ForgottenWoman

RENEW THAT THING

Well, we’ve come through the end of the year holiday season and my heart is so full of all that God is teaching me. This morning I had to go to court again – yes, I’m being sued by a stranger and while it isn’t something I talk about; it is certainly something I talk to my Father about constantly! But more on that saga later!

I want to talk to YOU, my readers today about something that God’s Word talks about – something that I’m learning more and more about how to do. That is renewing my mind. Often I share with others the truth that our emotions follow our thinking and our thinking is influenced by so many things. The culture around us shapes our thinking. Words spoken to us (either over long periods or even just once) influence our thinking. What we watch, listen to, read… all affect our thinking.

We know that we have an enemy who’s ultimate desire is for us to be not only influenced but controlled by wrong ideas, priorities, beliefs, emotions. The best way for him to succeed in derailing us from God’s purpose for our lives is to bombard us with deception, wrong thinking, doubts about what is truth. Y’all, contrary to popular opinion truth is not negotiable. There is no such thing as my truth and your truth. And where do we find ultimate truth? YEP! God’s Word.

We know this, yes? YES!

But how in the world do we combat the influx of non-truth that runs rampant through our minds and affects our perspective? – That affects our decisions, our emotions, our actions, our reactions? And yes, even our health.

Well, the short answer is that we saturate our minds with God’s Word. A couple of years ago I chose the phrase, “Saturate to Imitate” as my motto for the year. That year my goal was to listen and read God’s Word – not only all the way through but to have it continually going through my mind. When I was driving I had it playing through my phone, when I was sleeping I had it playing through my phone and when I was sitting relaxing I was reading. Why? Because I’m a super spiritual saint? Ah, absolutely not. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. I was doing that because I’m weak. My heart has been broken repeatedly and my emotions tend to get out of control – so I am forced to renew my mind to gain control and walk like my God wants me to walk.

It was a start. That reading and listening to God’s Word was the beginning of this desire to renew my mind. This year I’ve added intentional memorization of His Word to my goals. My almost 61 year old brain doesn’t memorize like it used to – and it takes an extra drive and motivation to make it happen. I’ve been on this journey now for a few weeks and quite honestly; I can’t even begin to describe all of the benefits. I’ll share just few practical moments with you. A few nights ago I awoke from a horrible nightmare (not about monsters or those kinds of things, but about real people in my life and situations). When I woke up remembering the details of the dream, my heart was anxious. My body was trembling and the tears began to flow. Almost immediately verses of Scripture that I’d been memorizing began to run through my mind and I was able to focus on truth; which calmed me. This morning as I headed to court, the truth of Scripture in my mind gave me strength, courage and hope that God sees all, knows all and is in control of even this!

I know many of you have memorized Scripture in the past or maybe you currently do. One of the new aspects of ministry through The Forgotten Woman is a Scripture Memory Group – where we do this thing together. There is such encouragement in joining hearts in a goal like this. I’ve created a group within a website and phone app (You can use your computer OR your phone or both – I use both). Within this group I’ve placed a few collections of verses to memorize together. Throughout the year, I’ll add more verses. The system through which we are doing this allows you to memorize a variety of ways. You can type the verse out while seeing it until you are comfortable removing every other word. When you get to the place of mastering the verse, you type it out fully. Then the site reminds you when you need to review your verses. You set up your own account, how often you want to review, etc. If you don’t type, there is also the option to speak the words. I LOVE it and I’d LOVE for many of you to join us in this “challenge”. RENEWING our minds is priority – and this is one great way to do it together.

Can you imagine what God will do with a few of his children who are dedicated to renewing our minds constantly and walking with Him step by step each day? *Listen, our minds are constantly bombarded and filled with deception – this has to be intentional. We are in a battle – let’s be serious about winning the war for our minds and emotions.

Here is the link! Click join and let’s do this.

https://biblememory.com/group/view/be23448f65/