BY Argie Simonis
Do you believe in destiny? I do believe in a destiny based on the choices we make. I believe that our decisions are what determine our destiny.
-- An example:
When you want to go on a trip, you don't suddenly grab your suitcase, you get on the first plane you find. You must first choose a destination, organize the trip, check the route, choose a transport, and do everything else necessary to reach your destination.
Likewise, you make daily decisions that either bring you closer to God, or take you further away.
--- There is NO middle ground!---
If you believe that God's plan for your life will be fulfilled by simply waiting passively without doing anything, you are living a delusion!
God's plan for your life includes other people. It is true that God can bring you to your destination in many ways. His will is higher than ours and His wisdom is far greater than ours.
Think of all those great heroes of faith mentioned in the Bible, or even everyone you know today and admire for their faith in God. Do you wonder what their lives would have been like if they hadn't made the decisions they did? And even more, can you think of how would the lives of millions of people they influenced be without them? God works miraclesuses through people whom uses as vessels. We are the extension of God's hands on this earth!
Are your daily decisions you make in accordance with God's will? If you are constantly busy with daily concerns that completely absorb your time, if the events around you bring you excessive worry and stress you and turn your attention to problems instead of God, know that you are moving away from the destiny that the Lord has for you. Remember that life is the result of a series of choices you make. Your own choices! Some may influence you or stand in your way, but the choices YOU make are purely yours and it is never too late with God's help to make the right ones:
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jer. 29:11
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Are you in desperate need of a change in your life, but it seems like an elusive dream? Are you in need of a fresh start? If you decide to allow the Word of God to come into your heart, you will see that this change is not that difficult after all:
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he..." Prov. 23:7
People say that you can change your life by changing the environment and situations around you.
But God's word teaches us that this change comes from the inside out. It comes from your heart! The way you think in your heart determines the way your life is going to.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2
If you are not sure which of the two to believe, what the world says or what God says, the apostle Paul makes it clear to us:
"... let God be true, but every man a liar..." Rom. 3:4
Many times we find all kinds of excuses for things that happen to us and with a victim mentality we try to make others treat us better. This may be related to some traumatic experience of the past (sexual abuse, bad childhood, rejection by the family, etc.). If you are looking for a way out of this situation, you should stop seeing yourself as a victim.
--- SEE JESUS ---
Focus on Him. You must realize that you cannot change others. You may be able to influence them to a degree, but the more you try to change them, the more frustrated you will become. So instead of doing that, why don't you start by changing yourself? A change that has to do with how you think and see yourself (Prov. 23:7).
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1Pet. 5:8
Satan can attack you and want you bad, but it's up to YOU whether you let it get you down or whether you move past it. And when the Spirit of God strengthens your spirit, there is NOTHING you cannot overcome:
"I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
--- SEE YOURSELF VICTORIOUS AND NOT DEFEATED!---
The power of God in your life flows according to the way you think and how well you know the Lord:
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:" 2Pet. 1:2-3
According to the above, in order to have peace you must first have the knowledge of God, which will produce peace, which is the fruit of the Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," Gal. 5:22
The word of God is the knowledge of God and the Holy Spirit makes this knowledge manifest in the physical realm.
--- All the blessings you will experience in your life will be the fruit of the renewing of your mind. ---
If you are struggling with your relationships, (marriage, family, friends, work) start changing yourself instead of praying to God to change others.
The right thinking will give you victory!
An example:
A bad diagnosis from the doctor for a sickness that afflicts you, does not mean that it is not there. The problem really exists. The doctor can only tell you what he sees in the physical. But don't forget that:
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1John 4:4
"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper..." Isaih 54:17
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." Rom. 8:5
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Rom. 8:6
"But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom. 8:9
Combining the above verses we come to the conclusion that just thinking positive is NOT enough. Positive thinking alone has NO power. You can NOT release into your life something you DON'T have. You MUST be born again, be IN Christ so that you can bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
It is IMPOSSIBLE on your own to reach the destination God has for your life, nor are you smart enough to know better than God what to do.
You should take the word of God into your heart and allow it to do its work. Studying His word will help you have a better relationship with God, listen to Him better, get instructions and direction more easily and bear fruit. You need to know who you are and what your true nature is:
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." 1John 5:4
It is normal for a Christian to overcome the world, and yet only a few of the Christians succeed. We ask God to do things for us instead of allowing the nature He has given us to be manifested through faith and the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2).
Life is like fire. You have to choose which mold to heat. The mold of the world or the mold of the Scriptures? Transformation in your life will come through the renewal of your mind. Do NOT limit God with your poor reasoning. Stop focusing on the problem and start glorifying God who has the SOLUTION to the problem! Whatever problem you face is temporary, God's promises and His word are eternal!
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In the book of Judges in chapter 6 we see the story of Gideon with the Midianites, who oppressed his people by stealing their crops, making them poor (verse 6). Gideon, although he seems afraid, watch how the angel of the Lord greets him:
"And the angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor." Judges 6:12
This is how the Lord saw Gideon and this is how He sees you. You know why; Because
"... the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1Sam. 16:7
There are some people who live in misery, but still are afraid to take a risk and change that situation. If you do not devote time to the Lord, to the study of His word, to prayer and fasting, and you remain passive waiting for a miracle that will change your life in an instant, then you are not walking by faith, but by sight.
Do you really want to change your life? Then change the way you see yourself. Start seeing yourself through God's eyes. Believe what God says about you and not what the world says. In the heavenly kingdom the word of God works as the seed works in nature. Plant the seed of the Word in your heart, water it with faith and it will bring forth the change you are waiting for:
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away:
But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you." 1Pet. 1:23-25
Amen!
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