"Your Assignment to Guide Others” – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #124 for June 26, 2024


 “Your Assignment to Guide Others”


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Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute

DAY #21: "Count the Cost," Part Two | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”


June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”
DAY #21:  Count the Cost, Part Two


Devotional reading from “Winning the Battle for Your Mind,” Chapter Nine ~ Winning the Battle
 ________________

NOTE FROM BRYAN HUDSON:


Would like to thank you, and commend you, for taking part in these 21-day devotional readings. I pray you were blessed, inspired, and challenged to go higher and deeper in the Lord! If you would not able to keep up on a daily basis, the lessons will be here on this blog to review anytime. Continue to be renewed in the spirit of your mind!

Today’s Lesson (Continued from Day #20)

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Our Lord Jesus taught us that no one should go to war until he has first counted the cost. Every war carries a high price—including the battle for our minds. We have the promise that when we commit our works to God, our thoughts will be established. We must be willing to take action, or pay the cost, in some important areas including:

4. Test your ideas by using your imagination.

In our culture, we use the word “feasible” to determine if something can be done. A feasibility study is not only an exercise in financial planning, it is also an exercise of one’s imagination to explore the many variables, benefits and risks that accompany any project.

Failure in any effort produces mental stress. Winning the battle for your mind also involves winning battles in life and finding success. Since properly using your imagination will assist you in succeeding in life, the sense of success will enhance your mental well being. People who consistently fail usually do not give enough thought to gain sufficient insight in order to succeed.

5. Practice the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence.

“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not, and you said, ‘No, for we will flee on horses’—therefore you shall flee! And, ‘We will ride on swift horses’—therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!” (Isaiah 30:15-16)

It has not occurred to many believers that they do not necessarily gain the most from God through singing, shouting and receiving the laying on of hands. Most of us have received more from God in times of quietness and resting in His presence. This is true because our total being responds better to God in a quiet mode than in a noisy mode. Now, there is a time to celebrate, lift our voices in praise and make a “joyful noise.” Many of our traditions have taught us well on the virtues of making a joyful noise, but we have missed so much more by not slowing down to detect God’s “still, small voice.”

Our minds, when pulled toward the flesh nature, require constant activity and sound. However, when affected by our hearts, the mind becomes a vehicle to carry the will of God from the Holy Spirit to into our conscious thoughts. Some of our Christian cultures judge the manifest presence of God by the decibel level of the people shouting. Sometimes, we should go an entire day without saying anymore than is necessary. Much speaking, as Jesus said, can create a false sense of one’s true standing with God. In his excellent book, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard makes the following observation on why we talk too much:

Why do we insist on talking as much as we do? We run off at the mouth because we are inwardly uneasy about what others think of us. Eberhard Arnold observes: "People who love one another can be silent together." But when we’re with those we feel less than secure with, we use words to "adjust" our appearance and elicit their approval. Otherwise, we fear our virtues might not receive adequate appreciation and our shortcomings might not be properly "understood."

Also, constant activity and noise will wear down our mental condition and eventually affect our physical bodies. Jesus spent many hours alone and quiet with God. He emerged from those seasons better equipped to minister to the multitudes. Silence and solitude are a necessary spiritual discipline that builds within us an appreciation for a part of life that is rapidly disappearing. We almost feel guilty for taking quiet time, thinking that is a luxury that we cannot afford. However, it is a necessity that we cannot afford to disregard if we value communion with God, clear thinking, a strong sense of purpose and the ability to solve problems.

Study the following scriptures that provide a biblical foundation for the importance of silence and solitude:

Psalms 62:5; My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.

Matthew 14:23; And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.

Matthew 26:36; Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."

Mark 1:35; Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Luke 5:15; Then the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16] So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How does using your (sanctified) imagination help you think through situations you are dealing with?”
2. In ways do you need to slow down to break unhelpful patterns of busy-ness?”
3. What is you plan for practicing silence and solitude with the Lord?

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):


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Renewing the Mind Devotional

DAY #20: Count the Cost, Part One | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”


June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”
DAY #20:  Count the Cost, Part One


Devotional reading from “Winning the Battle for Your Mind,” Chapter Nine ~ Winning the Battle
 ________________
Today’s Lesson

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Our Lord Jesus taught us that no one should go to war until he has first counted the cost. Every war carries a high price—including the battle for our minds. We have the promise that when we commit our works to God, our thoughts will be established. We must be willing to take action, or pay the cost, in some important areas including:

1. The price of making (or taking) a decision.

Fear of making a mistake paralyzes many people in taking a decision. The key is to pray and meditate on your options until you sense a deep “knowing” on the inside that will not go away. There is always a great peace that accompanies the will of God. While you may be somewhat anxious about your decision, at a deeper level of your being, there will be a sense of abiding peace.

2. The price of committing to a schedule for action.

Talking about doing something and doing it are two different things. Setting a time and carrying out an action moves one out of the fuzzy area of having dreams and discussion into the practical area of making it happen. Ephesians 5:15 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Every successful, productive person has at least one thing in common, they have some form of personal time/task management tool.

3. The price of having a plan.

Written plans, purpose statements and strategies are another discipline that positively shapes our minds. The old saying is true, “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” David told his son Solomon that his plans for the temple were of the Spirit (1 Chronicles. 28:12). This was important for many reasons including the fact that David showed his son how to become totally focused on the purpose of God.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What works do you need to commit to the Lord? Are these works worthy of God's plan or only something “nice?”
2. What decisions do you need to “take?”
3. What plans do you need to put in writing?

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):


SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

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Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
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Renewing the Mind Devotional

DAY #19: “Peace of Mind from Juneteenth” | Renewing Your Mind Devotional | Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #123


Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #123
DAY #19 of Renewing Your Mind Devotional:  
“Peace of Mind from Juneteenth”  



OR LISTEN BELOW


Listen to My Father's Day Message From Sunday, June 16, 2024

Today's Lesson (written):

Today is the Juneteenth holiday. It is something that began as a black cultural holiday in Texas, and grew to become a national African-American cultural holiday, and became a national holiday on June 17, 2021.

A brief history of Juneteenth:
News of the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered to Galveston, Texas, by Union General Gordon Granger. He arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, and issued General Order No. 3, an executive order by President Abraham Lincoln. Juneteenth celebrates the day when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed of their freedom, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that went into effect on January 1, 1863. This was also the beginning of what we call “watch night,” during which enslaved people were waiting and praying for the start of the new year 1863 which would signal the beginning of their freedom.

Slave owners were not willing to release enslaved people because they were profiting off of their free labor. General order 3 was ignored and enslaved people were not informed, so the Union Army was dispatched to Texas to enforce the proclamation.

It is difficult for us today to imagine the relief of mind to have the curse and brutality of slavery lifted. The executive order needed the force of congressional action to enshrine that freedom into the constitution. This came with the adoption of the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution.

We should not underestimate the positive effect of that action on our African-American ancestors and for generations to follow. To this day, we should look upon that occasion as a lifting of a burden leading to a certain level of peace of mind.

Many of the spiritual blessings we receive come from actions taken in world systems and our personal lives. For example, becoming debt-free brings great relief and peace of mind. Getting our children through school and college is another example of peace of mind. Things that we pray for God to do, are sometimes manifested in our circumstances.

For a more complete understanding of Juneteenth and the history that preceded it, read this outstanding article by Dr. Jemar Tisby about the history of Juneteenth. 


REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What have you prayed about that God worked out in your circumstances which brought peace of mind?


ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):




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Renewing the Mind Devotional

DAY #18: Four Steps to Renewing Your Mind | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”


June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”
DAY #18:  Four Steps to Renewing Your Mind


Today’s Lesson
What God requires, He provides. Whatever God asks of you, He provides grace to fulfill that responsibility. Following are four suggested action items that summarize the process of renewing the mind. As James said, “Faith without works [corresponding action] is dead being alone.” (James 2:17) 
Step One 
Read, listen to and receive messages inspired of the Word of God, the Bible. God’s Word is the revelation of His plan and purpose for your life and humanity. The more acquainted with the Word you become, the more acclimated you become with God’s way of doing things. 
James 1:21 puts it this way, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” 
The soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. As the word is “implanted” into your minds, it displaces all contrary ideas and beliefs that are inconsistent with a Christ-centered life. The idea behind “implant” is to intentionally put something into a certain place, not unlike flowers around the house. 
Step Two 
Let the character of Christ be formed within through fellowship with Him, time in prayer, and growing through the trials and tests of life. Character requires constant development. What the old folks told you was true: “That which does not kill you makes you stronger!” 
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you (Gal. 4:19) 
Like the apostle Paul, your pastor labors in teaching God's word to help “form” the character of Christ in you. This is similar to human development. You have the DNA but still must gain strength, knowledge, and skill to fulfill your potential. 
Step Three 
Worship, pray, and praise the Lord so that your mind will grow accustomed to this behavior. Though worship does not begin in the mind, our minds can be trained to cooperate and strongly participate in worship, prayer and praise. It is possible to arrive at a place where worship, prayer, and praise are not something you do only in church or when you're feeling “spiritual.” It is something you simply want to do because it has become a part of you. 
David learned this principle, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1) 
Step Four 
Serve others and share the gospel of Jesus with hurting people. One of the best ways to remove selfishness from your life is to serve others. Serving others is usually inconvenient, but through serving we connect to God in a profound way. 
REFLECTION QUESTION: 
1. How will you activate the four steps in your process of renewing your mind?
ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):


SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

Visit and save this link to enjoy other Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute Talks.

 

Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
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Renewing the Mind Devotional
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