I remember when my first dog died.  He had been going downhill for awhile.  He was diagnosed with kidney problems a few years earlier.  He was on a special dog food for his  kidneys.

Then shortly after my first daughter was born, he began losing weight.  He was taken to the vet, but the vet couldn't figure out what the problem was.  One night, I took him out for a walk.

As we were coming home, he quit.  He just sat on the road and quit.  He didn't want to walk anymore.  So, I picked him up and was carrying him home.  As I was carrying him home, he died in my arms.  I felt the last breath leave him.  His little body became limp and heavier. 

After I got him home, I looked at him and saw that the life had totally left him.  He was gone.  Just a few minutes earlier, I had taken him out for a walk.  Now, I was carrying his lifeless body home. 

That was an experience and a pain I'll never forget.  It hit me hard.  I didn't want to get another dog for the longest time.  I didn't want to chance going through an experience like that again.  

I had such pain, because my love for that little dog was deep down in my innermost being...my heart.  I didn't have to think about whether I grieved.  I just grieved.  I saw the little guy with my eyes.  My mind told me he was dead.  My heart welled up with grief.  

My mind and heart were connected. 

The Bible tells us that transformation comes from the renewing of our minds.  The renewed mind is the first seed we need to plant for the growing of faith.  

It's important to understand, we go in the direction of our minds.  Your actions will go in the direction of your focus.  The mind is the gateway to the heart.  So, the mind is the GPS and the heart is the engine.  You will go in the direction of what your mind plants and takes root in your heart.  

Also realize your mind is made up of two parts.  Our minds are made up of our conscious mind and our subconscious mind.  The interesting thing about this is roughly 90-95% of decisions you are make, are made in your subconscious mind.  

This is like an iceberg.  Part of the iceberg is above water.  But, most of it is unseen, below water.  

The same holds true for the two parts of your mind.  Your conscious mind is like the part of the iceberg above water.  The subconscious mind is like the majority of the iceberg that's not visible because it's under water.   

The other decisions are made consciously, in your conscious mind.

Think of when you learned to drive a car.  You got in the car and thought about everything.  Making sure the review mirror was adjusted.  Making sure your seat belt was fastened.  Double checking to make sure you were in the right gear.  You even thought about how to start the car.

Then as you drove the car, you might have been a little jerky.  Your driving wasn't smooth.  You had to really watch and concentrate on the other drivers.  You tried to think about what you'd do in certain situations.  Most of your driving was reactive.

After gaining some years of experience, your driving became automatic.  You didn't have to think about all of those things.  This was because the knowledge of how to drive a car was implanted into your subconscious.  

As a result, when you get in the car to drive, your subconscious takes over.  Ever had a situation where you were driving somewhere and you were on the phone with someone or listening to music?

Before long, you arrive at your destination and you are amazed that you arrived so quickly.  You might be amazed because it seemed you didn't do anything..that the car virtually drove itself.  

That was the work of your subconscious mind.  Consciously, you made the decision to drive somewhere and you got in your car.  But, after getting in your car, the driving was automatic.  That was your subconscious taking over and leading you to drive.

This is important because you program yourself for actions.  Are your actions ones of faith or ones of fear?  You decide this by determining whether you'll plant the faith seed of the renewed mind.  

In my next post, I'll go over how this is done. 

​Blessings.  

Often our Christian journey is full of ups and downs.  I'm sure you've had times where you were going through trials and asked God why you were going through that. 

​I remember when I was laid off from my corporate job.  My reviews were good.  I was told, I was doing a good job.  Yet, I received a call from my manager stating that my job was eliminated and she told me about the severance package I would receive. 

That was shocker and  really caused me to scratch my head.  I never saw it coming.  On the other hand, who ever does see that kind of thing coming.  It's not like they announce it before it happens.  

I began to ask myself why.  I thought back over the course of my time with the company and wondered why it  happened.  They told me it wasn't because of my  performance, but that due to cuts, my job was eliminated.  

I then began to ask God why?  Why did He take my job from me?  Why did He allow this to happen? Wasn't He supposed to be our provider?  Wasn't He supposed to be taking care of me?  I asked God "why" plenty of times. 

Can you identify with that?  Have you ever asked God "why" when you've been through a challenge?  If you're like me, you have.  I'm sure we all have.  

But, to ask God "why" something happens to us is a question a victim would ask and it causes to feel even more like a victim.  You are not a victim.  

God doesn't see you as a victim nor does He see me as one.  He sees us as His children, royal heirs.  God refuses to speak to the spirit of fear.  

The right question to ask God is:

1. What does this mean?
2. What should I do?

These questions free us for our purpose rather than keep us in bondage to our past. 

So, don't ask God "why"?  Ask Him "what"?

​Blessings

Much of our learning comes from life experiences. Whether it's negative or positive learning, much of our learning comes from everyday life. One of things I've learned is that whatever I focus on expands.  

It doesn't matter if what you focus on is negative or positive, it will expand.  Our subconscious mind is designed to find solutions for us and to verify things for us.  

Have you ever been in a situation where you've tried to find a solution to a problem?  You wracked your brain trying to consciously come up with a solution.  But you only drew a blank.  Then you let the problem go and you decided  to not worry about it or to sleep on it. 

What happened?  Voila!  A solution came to you.  That was your subconscious mind finding a solution to your problem.  Then can also happen when you seek God and the Holy Spirit provides you with a solution.  

Your subconscious mind is designed to give you solutions to questions you have.  When you focus on something, your subconscious mind goes into detective mode to find answers for you.  It takes what you are focusing on and gives you a solution to a question you may have.  It also finds reasons to agree with you, if you make statements.

For example, if you start your day and something negative  happens, what do we often say?  "I can see this isn't going to be a very good day" or something to that effect. 

Have you ever had a time where you knew, I mean just KNEW you had faced fear and death?  If you have, it's not something you'll ever forget. 

When I was 18 years of age, at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, I met fear and death face to face.  It wasn't something I'd want to re-live.  But, it's something I'll never forget.

My girlfriend, at the time, and her family invited me on their vacation at Myrtle Beach.  I was excited about going, but not too excited about the beach.  She was one who loved to lay on the beach in the sun.  I like the old, trustworthy beach umbrella.  

One day, we went down to the beach.  My girlfriend, to lay in the sun and me....well....to try and do anything BUT lay in the sun.  Those of you, especially guys, who don't enjoy laying in the sun, know what I'm talking about.

She brought a book to read and I decided to spend some time in the water instead of laying in the sun, being grilled like a good sirloin.  

Now, this back in the day of the canvas rafts.  Remember those rafts?  They were made of canvass and you could rent them.  Some would try to ride waves on them and others would just like to lay on the water.

Considering I swam and still swim like a rock, I rented one of those rafts to just hang onto it in the water and enjoy the calming effect of the ocean.  So, I rented one and went out into the water.  

I didn't lay on the raft, I just kind of dangled...with my arms resting on the raft and my feet in the water. ​   

Often Christians focus on the spirit and soul.  There is nothing wrong with this.  But the mind plays a huge part in how deep and far we grow in the Lord.  It also plays a huge part in the quality of our lives as followers of Christ.  As the mind goes, so goes the quality and power of that life. 

We go in the direction of our minds.  Our mind is the gateway to the heart.  This is true regardless of what enters our mind.  Whatever enters your mind can be negative or positive.  It doesn't matter.  What enters your mind will guide you.  This is why it's so important to guard what goes into our minds. 

Our mind is made up of two basic parts.  Without getting into much detail regarding the brain, or minds are made up of our conscious mind and our subconscious mind.  

Our conscious mind, of course, where we have conscious thoughts and  make conscious decisions.  
Our subconscious is where all of our beliefs, perceptions, etc., are stored.  Roughly 90% of our decisions are made from our subconscious mind.  The important thing to remember, is you will go in the direction your subconscious wants you to go.  

Your subconsious mind is also there to provide direction, validation and answers to questions you'll have.  I'll go over this more in another post, but just remember, you'll go the direction your subconscious wants to take you. 

Therefore, it's very important what you feed your subconscious.  The scripture says the word of God is like a two-edged sword.  This is described in Hebrews 4:12.  That scripture says the Word of God ..."is like a two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both  joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  In other words, the Word of God is able to penetrate deep into your heart and mind.

The accusations and condemnations, can pierce, though not as deep as the Word of God, but they can pierce into your subconscious mind.  Your negative beliefs, thoughts and decrees you've made to yourself, whether negative or postive, can pierce deep into your subconsious.  

Be careful what you let enter your mind.  Scripture instructs us to be "...be transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2).  

Your mind is key to transformation.

​Blessings.  

 

Have you ever wondered or thought about why there is such a range of beliefs and  levels of maturity among Christians?  Why some Christians seem to hear God's voice so clearly, while others struggle just to find words to pray?

Have you ever wondered why there are times where you sense God's presence with you so strongly, while at other times, you wonder if He is even in the same universe as you?  

Have you ever wondered why some Christians seem to grow so fast and have a deep relationship with God, while others seem to stay in the same plac for years?

If you have, don't feel like you're alone.  Most have wondered these things. I've wondered these things for years.  I've wondered about myself for years. Why there are times, I seem to grow so fast and sense a deep closeness to God, while at other times, I seem to have reached a plateau and don't seem to grow much at all.

Can you identify with this?  We probably all can.  It can be frustrating.  We can feel like we're not much of a Christian.  Then of course, you have the devil speaking his lies into your ears, trying to condemn you for your "failures" in your Christian walk.  

But, you know what?  It's in your mind.  Yes, it's literally in your mind.  Now, wait a minute.  No one said you were crazy, going off the deep end or only imagining things  like that.  You're not any of those things.  It's all  literally in your mind.

There are three levels of thought/revelation we have leading to actions we take.   These are the carnal mind, the mind of Christ and our level of receiving revelation.  

I'll be addressing these in future posts.  But, for now, just know it's all in your mind.