Tag Archives: Religion

Renewing Your Mind

Posted on by yolandaberry
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As we anxiously wait for the first day of summer, let us not forget this is the perfect time to reflect on the goals we set during the beginning of the year. We are halfway through 2010. Let us not to forget to evaluate our lives and what we plan to achieve by the end of the year. We are always reminded during Spring to clean out the clutter, so we may receive new things.

Let us not forget to clean out our minds which include bad memories and habits, defeated thoughts and attitudes or anything else that may be holding us back from receiving what God has promised us as His children. “Behold, I am doing a new thing. Old things have passed away. Behold, I make all things new.” II Corth 5:17

Refocus on Priorities

It’s important to take time to reflect on your life in a positive way. Don’t beat yourself up for goals that you haven’t attained just yet. But, just learn to refocus on priorities and set small goals to work towards what you desire to achieve.

Build a Support System

Also, you must pay close attention to your social environment. You should build a strong support system of family, friends, neighbors, classmates and church associates.

What type of people do you surround yourself? Make sure you are surrounding yourself with positive people who will inspire, encourage and motivate you. Pay attention to the details of the heart of people that you interact with on a daily basis. What are their motives or intentions? Are their actions and words positive or negative? Take note of their behavior and decide whether you choose to be around them. You are valuable and so is your time.

You should spend time expanding your mind. If you don’t enjoy reading, make it a point to watch a movie or documentary that will give you a different perspective on life. You need to refresh your mind. Water your mind with knowledge and watch it grow. In scripture it states, “My people will perish for the lack of knowledge.” So, don’t be afraid to surround yourself with people who think differently than you do. Expose yourself to new cultures, races, creeds, religions or non-religious people. Be open to new ideas, opinions and thoughts. You can have a healthy conversation without having a debate or argument. That’s what makes life interesting. You do not have to agree with the person, but please make sure you respect them.

Guard Your Heart and Thoughts

It’s important to guard your thoughts. It’s so easy to dwell on negative emotions or words that will eventually influence your mind and behavior. Be mindful of what you allow to enter into your mind. There are many negative influences that surround us in the world and it doesn’t take long for a negative seed to be planted in your mind which eventually takes root. It’s much like weeds growing among beautiful, green grass. Weeds tend to multiply quickly and destroy the view. If you feed your mind junk, that’s exactly what you will eventually believe or think.

We are constantly influenced by images, words and stereotypes that influence the way we think. We have been so programmed that we often do not really learn to think for ourselves anymore. Don’t rely on gossip or rumors, but confront the source to get the correct information. Let’s be conscious of what we choose to listen to since this has a strong impact on how we see ourselves and others and can eventually influence our overall behavior.

Fill your mind with God’s word. It’s the most important thing you can do to withstand the attacks from the enemy. The only way to win the battles that come against you is to put on the armor of the Lord. To overcome the storms of life, you must read and study God’s word. It’s filled with power, truth, protection, guidance and His promises. Through daily mediation on God’s word, you will start to build faith, strength and courage to overcome the challenges and obstacles that you face. Through prayer, you will build a relationship with the Lord and will be shielded through your trials and tribulations. Even though bad things will still happen, hold onto your faith. You will have to endure many tests in life. Keeping your heart and mind grounded in the word of God, will eventually lead you to the harvest He has prepared for you.

The Magnitude of God

Posted on by yolandaberry
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While driving home in rush hour traffic, I was thinking about my life and how God is involved in every aspect. He knows my needs, desires, obstacles, challenges, weaknesses, and strengths. He knows everything about me, even the things that I have not discovered or I don’t’ yet understand about myself. He is aware of the intricate details of my being.

As I looked at everyone waiting at the red light, it hit me. Not only is He involved with every detail of my life, but every single person in this world. My mind started to randomly think of people all over the globe: Life events, natural disasters, political wars, economic crisis and terrorism that wound and distress the spirit.

Through all these difficulties in life there is hope for a new beginning; a new tomorrow by the power of God. I always seem to hear people blame God for the bad things that happen to us. But, I have never heard anyone blame the devil.

Although God has unlimited power, Satan is real and has the power to influence people’s thoughts, words, deeds, and actions. Overcoming spiritual battles is learning to use God’s word to destroy the enemy, praying and worshipping. God’s word is full of promises and truth. I have many testimonies to share how God has changed my life. He is not a God that should lie. Once we effectively learn to fight spiritual warfare with the armor of the Lord, we walk in victory.


People may argue if God is in control why does He allow bad things to happen to us? He is the creator of all things. He even created evil. I understand this is a very strong statement. I was even surprised myself when I found it in scripture. But, His character is of good not evil. He forms our character to be more like Him once we acknowledge Him as our Lord.

 God is working out His divine plans in our lives. He allows us the freedom of choice. We can be full of rebellion and strife or full of obedience, faith, and peace. He fills us with His grace and mercy which is a gift. His nature and presence are Holy and pure. He sent His son, Jesus, to save us from sin and death. Once we confess the Lord as our Savior there is no such thing as guilt or condemnation. It is allowing Jesus to pay our debt and we are set free from the burden of sin. Confess the Lord as your Savior and open your heart to Him.

 Scripture References

Isaiah 45:12:13
 12I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
   13I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts

Isaiah 45:16:25

 16They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
   17But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
   18For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
   19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
  20Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
   21Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.
 22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
   23I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return void, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
   24Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
   25In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

The following passages are from Isaiah 45:5-7 

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
   That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
  form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

John 3:16
So God, so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

 Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Patience

Posted on by yolandaberry
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“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up like eagles. They shall walk and not be weary and shall run and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30)

The Lord has called us out of this world for His own purpose and His own will. He selected us from the womb. “Our very hairs on our heads are numbered.” Luke 12:7 He chose us even though we had no understanding. We walked in the world as blind men. We acted and indulged in our own pleasures. We chased after material things, fought over titles and positions, looked to men for approval and acceptance while denying our individuality and self worth and respect, even compromised our integrity. We ran in every direction possible without considering God.  

The Lord called on us and He waited. We lived in selfishness and greed. He waited. We told lies and gossiped about others. He waited. We made our own decision without seeking Him first. He waited. We lived in lust and pleasures. He waited. We drank, smoked and cursed. He waited. Then, we wonder why God requires us to have patience?

 Living in a fast food society and mentality, we can’t deal with traffic. We can’t wait for our spouse to get ready before going out to dinner. Children are ignored and sometimes mistreated because of lack of patience. We can’t even wait for the internet to finish downloading or move to the next page fast enough. We want to see results immediately without question; while He sits on the throne and waits patiently for us to come to Him.

The Lord nudges to get our attention through circumstances and situations. He whispers faintly, but we don’t hear. We are wrapped up in our own world of confusion—trying to figure out our own goals, ambitions and purpose in life. He whispers faintly; but we do not hear. We force a life that we chose due to our desires. He whispers faintly, but we do not hear. We try to fit a square peg in a round hole. He whispers faintly, but we do not hear.

 We finally get to a point where we realize we can’t do it by ourselves or depend on others. We are not fulfilled with all we tried to accomplish or who we tried to impress. We get physically, mental and emotionally exhausted before surrendering to His will.

 That’s when we are pliable for the Lord to work in our lives. He can finally mold and shape us in who He desired us to be. We are given a choice. Our hearts must be open to Him as He patiently sits waiting for us to acknowledge and worship Him.

 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15