Be careful with your words! Every thought doesn’t have to be spoken…
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
WORDS SPOKEN
thoughts
Weapons Of Our Warfare
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
Ahhhh, Brothers and Sisters! Our minds are a battlefield!! This Scripture is so powerful! It reminds us that our weapons are divine weapons…spiritual weapons…and not weapons of our flesh.
It reminds us that we are to “destroy” those thoughts that are raised up against the knowledge of God. Our knowledge of God is what we have learned through the Holy Scriptures…the revelation knowledge of His Truth that has been revealed to us by His Holy Spirit.
ANY thoughts that go against His promises…His will for us…or His Truth, should be taken captive and destroyed! Our thoughts are like fortresses. They can either imprison us in false thinking and not allow us to be free in Christ Jesus…
or they can be fortresses that protect us from the enemy because we have built a “wall of truth” of God’s Word around our minds, souls, and spirits.
Are there any “fortresses” of wrong thinking that are imprisoning you today? Please know that FREEDOM is here for you NOW!! Take God’s Truth and use it confidently and boldly to bring down all those thoughts that go against who God is and who you are in Christ Jesus!! Look in His Word for those “weapons” –words of truth and power – that WILL accomplish for you what you have been unable to do on your own.
I speak and decree FREEDOM for you today!! In the Mighty Name of Jesus, AMEN!! ~Tina K. Roach
Raise Us Up, O Lord!!
As I was sitting on the porch in the quiet of the morning and the coolness of the gentle breeze flowing over me, I drew near to the Lord and rested in His presence.
I began seeking Him for His word for the new year 2021. A scripture flowed through my mind but did not stay. Then the scripture above settled and I began to meditate on it.
The New Year is a time of making new resolutions and new plans. We begin to list all of the things we want to change, make better, or simply add to our lives. Usually, they are good and healthy things. Some things we may want to get rid of altogether.
There is nothing wrong with doing a “life check” and judging where we are and where we need to be. But, it is important to let God be a part of our “life check.”
We tend to have our own ideas, thoughts, and plans and never realize that the Lord has even BETTER ideas, thoughts, and plans for our lives!
I believe this new year will be a time of the unexpected. What WE think will happen and how it will be accomplished is thinking at a level far below that of the Lord.
Do we truly trust our God? May 2021 be a time of maturing – in our faith, in our hope, and in our love. May we SPEAK our trust and belief! May our words align with the heart and will of God! May our ways and thoughts be raised to God’s level and may we not try and bring His down to our level.
RAISE US UP, O GOD!!
I’m entering 2021 with high expectations of God and in His ability to do more than we can even ask or think!!
~Tina Roach
Take Every Thought Captive!
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”. (2 Corinthians 10:5 )
I want to be transparent with you about my weak moments. I know this scripture in 2 Corinthians and have even taught it. But, just because we know God’s truth does not mean it is easy to walk it out in our lives.
I have to admit that the isolation and social distancing during COVID-19 has been hard for me. There are some days that I wake up and I can feel the heavy blanket of depression trying to take over my thoughts. And that is not a good place to be! Not only does it affect me but it affects those closest to me.
Brothers and Sisters! We all have times when we may feel despair, doubt, fear, frustration, anger, and hopelessness. But, we need to make sure that we have the right response when and if it happens.
We are told in God’s word that we are to TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE to the obedience of Jesus! We are to DESTROY speculations and every lofty thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God.
In other words, are our thoughts in alignment with our knowledge of who God is and in alignment with who God says we are?
We don’t have to act upon every thought! We don’t have to allow our thoughts to dictate how we feel about ourselves or others. We don’t have to allow our thoughts to be the “rudder” of our lives!
WE are in control of what thoughts we allow to take hold in our lives! If the thoughts we are having are causing us to fear, to hate, to be judgmental, or to feel depressed and unworthy —then we are to TAKE AUTHORITY over our thoughts and replace them with GOD’S TRUTH!!
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
LORD, thank You for being the Giver of Truth! Thank You for empowering us through Your Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and to not be ruled by them. We bring our thoughts into obedience to YOU!! Thank You, Jesus, for being the way, and the truth, and the life! It is in Your Name that we pray. AMEN!!
~Tina K. Roach
Acceptable Words & Thoughts!
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 NASB
I have been thinking alot about my words lately. I have to admit that with everything that has been going on during the last 3 ½ months, sometimes my words may not be acceptable to the LORD. I have allowed words of negativity and complaining to flow from my mouth. Forgive me, LORD!
As I look at the meditation of my heart, I see the same problem. My words are connected to what I am thinking – to what is in my heart. God’s Word tells us that out of the heart the mouth speaks.
What words do we find ourselves speaking to others and even to ourselves? Are they words of life…words of encouragement? Or are they words of discouragement and discontent? What do we meditate on during the day? What do we allow our thoughts to dwell on?
LORD, may Your Holy Spirit help us to filter our words and our thoughts. May we lift up and encourage all who we come into contact with. May we take every thought captive and bring our thoughts into alignment with You and Your life-giving truth. May we be vessels of reconciliation and peace. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. AMEN!
~Tina K. Roach
O MY SOUL
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11 ESV
I don’t know about you, but sometimes my soul does get “downcast.” Other words that describe this state are – dejected, sad, depressed, discouraged, and disappointed.
I think we all have those days. How do we rise above those feelings? How do we get our soul (mind, will, and emotions) to leave the position of being “cast down” to one of being “uplifted?”
Have you ever thought about speaking to your soul? This is what is happening in this passage of scripture. If you are someone who has ever engaged in “talking to yourself” – you now know that it is scriptural!! 😃
As we read this verse, we see that the solution to the soul’s downcast state is to hope in God, praise Him, and to remember who He is – our salvation and God!
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves (speak to our souls) of God’s goodness and how we should respond to Him. As we move our attention from ourselves to God Almighty, our feelings of depression and discouragement begin to fall away.
Oh my soul, why are you discouraged? Jesus is my salvation and Lord! The Lord loves me. He is faithful, strong, and true! He is my Rock and my Redeemer! Oh my soul, why are you cast down within me? By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me! Oh my soul! Hope in God! Even in my discouragement, yet will I praise Him!
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… Psalm 42:1-2
~~Tina Roach
Think About These Things
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV
Well, the days of quarantine and staying at home continue. As we are separated from others physically and separated from participating in some things that give us pleasure, it is easy to dwell on those things that make us frustrated or angry or sad.
We are instructed in God’s Word to take control over our thoughts! We are not to let our thoughts control us – to control how we feel – but we are to control what thoughts we allow to “hang around.” [2 Corinthians 10:5]
If we allow God to guide and direct our thoughts – we will discover that we can change our focus from thoughts of doubt, negativity, blame, frustration, and hopelessness to thoughts that focus on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
In other words, what are things that we are THANKFUL for? May we take each day and write down those things/people/circumstances that are commendable and deserve our praise.
Let’s not just write them down once a day, but let’s have a running list that continues throughout the day as we are proactive in bringing our thought life into alignment with God’s thoughts.
LORD! We are so thankful that You are with us 24/7 as we journey through this quarantine season. Help us, Lord, to take control of our thought life. May our thoughts and our words be full of life and love and praise. Help us to see others through Your eyes and may we be vessels of honor and truth and love. Oh LORD!! YOU are the One at the top of our list who is worthy of our praise!! And we praise You each and every day! HALLELUJAH!!
~Tina K. Roach
Turn On The Light!
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
How bright is our path that we are walking in life? Are we allowing God’s Word to illuminate our thoughts and our vision and our speech?
We need to “turn on the light” by reading God’s Word every day and by inviting Him to walk our daily path with us.
God bless you in the journey!
RISE UP!
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
We are told in Scripture to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5). Our mind is indeed a “battlefield.” Satan loves it when we focus on everything wrong in our lives. He loves it when we focus on our past mistakes and let those mistakes stop us from going forward in Christ. He loves it when we wallow in self pity and see ourselves as less than who we truly are – who Jesus says we are!
We are more than conquerors; We are chosen and dearly loved; We are the bride of Christ; We are empowered through the Holy Spirit to be who the Lord has called us to be and to do what we have been called to do!
Rise up, warriors of the Most High God! Get out of the pit of despair and frustration and regret and lift up your eyes and see your destiny!!
Cut off the chains that are holding you back!
Shake the dust from your feet and go forward in God’s Love and Power!
Reflection of Glory! 