Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” The Lord has given us a heart to hide His word in. It is His hidden word that is designed to permeate the motives of our thought life.

Psalm 104:34 says, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.” How is your thought life? Is it pleasing to the Lord? Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

We can, in a moment, affect our physical bodies by our thoughts. Allowing our mind to veer into fear or worry instantly takes us into fight or flight. That causes our heart rate to increase, our breathing becomes fast and shallow, adrenaline is pumped into our muscles, and our digestion stops. All from a thought!

We create stress or calm through our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 has a list to gauge our thoughts by. Are your thoughts noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy?

Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” The Lord uses our hard trials to conform us to His ways. David understood this.

Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me…” Psalm 18:32 says, “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.”

In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read that God’s ways and thoughts are far higher than our ways and thoughts. That means that our ways, which are driven by our flesh, are inferior. Why don’t we remember this when we do things in our own strength?

We forget this vital truth that never changes. John 15:5 says, “…without Me you can do nothing.” John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Galatians 5:16 says, “…Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” Wallpaper for our hearts.

It is easy to delay doing things that we are not excited about doing. It is easy to make little concessions or compromises. I’m thinking about Proverbs 24:30-34. As you read the verses, note the progression of destruction.

Verse 30-31 says, “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding. And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles.”

In verse 32 the passerby said that they saw it, considered it well, looked on it, and received instruction. That is a great way for us to read God’s word so we can apply it to our lives. Verse 33 is the perfect picture of slothfulness. It says, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.”

The vineyard keeper lacked the understanding of how essential diligence is in every aspect of life. Verse 34 says, “So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” Proverbs 10:4 is a great warning. It says, “He has a slack hand becomes poor…”

2 Peter 1:4 says that we have been given exceeding great and precious promises, “…that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” Since the Lord uses every aspect of our lives to conform us to His image, He is constantly developing His character of longsuffering in us.

Ephesians 4:1 says that we are called to walk worthy. Verse 2-3 tells us how. It says, “With all lowliness and gentleness with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Hebrews 6:12 says, “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience, inherit the promises.” The Greek word for patience means long temper. Note in my Bible: It describes a person who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.

Longsuffering is also listed as a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22. As we continually yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, He will help us die to our fleshly impatience ~ bearing the fruit of longsuffering which glorifies the Lord.

2 Peter 3:9 says, “…He is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Paul’s charge to Timothy is our mandate as well. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Let’s recall how the Lord strategically rerouted in order to minister to an unbeliever. He was on His way to Galilee. John 4:4 says, “But he needed to go through Samaria.” His disciples questioned Him afterwards. Verse 34 recorded His words, “…My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Our flesh is impatient. We often miss an opportunity the Lord sets before us because we are too focused on our agenda. Galatian 5:16 says to walk in the Spirit. That means to be aware and attentive, so we can hear and obey His promptings.

As we walk with our ears attentive, we will hear, “…This is the way, walk in it whenever you turn…” Isaiah 30:21. 

I was reading Ezekiel 20. Over and over the Lord said that He was going to judge them because of their rebellion. Here is an example of His longsuffering. Verse 14 says, “But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.”

I encourage you to read the whole chapter. It makes me think about our country. He laid a foundation of righteousness. He set men in places of authority who honored His word. Verse 11 is a timeless verse. It says, “And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them.”

Paul wrote Romans 1:17. It is another timeless truth. It says of the gospel, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

We are saved by faith. Our faith is tested through fiery trials. The Lord orchestrates them so that the intensity exposes any hidden dross that would weaken our faith.

I think of the hymn, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases…” Lamentations 3:22 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” The Hebrew word for mercy is hesed. It means covenant or steadfast love.

Psalm 36:10 says, “Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart.” Heart idols are a trap that keep us from intimate communion with the Lord.

Our journey of progressive sanctification conforms us to His image. The pressures of our trials, temptations, and adversities are God’s refining tools. Think of one who creates sculptures from rocks. They have to chisel away what blocks the image they are wanting to create.

Jeremiah 1:5 says that the Lord knew us before He formed us in the womb. He uses all of our life’s experiences. Nothing is in vain. He uses them to work His will into every aspect of our lives. He is conforming us to represent Himself to those around us. Heart idols opaque and cloud the testimony of His grace.

After my 1/2/17 brain injury I could not read. My eyes were out of round. I created what I called warfare art. It became my Bible. Here is one that the Lord gave me. It is an acronym for stability. 

Steadfast

Truth

Always

Believing

Increasing 

Love

Intentionally

Trusting

You

James 1:8 says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. I’m reading through the book of Ezekiel. In chapter 14 the Lord addressed the elders of Israel. Verse 4 says, “Everyone…who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him, what causes him to stumble into iniquity…”

Anything that we set our affections on instead of the Lord, becomes a trap that will lead us into sin. It will contaminate our heart and lead us astray. Verse 5 says, “That I may seize their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.”

Where are your affections? What do you turn to when you are stressed? Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Earthly affections are temporary. 

Why do folks get angry, disappointed, disillusioned, or frustrated? The simple answer is that someone blocked their goal. They had an expectation that was not met. When our expectations are placed on another or circumstances, they are misplaced.

Job lost everything within a very short amount of time. Were his goals blocked? He loved his children and covered them spiritually through prayer. He had great wealth. Job 1:22 says, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

David wrote Psalm 16. Verse 8 says, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” When we set the Lord before us in anything that we do, our faith will remain strong because He is Faithful.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Setting goals will help keep us in focus. Let’s check in with the Lord before we do anything ~ making our next step based on His will according to Scripture.

The Lord is our Provider. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3. Through our intimate communion with the Lord, He reveals His heart for us. We learn His ways are far higher than our own. Isaiah 55:9. 

I remember when I was in High School we held a VBS in our church. We daily taught the children how the Lord provides. Do you remember this chorus? “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine…”

Psalm 50:10 says, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” The Lord provides for the critters He created. Psalm 104:27 says, “They all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.”

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Psalm 145:14 says, “The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.” He supplies everything we need: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.