Reset Required!
Sunday’s Monday
For me, among other things 2020 has brought my negativity into the light and I was / am not exactly pleased with what I saw / see. I started noticing my rejection to the positive through my eagerness to join in narratives and conversations filled with negative suggestions. The big give away came in August when I found myself totally consumed in a meaningless conversation on the subject of COVID-19. It was during that conversation that God’s Holy Spirit brought the serenity prayer to mind, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. My negativity in this particular conversation was merely fueling the flames of confusion, doubt, and mistrust, which only adds to the chaos that fills today’s world.
I felt God telling me it’s time to reset my thinking, because my spiritual mind was showing signs of contamination in that some of my thoughts were corrupt and in error with God’s word. As I pondered the word reset or as some Christian’s call it, rededication. I immediately turned to the Bible (God’s holy word) to seek out spiritual reset, just as I am instructed in James 1:5 (NLT), If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. However, James goes on to say in James 1:6-7 (NLT), 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Just like a machine, this reset requires a change of thinking which starts instantly then takes a lifetime of tweaking to operate accurately.
The bible speaks clearly toward the pain and suffering of today in James 1:12 (NLT), God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. As for me, once I changed my attitude and put God back in charge things changed in my life. I reset my heart in renewing my mind (daily) and looked at the past year through God’s eyes. I was amazed to find that I had so many more things to rejoice over than to complain about. We in the United States live in a culture of complaining as we have become a spoiled, selfish, self-sustained people who place comfort at the forefront of all. To which James explains in James 1:14-15 (NLT), 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Thus, the need for a total reset must start with an immediate change of thinking, which changes our actions and desires. We then face our weakness’s, our many inabilities, our lack of passion along with our overflow of self-centeredness. Things which Satan camouflages from our knowing as to easier draw us into His world of sin. But James shares a bit of good news in, James 1:16-18 (NLT), 16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. Of whom those that love and believe in Him, shall have eternal life!
My prayer comes from James that we might take heed and act on James 1:16-18 (NLT), 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. Father, I ask that we understand and reset to your default ways of love and exert ourselves accordingly! Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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