jesus

Damaging Inner Perspective

“If a person dwells obsessively on the inner warfare, he or she can do as much damage to the brain as a life-time of alcoholism or drugs.”1(pg. 135)

Negative attitudes can affect our health and obsessive thoughts can hurt our brain, but a cheerful mind works healing (Proverbs 17:22). Years ago, the Lord told me to get my eyes (or my focus) off myself and focus on what is right with me in Him. The negative inner perspective was weighing me down and causing my mood to be depressed. My constant worrying (evil foreboding) kept me in a state of anxiety and fear. My mind was always thinking. My thoughts were negative about myself, the future, and God. The Lord began to teach me about the power of my thoughts and the words I speak. Thinking and speaking life giving thoughts and words has changed my life. I decided to think and meditate on the Word of God regarding how He sees me through His son: righteous, Holy, and dearly loved. His righteousness is a freely given gift that is not based on my works or my behavior, but simply receiving by faith the work of the blood of the Lamb. I set (fixed or fastened) my thoughts on His love for me. Studies have revealed that how a person perceives God affects certain areas of the brain. If a person perceives God as critical or angry it activates the limbic area of the brain producing fear and anger, but if a person perceives God as loving, kind, and compassionate, it actives the anterior cingulate of the brain and reduces anger and fear promoting empathy for those who are suffering.1

Friends, there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend (John 15:13). On October 21, 2023, the Lord spoke these words to me:

“I AM tired of My people being defeated. Am I not strong? Am I not mighty? People have settled for less of who I am. They just get by, but I want them to thrive and prosper.”

Scripture tells believers to be transformed by the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:2). What we believe about God has the power to transform our life. Today, focus your thoughts on the love of God revealed to us through the life of Jesus. Jesus is the perfect representation of our Heavenly Father. Jesus told his disciples that if you have seen me then you have seen the Father. Jesus came to reveal to us the nature of our Father: compassion for the bruised and broken, healer of the sick and demon possessed, and the giver of life to the dead. Think, speak and mediate on God’s love for you. It will change your life!

  1. Newberg AB, Mark Robert Waldman. How God Changes Your Brain : Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist. Ballantine Books Trade Paperbacks; 2010.
  2. Bible Gateway. BibleGateway.com. Bible Gateway. Published 2023. https://www.biblegateway.com/

‌

‌

Smoldering Wick (Matthew 12:20)

A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory (Matthew 12:20, AMPC).

He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, until his victory releases justice (Matthew 12:20, TPT).

Do you feel bruised or broken? There is one who gives life to the weak and feeble, who will not turn you away, but will bring new life. His name is Jesus. Proverbs 17:22 says that a broken spirit dries up the bones. Bones in scripture is associated with the Hebrew thought of both life and death. Bones are also a symbol of health, strength, protection, and of one’s well-being or wholeness. A person’s health can be affected or damaged by negative attitudes.1 Proverbs 15: 30 says the light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones. Our emotional health is closely linked to our physical health. Our thoughts and attitudes matter. What are you meditating on today? Are your thoughts bringing death or life? Do you feel like a “smoldering wick”? Then go to Jesus and let Him fan the flame of your heart and bring nourishment to your bones!

Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow! And let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always (Philippians 4:4-8).

References

  1. 5137 bones – Dictionary of Bible Themes – Bible Gateway. http://www.biblegateway.com. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/5137-bones

‌

The Spirit gives life (John 6:63, AMPC)

John 6:63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life (AMPC).

Proverbs 14:27 To worship God in wonder and awe opens the fountain of life within you, empowering you to escape death’s domain (TPT).

John 4:24 For God is a Spirit, and He longs to have sincere worshippers who adore him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth (TPT). 

The healing or wholeness we desire is found in His Presence. A Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant can guide, instruct, and provide medication, but only God can cure or gehah. Gehah is the Hebrew word for medicine and is only used once in scripture:

Proverbs 17:22 A happy heart is good medicine (gehah: a cure, medicine) and a cheerful mind works healing but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruach which means breath or wind. God is breath. God is wind. Just as God breathed life into Adam, He can breathe life into us as we stop, close our eyes, and take a deep breath in. Taking in a slow deep breath engages our parasympathetic nervous system that slows and calms our inner being. As we breath in, we can envision ourselves, like John, laying our head on the chest of Jesus. As we breathe in and out, we are breathing Him and His peace in. As we see ourselves resting on Him, we are worshipping in Spirit and Truth. He loves us and longs for us to rest in his love. By resting in Him, we find peace for our souls. His Spirit brings life, peace, and joy. Ponder the words of Isaiah 43:7 (TPT): Bring me everyone who is called by my name, the ones I created to experience my glory. I myself formed them to be who they are and made them for my glory. God is Spirit and He is love. He is pure Light and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). God is wind. Wind has the power to blow over trees, power windmills, and push great ships across oceans. God’s Spirit can empower us to blow down wrong belief systems and disease. A cool breeze is also refreshing. God’s Spirit refreshes the weary soul. The Lord said in Jeremiah 33:6 that he will cure us and will reveal unto us the abundance of peace and truth. In Jeremiah 30:17, the Lord says he will restore health to us and heal our wounds. The medicine we need is Jesus, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. His Spirit is the breath that brings life and the wind that empowers us to be free to live the abundant life. Worship is the medicine that brings healing to our hearts and minds. We can stop any time during the day, close our eyes and breathe in His peace turning our thoughts on to Him. We can practice His presence throughout the day. Remember, we live, move, and have our being in Him (Acts 17:28).