Fruit for Thought

About a tree…

The following was written by Moses, as told to him by God...generations and generations before Jesus' birth.

Genesis 2:9 
And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."

Genesis 3:24
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

The following was written by John, as shown to him by God...thousands of years after Moses led the people from Egypt.

Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelations 22 
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse.

Revelation 22:14
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.

Pretty exciting, huh?

Day 4 of the THINK fast

Rethinking: Maybe God doesn’t want success for me.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says, “Maybe I'm not supposed to be successful.”  I’m guessing that if you really honest with yourself, you can think back to a time when you have pondered this very thought.  Perhaps you found yourself thinking it today.  Maybe it was at some moment of deep depression or utter frustration. 

Guess what? So have I. 

The Lie: Not everyone can have great success.
Maybe God doesn’t want success for me…

We look at the “success” of others, and, of course, the grass seems not only greener on the other side, but neon green compared to our lives.  It’s when we don’t see God’s deliverance or grow impatient with His plan, that we resign the promises of God, saying to ourselves, “Those promises probably aren’t for me.”

This is a LIE, straight out of Hell, and completely contrary to what the Word of God says about our success.  The aim of the enemy is to get us to give in to the lie, give up on the Truth, and live joyless, truly unsuccessful lives.  We need to replace this poisonous thought, with the Word of God.

The Truth: As I delight in God’s Word, he prospers me.
As I seek the LORD, he brings me success after success.

Verses for Meditation:

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.”—Joshua 1:8

“As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.”—2 Chronicles 26:5

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

       and on his law he meditates day and night.

 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

       which yields its fruit in season

       and whose leaf does not wither.

       Whatever he does prospers.”—Psalm 1:2-3

“Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel.
 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”—1 Chronicles 22:13

When you open your Bible, I hope that your attitude is one of seeking God’s face, striving to know Him.  This is what it means to seek God, to seek greater intimacy with Him. 

I know it feels clumsy at first.  You grab a highlighter, a notebook and your Bible. You start in Genesis, get through the well known creation story, and get lost somewhere between Genesis Chapter Three and the 22^nd chapter of Revelation. 

Once, when I was going through a time of deep depression and personal struggle, I admitted that I was lost and that I just didn’t “get this God thing.”  Then I heard a tiny voice (the Holy Spirit) interject, “Have you fully given my Word a fair chance?”

I honestly hadn’t.  So, I committed to read a book of God’s Word every day…an entire book.  I started and I was able to maintain some consistency.  At first, it was a real task for me, especially Deuteronomy and Numbers.  But then something happened.  As I begin to study the history of Israel, I fell in love with the beautiful history, the personalities, the consistency of the Word, and the God that loves.  I want you to love the Word too, to thirst for it.

Reading the Word is NOT a chore.  It is part of how we communicate with God, through the work of the Holy Spirit. But it takes work and commitment to stick to it.  

If you truly seek God, the best reward is finding Him. Success is the bonus.

Prayer:

Lord,

I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Please forgive me for my sins and free me from the guilt and shame that come with.  Help me to see that, as a Believer, nothing I have done can withhold me from the promises of God. 

I claim the promises in Your Word for myself.  They apply to my life, to my circumstances, as the blood of Your Son covers my personal sin.

Lord, help me to have faith in You, even when what I see looks bleak. Help me to believe that even my struggle is a part of your plan, and that one day this will be a testimony of how dramatically you can change things around in the life of your children.

Help me to see that I am not the exception from your promises, but that I am EXCEPTIONAL in your eyes.  Help me to accept that you love me and have a successful plan for my life.

Lord, give me a thirst for Your Word.  Give me the insatiable desire to hear from you, and the will to study your Word.  Give me understanding when I read, enlighten my heart. And Lord, bless me with success.

I pray for this and all things in Jesus’ name.

Amen

THINK FAST: Day 3

Day 3 of the THINK fast:

Rethinking: Will I ever get ahead?

Today’s fast excites me! It is going to be a big challenge, but only because it is SO relevant to what so many of us actually feel about ourselves. I believe, if you can get this part of the fast ingrained in your being, you are on your way to true victory.

My girlfriend called me last Friday and actually said, “Sometimes it feels like I won’t ever get ahead.”  It’s a good thing she is participating in this fast.  Read on!

The Lie: I can’t ever seem to get ahead.
(Will things ever change for me?)

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: “Will I ever get ahead?”

I have been there.  Many of you probably uttered this very phrase this week. To be truly honest, in the past year, so have I.  Looking at my surroundings, my resources, my failures, my lack (of money, help, income, experience, education, connections)…I too felt like I was trapped. 

We can reverse this sort of thinking, by increasing our faith in God.  By trusting God we can look forward to our futures with hope-filled expectation. But first we have to abstain from the thought that say “we can’t get ahead” and start to believe and speak the truth…

The Truth: God has a plan for my life.
You just watch: God is about to SHOW OFF in my life.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  –Jeremiah 29:11

You aren’t where you are by chance. 

God has a plan for your life, a plan in which he shows his strength and power, and usually in situations where all seems utterly hopeless.  If you don’t believe me, read the Bible.  Over and over, you will see God used the most unlikely candidates and dramatically reversed their situations, to His own Glory.

Look at tongue-tied Moses.  God used him to lead a nation. Take the scrawny little David, for example.  God made him Israel’s great king. Even Jesus, the King of everything, came as the son to a poor virgin from a backwoods town. 

God is a bit of a show off, when it comes to turning around the situations of those He loves.  You are no different.  And like us, He seems to root for the underdog.

After all, when a deadly army was approaching with tanks and ammo (well chariots) and Israel’s escape to safety was blocked by a huge body of water…God parted the Red Sea for His beloved.

Remember: The more hopeless your situation may seem, the more room there is for God to do something miraculous.  

The Truth: Jesus promised me abundance.
Satan wants me defeated. God wants me to live my life to the full.

“The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” –John 10:10

Jesus coming and dying and being raised from the dead is about more than our getting into heaven after we die.  Of course, Jesus came to help us live joy-filled lives in intimate relationship with Him here on Earth.  Living a defeated, hopeless life is not good P.R. for the Lord. 

This verse also reminds us that we are at WAR!  Satan can’t claim the souls of those saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but if he can remove our joy, by whispering lies of doubt and defeat…well that’s his plan of attack.

We can protect ourselves with the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit (The Word of God).  That is why believing and even memorizing God’s Word will help you defeat Satan’s attacks every time.

The Truth: As I seek God, He is taking care of the rest.
Don’t worry, seek God instead.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” –Hebrews 11:6

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” –Matthew 6:33 

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus really drills in the point the worry is a pointless endeavor in the life of a Christian.  I think we recognize this passage as the “Do not worry” sermon, but fail to make the connection that Jesus is saying in summation, “Do not worry. It is pointless.  Instead, seek Me, and I will handle those things that worry you.”

Over and over, we are admonished to seek God in the Scriptures. Seek God’s first.  Seek His will as expressly written in His Word.  Seek Him in prayer.

The Truth: God’s plan for me is going to WOW! everyone around me.
I believe I will get ahead.  Better stated: I believe; therefore I will get ahead.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20

“and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength.” Ephesians 1:19

Ephesians 3:20 is an adventurous verse.  If you are like me, you have a vast imagination.  But guess what?  The work that God is doing in you is beyond your wildest imaginings. 

Likewise, Ephesians 1:19 says that for those who continually believe Him, God gives access to His “incomparably great power.”  By believing in God, you already have access to great power—power that changes lives.

Today's Prayer:

Lord,

I pray for myself and my sisters.  I ask that you guide us to the truth that is in Your Word.  I ask that you fulfill these promises from your Word, in ways that we are able to see and comprehend, that we may testify and be your witnesses to others who may ask “Will I ever get ahead?”

Lord, I ask that you miraculously move and change the situations that we find ourselves in where we feel afraid, or hopeless, and renew our hope and our faith in You.

In Jesus name, I ask that you will help us to seek you first, and put away worthless worry and doubt.

Amen

THINK FAST: Day 2

Rethink: My changes won’t last.

The whole point of this fast is to change our minds.  Changing our actions, like starting a healthy new habit, or giving up a bad one, is ineffective unless we change our minds first.  The idea behind this fast is to abstain from thoughts that contradict what God’s Word says about us, and allow the Truth to transform (change) our minds (see Romans 12:2).  This transformation is from the INSIDE out, and therefore, it will be lasting.

The Lie: I can’t change for good.

(Even if I do change, it won’t last.)

Today’s fast is from the thought or internal lie that says, “Even if I do change, it won’t last.”

Have you ever started a diet or exercise program, and actually seen excellent progress at the beginning, but then after a while, you lose your fervor and eventually you are worse off than before you started? (Guilty as charged!) 

The Truth: My changes will last.

If you think you can; you can.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” –Proverbs 23:7 (King James Version)

When we make steps forward in some positive endeavor, even in our spiritual walks, and then slip into some seeming failure, it can seem completely depressing.  At least that is how Satan wants us to feel…like failures, because if we think we are failures, then we are.

The Truth: I’m tuned into God.

I am tuning out the naysayers in my life, even if the main “Negative Nancy” is me…

“But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.” –Jeremiah 7:24

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies.  We pay attention to our own doubts and fears, rather than listening to the Word of God.  And when we do, we end up going backward, as Jeremiah 7:24 says. Commit to seek God’s face, by studying His Word, and drown out the Negative Nancy’s and Naysaying Nikki’s.

There is a song by Casting Crowns, one of my favorite Christian bands, called the Voice of Truth.  The song has been my personal mantra for a long time.  Cop it for you ipod or mobile device. 

Maybe you are really struggling with today’s fast from the thought “Even if I do change, it won’t last.”  If you are, make sure you commit to listen to the Voice of Truth.

Prayer:

Lord,

My desire is to change is so many areas of my life; to think and live according to Your Word.  However, because of past failures, I feel like I can’t commit to any real change.  Lord, please show me that your forgiveness is real and that your mercies are renewed each day.  Help me to forgive myself, and try again. 

Lord, I commit to seeking the truth in Your Word.  Help me to be consistent in my search for the truth.  And drown out the negativity and naysayers, even my own doubts.  Replace them with the truth of Your Word.

In Jesus Name I ask you to bring about REAL LASTING CHANGE in my life.

Amen

Today’s Challenge: In what areas would you like to see lasting change in your life?

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THINK FAST: Day 1

Rethinking: I can’t change.

In most fasts, people abstain from eating or some other activity.  Our fast is a daily fast from particular poisonous thoughts.

The Lie: I can’t change.

Today’s fast is from the thought or internal lie that says, “I can’t change.”

Have you ever been in an argument with someone and at last they finally concede by saying, “Well, this is the way I am. It’s is how I have always been?”

 

Or maybe you yourself have done something regrettable, like told off the lady in the supermarket for charging you double, and you justify it by saying, “That’s just the way I am.  You know I have a quick temper.”

In other words, when we say these things, we are saying, “This is the way I am.  I can’t change.”

We begin our THINK Fast by fasting from this way of thinking. 

We’ve all felt at times like we can’t change a certain habit, or a negative characteristic about ourselves. Maybe you feel like you can’t conquer an addiction, or change a bad habit. Perhaps you feel like you’ll always be easily angered, afraid or worried. Well, that’s what this fast from wrong thinking is all about.

As we change our thought patterns and mindsets, ANYTHING can change. And changing our minds is simply a process of replacing defective thoughts with biblical TRUTHS. So, if you’ve felt like you can’t change, you CAN, and this is WHY…

The Truth: I can change. 

God grants me the ability to change

“Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,” –2 Timothy 2:25 (emphasis mine)

A grant is something that is given…a gift that does not need to be repaid.  Like the gift of salvation, God has gifted us with the ability to change (repent). 

Interesting side note: Repentance means to “change your mind” about something.

Truth: I am changing.

God is changing me, by renewing my mind.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” –Romans 12:2

We are expected to change, and not continue in the poisonous ways of the worldly mind.  The key to changing is “renewing our minds.”  This can only be done by the Holy Spirit, through the study of God’s Word. 

Added benefit: By seeking the Truth of God’s Word, we will be able to “to test and approve what God's will is.”

Truth: I am changed!

Praise God, I am not who I used to be.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” –2 Corinthians 3:18.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17

If you are saved by grace, then you are not who you used to be. You are a new creature in Christ, being TRANSFORMED into his likeness.  This is a process, but first you have to Disconnect from past definition of your habits, traits and limitations. You are being changed into His image. Praise GOD!

Prayer:

God,

I pray Lord, in the Name of Jesus that you will help me to fast from the thought that I can’t change and to replace that with the Truth that I am changed, that I can change and that I am changing.

I submit to the process of renewing my mind by searching Your Word, expecting divine progress and supernatural change.

Lord help me to refuse to accept past definitions and limitations of myself. Help me to see Your view of me as expressed through the mirror of the Word.

I submit these requests to you in Jesus Name.

Amen

Changing Your MInd

Memory Verse: Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. –Proverbs 16:3

Changing your thinking can truly change your life, your environment, your relationships, your finances, your family…and YOU. 


There is so much power in our thoughts: the power to create, the power to destroy, the power to tear down, the power to build up, the power to have faith, and the power to have fear.


This THINK fast, along with God’s Word, WILL dramatically change your circumstances, your heart, and your spiritual walk with God. I believe things will move faster and further than you can image if you truly commit to accomplish this fast. It worked for me in a MIRACULOUSLY short period of time!  I can't wait to be blown away by your testimonies. 


As with any dietary fast, we will begin our THINK Fast with prayer.


So before you “change” your mind….


LORD,

We come to You in the name of Jesus. By no other name are we even allowed to approach Your heavenly throne room. We cannot hope to enter Your presence and have congress with You, save for the blood of Jesus that covers our sin, allowing us to come before You with our requests.

We thank You for your love and the promptings of Your Spirit to change our level of faith in You, our false beliefs about ourselves, and life in general. By doing this fast, we are submitting our minds, our wills and our hearts to You, LORD God. Line them up with your Word. Match our beliefs about ourselves to that tremendous potential You see in us as Your children.

Help us to conquer fear, doubt, addiction, self-depreciation, self-pity, guilt, depression, unforgiveness, and all the poisonous thoughts that creep in to steal our joy, prosperity and testimony.

We commit this humble fast to You. By Your power, change us completely, from the inside out.

Amen.

A Life Changing Fast: The THINK Fast

Hello, DIVAS!

I've missed you.  So much has happened in my life since my last post, that I could fill several days'entries, just updating you on the many undeserved blessings God has poured into my life.

As a few of you may know, for a little over a year, I was living with my two children in my mother's cramped one bedroom condo, struggling to figure out my next step, after leaving my husband of ten years.  Emotionally battered, confidence shattered, penniless, jobless and full of fear, I had no clue how I would get on my feet and be able to support myself and my children.  Some days, I just felt so trapped that is seemed like nothing would ever happen.

But I was honest with God about my fear, my doubt, and my lack of confidence in myself (and Him). And the whole time he was preparing me, making moves behind the scenes, changing my whole world, but first he had to change me.  When I first started Divas of the Divine, I just wanted to encourage my sisters.  I didn't realize, the very words I wrote, I would need to read and be reminded of.

Today my life is so entirely different.  Not only do I have the beautiful home for my kids and I, and a dream job, but spiritually I am a VERY different person.  My relationship with God is so much more intimate.  My desire to share is so much more urgent.  And humble...Lord, all I can say everyday is THANK YOU!  I am so unworthy.

A turning point for me in my walk with the Lord, I believe, came through fasting.  There is no doubt that fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that many of us either neglect to do, or simply do not know how to do properly.  Fasting allows us to humbly submit our will to the Will of God, and the change that results in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can be miraculous.  The Bible documents many instances when fasting did result in dramatic miracles.

At the beginning of the summer, I embarked on a 40 day fast, that totally changed my life, but from the inside out.  It was a different sort of fast.  I still ate more than my fair share of food.  This was not abstaining from food, or a restrictive diet; this was a fast of the mind.

I came across this fast, while flipping through channels.  I came across Gregory Dickow's Changing Lives program on one of those Gospel networks.  I never heard him preach before then, or since.  But his message on Making Our Thought Obedient to Christ captured my attention.  I resolved to join his listeners in a 40 day Fast from Wrong Thinking.  I started the fast on or about June 23, 2010.  By July 23, 2010, my whole world had changed...starting with my thought life.

I want to do this fast again...but WITH YOU.  Who knows what God has in store for us!  Well, He does.  But I can't wait to see for myself.

Join me in our version of this fast, the THINK Fast.  I will post daily for 40 Days, principles you will be able to take from as you bring your negative thoughts (fears, doubts, self-pity, addictions, depression, wrong beliefs, and Satan's lies) under obedience to the truth found in God's Word.

It's the easiest fast, you'll ever do.

Labor Pains: Ready for Delivery

"Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD.

--Isaiah 66:9

The remarkable thing about labor pains is that they are both tremendously painfully, and yet so easily forgotten.  The joy of finally seeing that beautiful baby, the one you dreamed of for months, maybe longer, far outweighs the pain.

Talk to any woman who has given birth and they will wear their delivery story as a badge of honor.  

"Girl, I was in labor with that boy for 14 hours, and THEN the doctor decided on a C-section!"

The delivery of a baby, bringing a new life into this world is so powerful, no wonder the Bible uses the "labor pain" analogy over and over.  Isaiah 66:7-9 reads:

⁷ "Before she goes into labor,
       she gives birth;
       before the pains come upon her,
       she delivers a son.
 ⁸ Who has ever heard of such a thing?
       Who has ever seen such things?
       Can a country be born in a day
       or a nation be brought forth in a moment?
       Yet no sooner is Zion in labor
       than she gives birth to her children.
 ⁹ Do I bring to the moment of birth
       and not give delivery?" says the LORD.
       "Do I close up the womb
       when I bring to delivery?" says your God.

--Isaiah 66:7-9

This scripture was SO very relevant to me today of all days.  I was intensely discouraged, frustrated and to the point of tears, basically feeling impatient.  Then a friend reminded me that the old folks used to say, "You know things have to get really bad, before they get good."

I blew off his easy optimism, preferring my pity-party instead.  I disregarded his advice as meaningless.  I probably thought to myself, "That's not really biblical."  

Then I read Isaiah, chapter 66.  And I was wrong.  His advice was Biblical.  Labor pain always gets worse right before the point of delivery.  Likewise, trials seem toughest, right before God's deliverance.  

In this passage, God gently reminds us that he does not bring us to the point of labor and not bring forth deliverance.  So to those of you (myself included) who feel like you are in labor (figuratively speaking, and literally), be patient.  Wait just a little longer; there is joy on the horizon.

Today's Guided Meditation:

Isaiah 64:4 (emphasis mine)

⁴ Since ancient times no one has heard,
       no ear has perceived,
       no eye has seen any God besides you,
       who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

1) Why do you think I emphasized the phrase "wait for him"?

2) How does this verse relate to Proverbs 3:5?

3) This Christian walk is not a DIY (do-it-yourself) project. In what areas do you need to wait on the Lord and not "lean to your own understanding?"

4) Pray that God will reveal to you the areas in your life where you are not trusting him and that he will strengthen your faith in that area.