JUST PUBLISHED yesterday ~ available on Amazon.

Since our thoughts precede all actions, it is imperative that we understand where they come from. In this book the author explores three different ways. Each one is supported by comparing Scripture with Scripture.

Have you ever wondered why you do what you do? Have you explored how you came to believe the way you do? Our heart is our belief system. Our experiences form our perceptions, which become the motives behind our thoughts. God is infinite, but we are finite. As we bring His word into our hearts, it will begin to shape our beliefs so they will align with His purpose for our lives.

As we continue to hide God’s word in our hearts, our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit increases. It is that word hidden which speaks when temptation’s lure dangles. 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Paul instructed Timothy to not give heed to things that were not edifying.

1 Timothy 1:5-6 says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.”

The Greek word for idle means futile talk, worthless, empty, and meaningless babble. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Inner dialogue with negative thoughts becomes idle talk. It lacks substance. It has nothing redeemable in it. It blocks us from discerning the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Ephesians 4:29 says our speech should, “…impart grace to the hearers.” ~ ourselves as well as others.

James 1:2 described trials as something we fall into. They are sudden, unexpected, unplanned for, and unsettling. Life quickly changes. What do you turn to when you first fall into a new trial?

Our flesh will rear its ugly head to demand its will. However, hope will anchor our soul when we keep our eyes on Jesus. Isaiah 59:19 says, “…when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

I am sure that you know from experience, that the verses you have hidden in your heart rise up in times of need. That is the Holy Spirit reaching into your heart’s reservoir to increase your confidence and steadfastness in Him alone.

Here are some of my anchor verses. Psalm 62:1-2 says, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Psalm 63:8 Amplified says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Romans 5:3-4 in the Amplified says, “Moreover (let us also be full of joy now!) let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.” 

Note that verse 5 says that hope does not disappoint. We know from broken expectations that earthly hope was in a person or circumstance that didn’t pan out. Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.” No sustaining support.

Our hope is based on Jesus. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Hebrews 6:19 says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul…”

I recently read through the book of Revelation. John beheld the Lord. Revelation 1: 13-15 says that, “…One like the Son of Man…His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

The beast of Revelation 13:8 is worshiped by the ones whose names are not in. “…the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Verse 10 says, “He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Revelation 14:10 says that those who receive the mark of the beast, “…shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Verse 12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The ones saved during the tribulation need patience to endure their trials.

Luke 21:19 says, “By your patience possess your souls.” The Strong’s word for souls says that it is the seat of the affections, will, desire, emotions, mind, reason, and understanding. I like to illustrate it through the picture of a braid. The mind leads off, and the will and emotions follow.

My mentees are always using the words, “I feel…” Their feelings do not reflect the truth. John 8:31-32 says, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

God’s truth is the standard base for our feelings. His truth reflects His nature. As we abide in His word, His word works to form our character through our trials. Romans 5:3-4 gives us the progression: trials produce perseverance, and perseverance character.

James 1:2 says to count our trials as joy. Why? Verse 3-4 says, “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Salvation’s joy is an irrevocable gift.

God’s ultimate purpose is using every situation with absolute precision ~ conforming us to His image. Scripture reveals several ways. One through our trials. As we embrace each one, He discloses the dross that opaques our reflection of Him to others.

Two through us beholding Him. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The Greek word for transformed is metamorphoumetha. I learned something years ago in a Ranger Rick magazine. The caterpillar melts while it is in the cocoon. I call it the dark night of the soul. It is from that liquid that the Lord’s transformation is taking place.

The beginning and end of our trials are unknown to us. However the Lord never takes His eyes off us. He is with us every moment. His promise in Hebrews 13:5 is that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Just like the wet butterfly, our strength is in the struggle.

I began memorizing Psalm 18:31-32. Verse 31 says, “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” My mind went to Isaiah 40. It is a great chapter. I encourage you to read from verses 12-31. It is so descriptive.

Verse 25 says, “To whom then will you like Me, or to whole shall I be equal?” Hebrews 6:13 says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.”

Psalm 145:1-3 says, “I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

Let us reverently behold our God who is working absolutely everything in our lives for our good. 

We read the truths God has for us in order to live according to His word. If we don’t put them into practice, we are only hearers. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.”

1 John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 2:4 says, “He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”

My mom signed me up for piano lessons when I was very young. I wanted to play the piano like she did, but I didn’t like the practice part. We practice truth by embedding it into our mind, will, and emotions through repetition.

When you drive a nail into wood you embed it. James 1:21 says, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your soul.” We emulate Christ’s humility through practice. Romans 13:14.

Blame is an effective weapon that the enemy of our soul uses to trap us. I was thanking the Lord for choosing me before the foundation of the world. I reflected how His love had nothing to do with me. He chose me to be blameless before Him. Ephesians 1:4. 

Insight: blame is an inner accusation against ourselves, others, or our circumstances. Who is the accuser of the brethren? Revelation 12:9-10 says that it is the devil. His power is through deception. 

Let’s turn the kaleidoscope of the word blame just a tiny bit. Here’s another view. We are blameless in the eyes of the Lord. Blameless ~ meaning no blame. When we enter into the fleshly lie of blame, we have forgotten the truth of Ephesian 1:4 and Jude verse 24.

2 Peter 1:9 refers back to the inner graces we are told to add to our faith. It says, “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” 2 Timothy 1:9. We are called with a holy calling.