Tag Archives: mind

Standing Alone Before God

4 Sep

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8,9

One of the many confusing elements about Christianity is how divided we seem to be. Within our religion we have many denominations and even within them there are further divisions. This has puzzled unbelievers preventing many to take us seriously.

Yet Jesus prayed specifically for unity among believers so that the ‘world’ would believe:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17 20,21

This does not mean that everyone who calls themselves Christian will be united in Christ, only that remnant of believers who stand for the principles of their Creator. See Matthew 7:21

It is easy to stand strong with a large group, but how hard it is to stand alone! In these last days, the believer will feel like Elijah:

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 1 Kings 19:2

But God reminded Elijah that he wasn’t the only one. During these times many are feeling like they are alone but many share their sentiments.

Standing alone is not easy, yet, this is going to be our experience in the last days. We will have to choose God in difficult circumstances and let our conscience be our guide. Jesus Said:

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-la)—36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Matthew 10:34-36

Isn’t this happening now? Yes. I just read an article about a mother and father who went to court over inoculating their child in Quebec. This is not an isolated incident. The entire world seems to be polarized.

As our opening verse suggests, this is the time to be sober minded and alert. This is the time to resist the enemy and stand firm in our faith. We can no longer stand firm in a group. It’s time to think, reason and follow our own conscience before God.

It does not matter what our church think the seal of God is, if we don’t have the faith to stand alone in whatever we believe, we will be in trouble.

These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. Revelation 14:4

Therefore, let us follow Jesus wherever he leads us. Let us be like brave Peter who obeyed and went to Cornelius despite the teachings of his church. (See Acts 10) Stand firm and follow The Lamb.

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Sacred Mind

7 Jan

Do you ever wonder if everything you are is truly you?

Do not conform 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

Born in India? Most likely Hindu and speak Hindi or English. Born in Pakistan? Most likely Muslim and speak Urdu . Born in Spain? Most likely Catholic and speak Spanish; it’s because of where you started and who raised you. It was handed down to you, and you accepted it. Your religion, your culture…so the question is; in what did you have a say?

For me, the most powerful weapon of being, is the ability to think for ourselves; to step out of our birth-boxes and form our own opinions and make choices. We may end up where we began, or in another place, but, at least we thought.

This is a very complicated topic but equally important. I remember at the age of thirteen, I discovered that I could influence other people. It was very enlightening, but scary. I didn’t like the so called power of encouraging others to accept my ideas. I felt manipulative and rejected that power very early. I didn’t feel I was mature enough to use it. I also remember the freedom of reading a published book and not agreeing with its author. Before that, I thought everything in a book was to be eaten and digested without question. Discovering that I didn’t was liberating and I embraced it.

Now, as a mature person, I use my so called power for good. I love to encourage people to think for themselves. If they end up agreeing with me, I make sure they chose and owned the choice. I encourage freedom.

In our present world, the war is on our minds. They are masters out there working hard to persuade, dissuade, even numb us. Many of us do not realize that we do not do our own thinking.

During life, circumstances can heavily influence our choices. If weak, the effects of pain can navigate us to dark places, similarly, happiness can lead us to light. For example, a broken or dysfunctional family can have adverse effects on children. Anger and unforgivable attitudes can unwittingly steer them off their course.

Imagine this: The Creator of Heaven and earth gave us beings the power of choice. We don’t choose where we start, but we have a say in where we end. Believers in Jesus ought to read and pray their way through life, for no one knows the future but The Creator. God even encourages us to reason and think for ourselves.

When reading the Bible, pray for wisdom; respectfully say you disagree and need understanding. God will answer you. I’ve learned that God loves sincere thinkers and looks forward to answering their questions.

Truth is, our minds are sacred. Treat it as such. Guard your individuality: think carefully, then choose.

« Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 »

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