Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Why does God tell us not to lean on our own understanding? Could it be that our understanding of things is limited and finite?

In Romans 12:2, God tells us to be transformed by the renewing our own minds. He is calling us to have a heart and brain transplant. To trade our heart for His. To trade our spirit for His. To trade our mind for His. 

It's why Isaiah 55:8 says that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than ours.

Lean not on your own understanding today.

God bless,

J.W.

Perspective (Part 3)

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" ~ Philippians 2:5

When I speak of character development, people often become confused, or even indignant. When I tell people that God wants to develop their character, they immediately think or say, “I’m not a bad person” or “I don’t do anything wrong.”

But in the words of Dr. Dharius Daniels, character development is not just about moral modification. It’s not just about what you do or how you behave. Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

So, when we talk about character development in Christian contexts, it should not just be about whether you have the moral qualities of Jesus - that is, do you adhere to the Ten Commandments or something of the sort. It should also be determined by whether you have the mental make-up of Jesus. Do you think like Jesus? Is your perspective aligned with God’s? Are your views, opinions, and thoughts a reflection of God's views, opinions, and thoughts?

In Philippians 2:5, Paul encourages us to have the “mind of Christ.” It’s not until you look at situations and circumstances in your life and think and react to them like Jesus that your character is fully developed.

Do you have the mind of Christ today?

God bless,
J.W.

Train Up A Child (Part 6)

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

In Part 5 of the Train Up A Child series, we continued talking about why meditating on God's Word is important. Today, let's talk about why it works.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us that everything flows from what's in our hearts.

See, whatever is planted in your heart flows out in your life.

Our hearts are merely conduits to push out whatever is planted in it. So, if evil is planted in it, our hearts can't help but to push out evil. If lust is planted in it, it can't help but to push out lust. If sin is planted in it, it can't help but to bring sin in our life.

But Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on good things - whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely. Then "the God of Peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9).

Peace comes through what we think about. It's why Proverbs 23:7 says "whatever a man thinks, so is he." The results we get in life are simply a reflection of the conditions of our hearts.

What's the condition of your heart today?

God bless,
J.W.

Changing Your Mind

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." ~ Romans 12:2

A few weeks ago, my pastor preached a sermon.

His main point: "You can change your life by changing your thinking."

And it's true!

This scripture tells us that you can transform your life by renewing (or changing) your mind.

What's more, I'd even suggest that you can change the lives of millions of others just by changing the way you think.

Just THINK about it. :)

God bless,
J.W.