RENEWING OUR MINDS

[Albert Finch]

James 1:16-18 reminds us that the Father of heavenly lights gives only good and perfect gifts and that He is the God of truth:
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created"

The enemy wants to steal our dreams, our faith and our lives! But, do not give place to His evil words. Determine now to repent for believing His lies. Repentance does not mean that it is needed because God is upset, mad or angry because of our doubt and unbelief -- to repent means to simply change the way we think (about God and even ourselves).
Therefore, if you have believed opposite of what God says about you, CHANGE the way you think about yourself. Also, if you have believed opposite of all God declares concerning His love, provision, protection, etc., simply CHANGE the way you think about Him. This will empower you with great faith and hope for your future.

Satan will always bring darkness into our situation. However, godly revelation reveals what is hidden – or what attempts to remain in darkness. As we more fully understand God's goodness and His light of truth, we begin to function and operate in His power to overcome the wicked works and words of the accuser.
We must guard our hearts so that we do not faint. The enemy is working overtime to cause us to grow weary and have faint hearts.
"He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]." - [2 Cor 12:9.]

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." [Heb 12:1-3.] Isaiah 40:28-31 AMP

Stand in faith on God's promise that He is renewing your strength right now and that also He is giving you power to overcome all adversity. He is also revealing to us, at this time, how to live in joy and peace even in the midst of a storm! In fact, go back and re-read the previous passage and literally see yourself strong and full of faith. You are God's light on the earth, a city on a hill. Let your light shine!
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising" - (Isaiah 60:1-3 ASV).

James 1:12 encourages each of us to persevere in pressing into God's revealed PURPOSE for our life, and if we do, we receive the crown of life. James also encourages us to not just read the Word of God, but as He shines light on the revelation of His Word, we are to act upon it – to do it (James 1:22-25)! If we do this, James writes that we will be blessed! It is not a blessing that comes from religious works; it is a blessing that is connected to a simple, childlike faith in God. Knowing that He cares, He loves us and that He is watching over every word He has spoken that brings the blessing into our lives.

Our worthiness comes that Jesus and His righteousness has already made us worthy of all good things given to us from the Father. We are not to condemn ourselves for our weakness and feeling faint-hearted but rather embrace His grace, mercy and ability to persevere. We persevere due to the finished work on the Cross! We will reap because in our salvation (sozo) we have healing, deliverance, prosperity and all that is needed to demonstrate the power of God in our lives. All we need is the fresh revelation to believe in His finished work and THE DESTINY he has individually prepared for us -- then we receive in faith the ability to persevere.
First Corinthians 1:30-31 tells us to trust in Christ, the One who became wisdom for us, as well as righteousness, sanctification and redemption!

We must develop the mind-set that -- we are not defined by our past, what people think of us, or our circumstances - but only by who we are in Christ.
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27

We step into our future (God's CALLING on our lives) with great boldness and confidence knowing certain that Christ has paid the price for complete freedom.

PRAYER

Father, You are the God of Light and I thank You that You have a pathway of light planned for me. Lord, I pray for strength, boldness and courage for my seasons ahead. I pray that I continue to rise up with great faith and soar as an eagle. I will not grow faint or weary in flight but continue to rise up in greater faith. I let go of legalistic belief systems that put all the pressure on me for transformation and place my faith in the finished work of Christ that completely transforms. Thank You for the grace You are giving me to achieve my DESTINY and potential. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.