Where are your thoughts focused?

Paul says the secret to peace - and we might add, to good mental health - is to make sure we think about...

"...whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, 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 any praise, think about these things."

That's Philippians 4:8

In fact, before this, he says we are to be anxious about nothing.  Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, couples with rejoicing in the Lord, always, is a much better way to run that wonderful computer God has given us - our mind.  Get this right and the peace of God Himself - a peace that transcends above and surpasses all understanding - God's very own peace will guard our hearts and our thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Having the mind of Christ enables us to sleep peacefully even when the storm that threatens to destroy us rages all around us.  Once this God-kind-of-peace is established in our hearts we can speak out of our mouths what is in our hearts, "Peace!  Be still!" and the storms will cease... even the wind and the waves will obey.

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In Philippians, Paul shares insights with a church that was in partnership with him in sharing the Good News.

God is in debt to no man or woman, thus Paul is confident that God will finish His amazing work in the Philippians, that, "He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

This is of enormous comfort to those of us who sense God is not finished with us yet!
On a daily basis I wonder at the incomplete nature of God's work in me - so here is the promise that, "it is God who works in us both to will and to work, for His good pleasure."

In Philippians 2, we have the great declaration of both Jesus' Identity and His humility.

"Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted Him, and gave to Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Let us take enormous comfort from Paul's insights - that God, indeed, is still at work in us and the Author and Finisher of our Faith will do just that - finish what He started.

Amen!

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Loving the whole reminder of 'Rhema' - the spoken Word of God as the Sword of the Spirit.

Yes, friends, today's the day to remember your armour.
That Shield of Faith can quench every flaming arrow of outrageous fortune!

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Ephesians 3:20-21 says it perfectly for me:
" Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

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Listen to this and REJOICE.

Notice how YOU WERE CHOSEN before forever!
You've been ordained to do good works which God has gone before you and prepared in advance.
You are made a little lower than the angels and have been crowned with glory and honour.
He has put ALL THINGS under your feet.

YHWH, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the Earth!

Sharing learning and the public reading of Scripture is how I spend my life.
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Get ready for the delights of the Fruit of the Spirit - God's recipe for a successful life.

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I've added a couple of verses from 1 Samuel 18 because we are talking about covenant.

"When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul... 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash."

Jesus 'cut' covenant with the Father so that we can say "Abba, Father!" through Jesus.
Because the covenant is between Jesus and the Father ("The New Covenant in My Blood") it cannot be broken and will never be broken in spite of anything humans may do.

In the covenant, through Christ, we get to put on Jesus' robe - we clothe ourselves with Christ.  We get His whole armour too!  A new name like Abram becoming Abraham, when God joined His name with Abram.  This is all SO exciting.  And, if you have any need, God has bound Himself through covenant commitment and promise to Jesus to meet every need.

Sharing learning and the public reading of Scripture is how I spend my life.
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Narrated from the World English Bible, this recording is for you to use if you are in Christ.
I invite you to read along with me each day, using the Read Scripture App.

Sharing learning and the public reading of Scripture is how I spend my life.
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You will be delighted to discover that the Greek word, "Metamorphosis," is only used 4 times in the New Testament.  Twice it is translated as 'Transfigured' and twice as 'Transformed'.

The point is that your life can be transformed, transfigured, metamorphosed by adopting new patterns of thinking in alignment with the Scriptures.  The path may be narrow but it is easy.

Sharing learning and the public reading of Scripture is how I spend my life.
You can say, "Thanks!" by buying me a coffee here:
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