Make Jesus the Lord of Your Thoughts

 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” -Psalm 119:97.

Daydreams & imaginations come from idle minds, and we must strive to submit even these to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives. When our thoughts wander without purpose, it tends to give place to the evil desires of our hearts; that very sinful nature each of us has, the one we wrestle against as Christians all of our lives.

Jesus said that we are not corrupted by external things, but what proceeds from the heart within defiles us, and those evils come forth from our thoughts, or imaginations. So then our evil inclination toward sin comes from the heart, but our minds fashion the plans to carry out that desire; and the heart acts upon us as a deceiver, convincing the mind to act.

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” -Genesis 6:5.

“...for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;” -Genesis 8:21B.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” -Jeremiah 17:9.

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” -Mark 7:20-23.

It is imperative that we learn to give God the control of our thoughts, and of course it will be something we need to do repeatedly. Please remember that in turning things over to God, it is not a measure of your own will power (Psalm 33:16-18)! We rely on God's power & grace by Jesus His Son (Romans 5:8-10), and the gift of the Holy Spirit (I John 4:13) within us. This “battle of thought” is a matter of determined choice for us, but we are reliant upon God's ability to step in and enable us to win. Please take these next verses seriously, and employ them, knowing that the Lord's power within you will overcome bad and persistent thoughts;

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” -2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Bold type added for emphasis.

Getting victory in our thoughts will be a life-long challenge, but we can increase success by staying alert, and changing behavior. First, we have already said that when we are idle, our minds will wander. I am not suggesting just blindly keeping busy, but seeking the Lord for specific direction when the thought struggle comes along. Activities could be prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17), Bible study (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), singing and praise (Ephesians 5:19), small tasks at home, or even visiting someone in need (Matthew 25:39,40).

Second, we need to watch the company we keep (I Corinthians 15:33). Such exposure will greatly affect our minds, and we need to pull away from excessive bad influence. Third, we should avoid bad habits that lend to errant thoughts; television would be near the top of this list, and surfing the internet pointlessly can also misdirect our minds (I John2:15,16). Fourth, we should watch our own conversation, and steer away from negativity. Yes, many times we must deal with hurtful things, but we should steer away when our own considerations of such become excessively discouraging. At this point we can “turn” our direction by considering the good things (Philippians 4:8) God has done for us, and by thoughts of such we'll find courage for the future (Psalm 78:4).

Our minds are incredible things, made in the image of the God whom we love. Steering our minds in the right path takes discipline, and the Lord will grant you that by His precious Holy Spirit which He gives to His children. Victory or defeat in Godly living comes from within us, so let us pray that God will guide our thoughts aright, and keep us from the sinful desires of the heart. We must learn to redeem the time, for indeed these days are evil (Ephesian 5:16).

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” -Psalm 1:1,2.

The Delusions Have Come

 “I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” -Isaiah 66:4.

Google defines delusion as “a belief held by someone that disagrees with reality, despite indisputable evidence.” The Bible uses the root word of delusion 2X, and it pertains to a condition of mankind in the last days.

The first reference to delusion in the scriptures is seen in the opening verse of this blog, Isaiah 66:4. The 2^nd reference is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:11, which is part of a more descriptive passage in verses 8-12, that we will print here;

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Bold type and underlining were added for emphasis.

God gives us the reasons for the delusion in these verses, and it was because mankind did not receive the LOVE of the truth (Jesus, the Bible) enough to be saved; the intent of this being damnation for those who didn't believe the truth, but took pleasure in the unrighteous works of both themselves and others.

There is plenty of evidence for delusions today, but I see an underlying theme in many of them; mankind is usurping the role of God, and rejecting the way he has been created. These delusions have come upon us slowly, gradually, over considerable periods of time. When we first take notice that strange viewpoints are “popping up” among a tiny minority of people, we laugh it off, shrug our shoulders, and generally just don't take it seriously. We tolerate the few with these aberrant views, rationalizing that we're all a little different in various ways.

But over time this changes, and our tolerance for others becomes insufficient, and soon we are being forced to accept their abnormality as a reality for ourselves and everyone else. Yet another problem we face with this is due to the fairly slow, creeping nature of these abnormal changes; many start to believe that the abnormal is normal, and can no longer even recognize reality, or acknowledge there is a problem. Check out these Bible references;

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” -Isaiah 5:20.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” -Matthew 24:11,12.

Some might be offended at the mention of the LGBTQ movement and agenda, but if a man REALLY thinks he is a woman, or a woman REALLY thinks she is a man, I don't know how anyone could not think such a person to be delusional. Yet this movement is supported by our political leaders, and is being pushed through laws to force everyone to accept such delusions as valid-even to the point of changing pronouns when referring to people. And here in Africa, the nations DO NOT support this agenda, but America puts incredible pressure upon them to follow it, with the threat of losing money.

Another rebellion against reality comes through the "Flat Earth" movement. Even the Bible calls the earth a circle in Isaiah 40:22, and the global nature of our planet is one of the oldest scientifically verified facts that you can find, going all the way back to 500 B.C.

One tremendous delusion we've long accepted is the theory of evolution, which violates dozens of scientific laws, yet it is widely pushed in nearly every school. The first 2 laws of thermodynamics don't even let evolution get started.

Science & medicine are even tampering with DNA & RNA, which dictate the pattern of all living things. I haven't done extensive research, but RNA is an ingredient of the Covid vaccines; this would change a person's basic physical makeup, and begin altering the DNA as well.

We have also noticed the proliferation of tattoos and piercings, which the Bible speaks against (Leviticus 19:28). Please know that I am not putting down people with tattoos, but it is an alteration of the basic image of God that we were each made in. For Christians, our bodies have become temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Bible has plenty to say about how we handle them;

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." -Romans 12:1.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." -I Corinthians 3:16,17.

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s." -I Corinthians 6:19,20.

But by far the worst delusions come from those who are continually altering God's Word, which has been forecast by prophecy, and warned against. Our enemy Satan has been busy trying to break apart the foundation of God's Word, so that we won't be able to weather the storms that he steers our way (Matthew 7:24-26). There is one standard of the Bible which can rightly be called God's Word, and to which we ought to adhere; the King James Bible. Be jealous for the truth of the Bible, for it simply isn't right that men would keep changing God's words to suit what they are comfortable with. The Holy Spirit will give us the understanding we personally need, but we need to know what words God actually preserved for us. The Word of God changes us, we do not change it.

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it." -Amos 8:11,12.

"For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ." -2 Corinthians 2:17.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." -Revelation 22:18,19.

Brethren, the delusions are already started, and it's sobering to behold. Pray that God will give you spiritual eyes to see the evil encroaching around us today, and hide you from the storm.

"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land." -Isaiah 6:9-12.

Don't Hold Out on God

 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” -Acts 5:1,2.

When inquiring about a person's faith, it is commonly asked, “Have you made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?” or someone could affirm their Christian faith by responding, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” The reference to Jesus as one's Lord AND Savior is then a common one, and is often used habitually without very deep meaning, although a person might intend it to reflect a deeper, heart-felt commitment. My position would be that if Jesus is truly a person's savior, He will naturally be the person's Lord, as well. More on that in a moment.

Jesus is God Almighty, the Creator, and He isn't impressed by anyone's flattering title (Job 32:22) of “Lord,” and the Bible tells us as much. It will be seen by our actions, and submission to God whether or not He is actually Lord in a person's life.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” -Luke 6:46.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” -Matthew 7:21.

Yet the very nature of born-again Christianity implies that Jesus is also Lord of the regenerated person's life, not only the Savior. We are talking about the repentance and remission of sins Jesus spoke of in Luke 24:47. To REPENT means that the person has turned from their old life of sin which they controlled, and now seek to follow Christ at His instructions (John 14:23); they have become a new creation.

“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.

It should be mentioned here that the first transformation that occurs in a believer's life will begin with attitudes that now shift against sin, and love righteousness. Old habits may die hard, and with much prayer, but that's what the daily crucifying of the flesh is all about (Luke 9:23, Romans 8:13). We will be fighting to overcome personal sins all our lives, and therefore more & more areas will come under Jesus' Lordship-we don't arrive at perfection all at once, and are never fully perfected while still alive in the flesh. Keep on praying! Seek to bring all things into the light before God, to be certain He has top place in every area of your life.

“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” -John 3:21.

But what I have been seeing so much these days is alarming; people are holding out on God, and never really turning their lives over to Him, much like Ananias & Sapphira in the opening scripture. They want to know they will go to Heaven when they die, but won't give up ruling their lives in the present. Sometimes I call it, “check the box” Christianity, like they are completing a form to see if they qualify. Do I believe in God? Check. Do I believe Jesus is the Son of God, and died for me? Check. Do I go to church? Check. Do I contribute in the offering? Check. Am I a decently moral person? Check. Not only do I meet all of these criteria, but the pastor has assured me of my eternal status! In short, these people are trying to do the absolute minimum to have eternal life, and have NO intention of Jesus becoming the actual Lord of their lives. Their hearts were never changed toward loving God, and hating sin, but instead they are trying to use a religious system for gain in this world & the next.

It is true that we are not saved by good works, but grace, yet as Jesus gave His life for us, so we must surrender ours entirely to His will. If the Creator-God of the universe so humbled Himself to become as His own meager creation, and then suffered a harsh and unjust death for OUR SINS, shouldn't our love-response to Him be to give our whole selves back to Him?

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." -I John 4:10.

Most of us know the story of Ananias & Sapphira that was mentioned in the opening verses, but Acts 5:1-10 has the full story. Some see their greed, some see the lie, but I look at it as a "holding out" on God; keeping one foot in the world, and never fully surrendering their lives to God the Father. Don't do that! It is well worth it to make Jesus the true Lord of your life, and trying to get away with a lesser commitment would only show how little value you place on His sacrifice. The first and great commandment is still in effect today;

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." -Matthew 22:37,38.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves." -2 Corinthians 13:5A.