Think about what you're thinking!!

Out of all the issues I've ever had, my thoughts was my biggest issue of all. Our thoughts determine alot more than we think. I wondered why things weren't going right in my life and God told me, "Chevonne you're thoughts are killing you". Many times we blame other people for our failure when the biggest problem you'll ever have is yourself. No one can stop you from being blessed but you. You can be your own worse enemy if you're not careful. God really had to deal with me on my thoughts so that's what I'm going to share with you today.

Proverbs 23:7 {KJV} says: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. If you think you're going to fail guess what? You'll fail. If you think you'll never be delivered from something guess what? You'll never be delivered. Don't allow bad thoughts to fester in your mind too long because those thoughts could be the very thing that comes back to haunt you in the future. My deliverance from depression was delayed because all I could think about was where I had failed in my life. I felt as if there was no hope for a person who had made as many bad decisions as I had and I was right until my thoughts changed. During times of trial we have to force ourselves to agree with what God has already said in his word in spite of what things look like. We have to remember that God's way is the exact opposite of the world's way. Have you ever heard the song, "Devil says no, no...God says YES"? In other words whatever the devil says you can't overcome, God says you can overcome.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 {KJV} says: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. This means that it is our job to throw aside all thoughts that don't line up with God's word. Anytime a bad thought comes to your mind, YOU have to cast it down. One of the ways that I cast down bad thoughts is by quoting scriptures. As I have said before though, nothing from nothing leaves nothing. If you don't deposit the word daily into your heart, you won't stand a chance against a devil who will vigorously attack you. Unfortunately, the devil comes against you where you're the weakest. My weakest link was my thoughts which is where he hit me the hardest. He will continue to attack me there until I overcome that weakness.

Proverbs 14:30 {Amplified version} says: A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones. Sometimes its not the sickness that affects you the most it's what you think about that sickness that affects you the most. The pain I dealt with inside was far worse than any pain that I felt outside. Please understand that nothing will change in your life until your thoughts change. There are times when your situation will not change but as long as your thoughts line up with the word you can still have peace in the midst of any storm. My husband and I have a saying that we use which is: "God if you don't change the situation, change me". So instead of praying for God to change the situation, pray for God to change you.

Sin begins with a thought and success begins with a thought also. As I have already said previously, no one just wakes up and decides to sin. Look at some of the most successful people in the world today, they all had to believe that they could succeed before they actually succeeded. Look at people who have done nothing with their lives, they all had to think they were failures before they actually failed. This world is a very dark and negative place but we have to force ourselves to keep our eyes and our minds on Jesus. You can't look at negative things and expect to have positive thoughts. Luke 11:34 {Amplified version} says: Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.

Think about what you're thinking. Are your thoughts producing negative or positive results? You are exactly who you think you are and the scripture above echos that statement. When a thought comes to your mind that says you can't do this or that, remind the devil of what Philippians 4:13 says (I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me). In order to make it through any given trial you must watch what you think. Watching what you think takes discipline and determination but in the end it will be worth it. You can do what appears to be impossible if you believe it and you can go anywhere in life if you believe it. Ephesians 3:20 {KJV} says: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. In other words, the God that we serve is able to go above and beyond your every wish if you believe. Many Christians have a tendency to put limits on God which only limits you. Don't trust God partially and expect to be blessed fully. You're only going to go as far as you think you can go.

One of the things that worried me the most was keeping my marriage together. All I thought about was how people who had been together for years ended up divorced. I mean people who were saved ended up not making it. The thought of this made me a nervous wreck until God reminded me to think about my thoughts. Philippians 4:8 {KJV} says: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Now my husband and I speak life over our marriage and we both think positively about our marriage. Worrying only causes your fears to come upon you. Don't get me wrong, you're not made of steel things are going to concern you but don't allow your thoughts to go against God's word. I was worried when I first left my hometown (a small town) but positive thoughts has made the transition (to a bigger town) nice and smooth. If we would have been afraid to step out of our comfort zone, we wouldn't have been in place to receive God's promise. Remember, you can either think your way to success or you can think your way to failure. So take time out and think about what you're thinking and if you're thoughts are not godly get rid of them.

Remain blessed

Down but never out!!

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 {KJV}
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Let's just face it, living in today's world can be very discouraging. Just watching the news can make a person miserable because its all so bad and hopeless. Christians we must learn to lift our eyes to the hills from which comes our help, for our help comes from the Lord. In the scripture above you can see that in spite of all the darkness, we can be down but never out. When your eyes are focused on Jesus, you can't sink no matter how devastating life can be. One of my favorite songs is called "Encourage yourself" by Donald Lawrence. Too many times we depend on others to lift us up but sometimes you have to lift yourself up. You have to speak the Word over yourself.

Not so long ago, I battled a very severe case of depression. I felt as if life was no longer worth living and I felt as if all I had ever done was a failure. God had to teach me how to go on no matter what the situation. Yes, many things had went wrong in my life but everyday I woke up was another chance to correct my many mistakes. Instead of praying against problems, I had to learn to pray for strength to deal with any given trial. The devil will throw things at us, but with God we shall overcome. Isaiah 54:17 {KJV} says: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Notice it didn't say that the weapon wouldn't be formed, it says even though the weapon will be formed it will not succeed.

In order to bounce back from trials and tribulations you must prepare ahead of time. Don't wait until a bad situation develops before you decide to run to God but everyday deposit the Word into your spirit so that it can be brought to your remembrance. Please know that nothing from nothing leaves nothing. If you don't make a deposit, don't expect to make a withdrawal. Proverbs 18:14 {Amplified version} says: The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear? What happens if a person doesn't eat? Eventually they die from starvation, its the same way spiritually. The more you feed your spirit the stronger it will be during a struggle.

While going through that deep depression I learned to stand my ground. When thoughts of worthlessness came to mind, I had an answer from the Word of God. Let's look at Luke 4:2-4 {KJV}
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Every time the devil spoke to Jesus, he always had an answer from the Word of God. Again if you don't make a deposit, don't expect to get a withdrawal. I just want to encourage everyone today to stand firm. When you get down, get back up...don't allow yourself to stay down. Sometimes it seems like the harder you try to live right, the more you get ridiculed. Trouble can sometimes be a sign of whether you're close to a breakthrough or not. One of my favorite scriptures to quote during troubled times is Proverbs 3:3 {KJV} But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. With God you may get down, but you'll never be out because his grace is sufficient. God's power is greater than any power the devil has.

Let's take what I call the hand test. Pretend like the room you're in represents God and his power, now take your hand and cover your eyes. It seems like your hand is bigger doesn't it, why because that's what you're focused on. Now take your hand off of your eyes and compare the size of your hand to the size of the room you're in...it doesn't compare does it? Remember that your problems don't even compare to the power of God because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Make a decision to be the victor and not the victim. It's time for us to victimize the devil with the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. Yeah devil you had me down but you should have killed me while you had the chance, it's too late now I'm already on my way back up again. Things may not look good right now, but I refuse to give up on God's promises. Even if he doesn't deliver me from this situation, I am fully persuaded that he can. Somehow some way this situation is for my good, so I chose to bounce back and allow nothing to shake my faith in God.

Remain blessed