Lord, that I will be prudent in the steps of my thoughts. That they will not stumble me as a simpleton. That’s shameful. That’s gross. But mighty amazing to contemplate at your feet. Selah

Search me, Oh God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Ps. 139:23)

Sweet Father, this plea of praise and admiration poured out before you from your friend, David, has been swirling within my core these last few weeks. May I, in full adoration of your love for me, join him in pouring out this proclamation of praise and trust and love?

Father God, You know my heart. Oh! You know it greater than even I. And You call me Yours. You love me unconditionally. You dislike the cruelty that seeps within my soul toward myself, don’t you? My thoughts of me do not walk in step with your thoughts of me.

  • God, will you quench my thoughts that compromise your thoughts?
  • Will you know my thoughts and make them known to me?
  • Will You make them louder than the ones on repetition?
  • May I hear and know the thoughts that declare Your truths over me?

I am righteous because I am a follower of Jesus, washed in His blood, raised in His resurrection, and renewed daily by Your Spirit. Therefore, my thoughts are seen as just in Your eyes. Father, that I will comply and see and think in that beautiful truth.

I am prudent -not simple- because I have Your wisdom and understanding deep within my heart and soul. Therefore, my thoughts go before my every step, including my every thought. Oh, that I will remember that I am not simple in believing the foolishness that I muster! Ugh. This is shaking me and driving me toward a victory. I hear your song of victory over me. Selah

Lastly, Sweet Lord, help me to rest in Your arms as You know my heart and my thoughts. That I will trust You to fill my heart and my thoughts with what You know is found in me, thoughts worthy of Your praise. That my thoughts will produce praise upon Your creation and upon Your presence and Your work within me.

In the silence of awe at your feet,

Jaclyn