Moses addressed the children of Israel after the situation at Baal of Peor. Numbers 25. In Deuteronomy 4 he commanded them to obedience. Verse 3-4 says, “Your eyes have seen what the Lord did…But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today…”

Moses taught them God’s statutes and judgments. Verse 6 says, “Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding…” 

Psalm 119:97-98 says, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.”

Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it…”

Psalm 1:3 recorded the fruit of meditating. It says, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

I always pause when I come to 1 Kings 13 in my reading. It is so sad! A man of God was persuaded away from what the Lord had specifically told him. It was by another man of God who lied to him. Beware. We must hold fast to what God has spoken no matter what.

Our circumstances will change constantly. Yet He remains the same. A mentee wrote this to me. “What I notice in myself is that when I feel better I’m completely happy and I am able to analyze and change my thinking. When I am stuck I feel like I can’t change my state.” Do you recognize the lie she believes?

2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke…” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear what you are speaking, Then recognize the lies that you have believed about yourself, others, or your circumstances.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord. We are never stuck as long as we are walking in the Spirit!

How do we embed truth? John 8:32 says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Know in the Strong’s means to perceive, understand, recognize, gain knowledge, realize, come to know. 

Ephesians 3:19 in the Amplified is my working definition. It says, “(That you may really come) to know (practically, through experience for yourselves)…” Embedded truth is experiential. It is a living, vibrant reality.

Many know that there is a God. Yet that is only an intellectual knowledge. Their understanding doesn’t involve their hearts. Psalm 119:10 says, “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!”

Psalm 25:14 in the Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and he will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”

Psalm 63:8 in the Amplified says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Those last three verses describe one whose heart’s wallpaper is truth.

John 14:6 were Jesus’ words, “…I am…the truth…” John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus stood before Pilate. John 18:37 were Jesus’ words. It says, “…Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Verse 38 says, “Pilate said to Him, What is truth?” Truth stood right before his eyes, but he was spiritually blind. So is everyone who rejects the truth.

Jesus set forth the criteria to know if we are His disciples. John 8:31 says, “…If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer. John 15:26 says, “…the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

Since the Holy Spirit leads us into truth, that means we have to follow. Following Him is taking God’s word of truth and practicing it through every aspect of our lives ~ allowing truth to reveal the true condition of our hearts.

When we walk in the Spirit we are walking in truth. Galatians 5:16 says that way we will resist the flesh. Therefore, we can conclude this: when we are in our flesh we are deceived. 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.”

1 John 1:6 says that when we don’t practice the truth, then we are walking in darkness. How can a born again believer walk in darkness? There are many ways. One is harboring sin. 1 John 1:9 is the provision that was ignored or not a practiced truth.

Also through futile negative inner dialogue. Philippians 4:8 has a list of God’s ways to think. Psalm 104:34 says, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.” Psalm 19:14 was David’s prayer that his meditation would be acceptable to the Lord.

Our thoughts are rooted in beliefs that form perceptions, with motives that are expressed through our actions. Our thoughts either dishonor or glorify the Lord. 

Sorry I’m late. Internet down 7 1/2 hrs!

Our true identity is in Christ. Anything outside of that is man’s opinion ~ ours or others. Our standing in Christ never changes. It was given to us at salvation. Our opinion is our state. of mind. That changes as we begin our walk with the Lord through progressive sanctification.

Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 called it inner transformation ~ spiritual metamorphosis. The moment of salvation does not change our old patterns of thoughts. That takes place as we renew our minds through the truths of God’s word.

Our flesh rears its ugly head when our goals are blocked. The Holy Spirit taught me something years ago. When I react to someone or some circumstance, to ask myself this: “Marilyn, what do you believe about yourself right now?” That has helped me navigate adversities and impossible situations.

Our beliefs are formed from our experiences, which form our perceptions and motives. Every thought has a motive. All actions come first from our thoughts. Thoughts generate our attitudes. We can correct any negative behavior by changing what we believe about ourselves based on God’s truth about us.

Jesus Christ Is Risen!

Jesus purposely delayed when He received the word that Lazarus was sick. Then Lazarus died and was buried. Jesus went to Bethany. Martha went out to meet Him, and stated that if He had come, her brother would not have died.

John 11:25 were Jesus’ words to her. It says, “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” He let those words sink in. Verse 26 says, “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

We know from 2 Peter 1:3 that He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. They come through our knowledge of the Lord. We gain understanding of who He is through his written word.

His promises are true. He is Faithful and Trustworthy to fulfill them. As we trust and obey, He reveals Himself to us in ways we have not known Him before. John 14:21 gives us His criteria for that revelation. It says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them…” Keep: make daily personal applications.

We learn from Abram’s example that we are to believe in what the Lord has said ~ though there is no tangible evidence. That is where faith comes in. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I love Romans 4. Verse 20 in the Amplified says, “No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God.”

We have another example from the virgin Mary. After Gabriel explained how she would immaculately conceive, she answered in Luke 1:38. It says, “…Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word…”

Jesus spoke words to doubting Thomas that we need to heed as well. John 20:29 says, “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

I reduced the price of one of my 2021 paper back books. Deflating Pride: the piercing power of God’s word. It is available on Amazon.

Back Cover

Pride is insidious and devious. It rudely pushes into our conversations and actions. It demands attention. Pride is sin. It often hides in our hearts, yet it can be stirred the minute our goal is blocked. Humility on the other hand is unobtrusive. It is not showy and never calls attention to itself. Humility yields whereas pride demands.

This book is written as the author was reading the book of Luke. The Holy Spirit highlighted verses as she was reading to help define and expose the hidden sin of pride. Pride is a heart issue that blocks intimate communion with the Lord.

This was written about the church. Revelation 19:8. It says, “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” 

Let’s go back to Abram. He had no children. Yet the Lord took him outside to look up into the heavens. He said that his descendants would be more in number than the stars if they could be counted.

Verse 6 says, “And he believed in the Lord, and he accounted it to him for righteousness.” At salvation we are given His gift of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

1 John 3:7 is a warning for us. It says, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” As we follow our Shepherd, He will lead us into His purposes for our lives. Hearing and obeying is a safeguard against deception. James 1:22.