Father's Amazing Grace

[Gordon Tippett]

Dear Father's Children:
Neil T. Anderson, author of The Bondage Breakers, said that our feelings follow our thoughts. If I wake up in the morning knowing that I am going to lose my job that day I will feel sad and worried. However, if I wake up knowing that I am going to get a raise, I will feel happy. Therefore, if we control our thoughts, we can manage our emotions. Now there are times of course when this is more difficult like when you lose a loved one; however, in our normal lives of home, job, friends and R & R the above prinicple is generally true. Can we control our thoughts? Have you thought about the fact that you have a thought life?
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, "for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (material), but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses (strongholds of the mind, patterns of thinking), 5 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." Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, admonishes us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Instead, of allowing our thoughts to ramble down paths not knowing where they are going to lead us, we stop the thought when it comes and examine it to see if it is going to lead us to negative thinking and evil emotions, or lead us to something that is honourable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, of excellence or praise worthy (Phil. 4:8). If the thought is negative, we immediately reject it and replace it with a good thought from Jesus Christ's wisdom and good principles of living. To do this you have to know God's Holy Word.
The good news is that by the power of the cross you can do this. That is Father's amazing grace to us. Jesus said that he will set us free from the mastery of sin, and we will be free indeed. (John 8:34-36) Because Jesus has set us free, He gives us a choice to choose good or evil; a choice we did not have before we accepted Him and received the Holy Spirit into our hearts. You have power to choose to refuse negative thoughts and negative emotions. Take control of your thought life and you can live in Jesus' joy, peace, love, and faith.
God bless you
Gordon