From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer

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   Rhema Wordposted 10 years ago

   As We Focus
   
   Years ago, I learned an invaluable lesson: Whatever we focus on, we become. That simple statement taught me a great deal. Wherever we put our energies or our attention, those things will develop. Another way I like to say it is, "Where the mind goes, the man follows!"
   
   If I begin to think about ice cream, I will soon find myself in my car pursuing ice cream. My thought will stir my desires and emotions, and I will make the decision to follow them.
   
   If we focus only on the negative things in our lives, we become negative people. Everything, including our conversations, becomes negative. We soon lose our joy and live miserable lives--and it all started with our own thinking.
   
   You might be experiencing some problems in life--not realizing that you are creating them yourself by what you're choosing to think about. I challenge you to think about what you're thinking about!
   
   You might be discouraged and even depressed and wonder what caused it. Yet if you will examine your thought life, you will find that you are feeding the negative emotions you are feeling. Negative thoughts are fuel for discouragement, depression, and many other unpleasant emotions.
   
   We should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with or we can see the good and meditate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that, it makes our own lives happier and more peaceful.
   
   Pray: Dear patient and loving God, I ask You to forgive me for focusing my thoughts on things that are not pleasing to You. I pray that You will help me fill my mind with thoughts that are clean and pure and uplifting. In Jesus' name. Amen.
   
   From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

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      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "For as he thinketh in his heart, so he is.' – from the Bible, Proverbs 23:7

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         Sed-meposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         That's a good one. There is a verse in 2 Cor, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." It's the battle for the mind. Sometimes we are our own greatest enemy.

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            Cat333posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you, Sed-me. "We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This is a verse God has been revealing to me that I need to live by in order to battle anxiety/panic disorder, and I'm glad to see it here again as confirmation. While I've known the verse for years, I've never fully applied it, but He is helping me to actually put it into practice just recently.
            
            A verse I'm clinging to and which He has provided confirmations for is: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

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               Sed-meposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Amen and amen.

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      Cat333posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Rhema Word! Very needed words for me, as I battle anxiety disorders and clinical depression. While it's been awhile since I experienced a major depressive episode, I have been battling heavily against anxiety recently (generalized anxiety and panic disorder). God has been working with me on this and really revealing some of the thoughts and habits that exasperate my natural tendencies toward anxiety. I think maybe this book would be a good one for me right now. Thanks again.

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   Sed-meposted 10 years ago

   Dearest Rhema,
   I cannot thank you enough. You might have worried that this might not have ministered to anyone here, but it was just what I needed to hear at this moment. Thank you for going out on a limb and posting something so very positive. Ive enjoyed Joyce Meyers teachings for years, but these are great and helpful words no matter who they come from. Take care and thanks again!

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   Writer Foxposted 10 years ago

   "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." Joshua 1:8

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      Sed-meposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Another good one, thanks for sharing.

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      Cat333posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Writer Fox. This is something else God has been confirming that is needed for me, that I need to "meditate on it day and night".

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         Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         The 'book of the law' contains the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Enjoy!

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            Sed-meposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            They teach us that in gentile class as well. lol

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