Friday, March 14, 2014

Subjecting your Thought

PRAISE WHEN YOU CAN'T

Though your days may be as dark as night
When you seem to have lost all hope
There will always be this trace of light
A streak of blue, to help you cope.


No star may shine in your darkened sky
As you try to find your own way
You stumble about, under His watchful eye
Awaiting the glimpse of a brand new day.

Stop staring at "self", for what you don't see
Nor listen to the whispering of distance far
Become enlightened and bend your knee
Adore the bright 'n shining Morning Star.


Leave your agonizing thoughts at His feet
And cut off any damaging doubt
Put your trust in Him and get complete
By praising His name and singing out loud.

While getting the victory, the Lord will smile
As you're conquering your biggest enemy
And even if the battle may take a while
You know that Jesus is the Remedy.

Copyright © Dr. Trudy Veerman, 2009



As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to put our faith into action. We have to be doers of the Word, not only hearers. 

James 1:22... When we abide in Him, He will abide in us. This means, He rules our lives and we must keep our old nature crucified. When Jesus is on the throne of our heart there will be peace and joy. There is NO room for moodiness, depression, bitterness, anxiety, sinful thoughts and the like.

The believer can allow these kinds of feelings and/or thoughts to take over in his life if he/she listens to the whisperings of their own mind or that of satan. When bad or negative thoughts come up we have not sinned. But, if we allow this to linger and brood upon them, these thoughts will be acted out by deeds and will bring forth sin.

James 1:14,15... But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

"Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes... that lead to evil actions." How true it is that, "What the mind dwells on the body acts upon!"

Consider, for example, how temptation works. A seemingly innocent thought comes to mind from anywhere of a number of directions or, at times, from seemingly nowhere. One decides, mostly subconsciously, to dwell on that thought and, as they do, it hooks their emotions. 

The more one concentrates on that thought, the stronger they feel about it. The more one thinks about it, they will then begin to visualize it in their mind what they desire and want to do. Unless one makes a conscious choice to stop thinking about it, they are most likely to give in to and act upon the temptation.

The battle is won or lost in the mind before one ever acts out the temptation. One of many dangers, in consistently giving into temptation, is what others have pointed out: "If we don't live the life we believe, we will end up unhappily believing the life we live." 


We do this because as long as we don't live consistently with what we believe, our mind experiences what is called "cognitive dissonance"; this is mental disharmony. Because mankind can't tolerate this mental conflict, we change our beliefs to match our behavior and then rationalize and justify what we do. This is an extremely dangerous path to follow. The end result is, what the Bible calls, having a dead conscience which ultimately leads to death, spiritual death.

Being tempted is not sin, but to respond to temptation will lead to sin. You need to exchange the sinful thoughts that satan gives with the Word of God! Thoughts may pop up in our minds, yet when we meditate on them we start to make them our own. Thus, the key is to replace immediately your wrong thinking!

We can choose our thoughts! So also we can choose to quote scriptures and meditate on what the Word says instead! Satan can never over-ride your free will. You do have power and authority in Jesus Christ!! A follower of Christ needs to take control over his thoughts. Draw on His strength in times of weakness!! He is only a prayer away!!

Proverbs 23:7... For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

When you think all hope is gone, and you're down and out, turn off your own deceiving thoughts and start listening to the voice of the Lord. You've arrived at the place where you are an excellent candidate for a complete change in your life; an OVERHAUL, so to speak. I am NOT kidding you. 


You are at MAXIMUM TOLERANCE LEVEL, and that is exactly where the Lord wants you to be, so HE CAN FINALLY DO HIS THING. You don't have to know what to do, because you'll only mess it up even more. Give it ALL to Him. You go and start digging into the Word and find yourself some "Treasures". Allow Him to guide you.

Psalm 37:4-5... Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

To be a conqueror, start at square one by being obedient to the Scripture, through water baptism by immersion, as Jesus says in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16, if you haven't done so. 

Seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the speaking in tongues for self-edification. 1 Corinthians 14:2-5, 18, 19. 

Allow the Fruit of the Holy Spirit to develop in your life; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance as in Galatians 5:22,23... 
Shun sin and worldly places, videos, TV programs, books etc. DO SOME HOUSECLEANING. 

Proverbs 4:14,15... Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

We have to do our part of the Scripture and He will do His. Example: Draw unto me and I will draw unto you. GO ALL OUT FOR GOD, SURRENDER COMPLETELY TO JESUS. If you don't want to do this, forget about the rest. Unless we follow Jesus all the way, we might as well give up.

Bring all your thoughts under subjection and to the feet of the Lord, and leave them there. This is ALL hard work and it takes much effort on your part to deny the flesh and take up your cross. BUT IT IS WORTH IT!! HALLELUJAH!

When you get negative or sinful thoughts, which are not well pleasing unto the Lord, start singing: "All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give" or "What a friend I have in Jesus, All my sins and grieves to bear", and your bad thoughts have to leave immediately. Boy, you'll really chase satan away with this!

Psalm 118:14... The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.

We have to discipline ourselves in all aspects of our Christian walk, including our thinking. 

Romans 12:1,2... Ours is the daily sacrifice of the sinful self on the cross of Christ.... 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.

Philippians 4:8...Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on THESE things.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18...Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:2...Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Whatever action is required, according to His Word, we will be able to attain it, or else it would not be in His word. He has made a way through the guidance, teaching and power of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture doesn't say for nothing: BE YE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! Only through His Spirit, can we overcome our thought life.

Psalm 19:14... Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Romans 8:7...The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God.

No matter what your situation is in life, you have to put your focus COMPLETELY ON JESUS CHRIST, instead of on yourself. This may not always be easy. I'm speaking from personal experience of situations which were far from pleasant. 


Nevertheless, Jesus MUST be your life and joy. This is the secret to start with, the KEY which will open the door to a NEW era in your life. As long as you're staying at the other side of the DOOR, you will never be able to receive that which He has in store for you. YOU'LL KEEP LOOKING AT THE WAVES AND EVENTUALLY YOU WILL SINK.

Jesus says, Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. It is clear in the scriptures, that you as believer, have to take action and DO WHAT GOD'S WORD tells you to do. If you don't, then you will not receive what He has promised. As a matter of fact, HE CANNOT FULFILL HIS PROMISE, due to lack of obedience. 


You have to become a doer of God's Word, not only a hearer. And acting upon this, you'll put the Lord at work. For with each promise there is a condition. Once the condition is being met, His promise will follow. AMEN!
We can praise God knowing that He is working all things for our good and for His glory.

Ephesians 5:20...Paul exhorts us by saying "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 


Philippians 4:4... Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice. 


Psalm 119:164... David declared, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments."
He tells us to put on "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" in Isaiah 61:3...

Praise is the THE antidepressant that we all need. Praise is also good for a lot of other problems.

Proverbs 17:22... A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.


Philippians 4:6... Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 


Colossians 3:16... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

YOUR SONG

Let your song go far beyond its reach,
and its music vibrate the air
May its echo be heard on the earth,
while the heavens HIM declare
Allow your tears of joy to flow,
for He has made you free
from sin and satan's grip,
so you'll praise His name with glee
.

Original © by Dr. Trudy Veerman

Psalms 43:5... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 32:11... Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.


John 15:11...These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Psalm 30:11,12... You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

The Lord dwells on the praises of His children.
So get PRAISIN' ! 

I left you lots of scriptures to go by and to hang onto. Declare the Word of the Lord, because it provides you strength from on high.



Copyright © Dr. Trudy Veerman, 1996-2014. All rights reserved.

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