It Starts in the Mind

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2 (KJV)

We've all heard the phrase, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste" (Arthur Fletcher). We've heard it and maybe even internalized it. But many of us are still wasting away our minds. We can't make necessary changes in our lives because of the state of our minds. There are things that we want to do, but we simply do not put forth the effort to do them because of what's in our minds. And more often than not, what's in and on our minds is not us; it's someone else. We are concerned about what they will think, what they will say, how they will respond, if they will support or turn away, and the list goes on. 

Most of our time and energies are spent on making the actual plans instead of executing them. Our plans are well thought, and we even know that God is IN them. We have the faith to execute them. But a plan without action is simply just a plan. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). 

Our thoughts can sometimes push us out of a blessing and a breakthrough. We spend time thinking about frivolous things that end up causing up frustration, worry, mischief, and the list goes on. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think on things that are honest, just, pure, praiseworthy, of good report, and true. That should drive our hearts and will to move in the direction of God and the things of God.

This week, let's put our prayer focus on our minds. Read, meditate, pray, and even journal on one scripture a day. In your journal, write out the actual scripture, write what you understand of it, and write how you want to God to give that Scripture life in your life. Let's see how God moves when we make up our minds that it's time for a transformation in our lives. It's a process, but we have to know that the change starts in our minds.

Romans 12:2 (above)

Isaiah 26:3

Romans 8:5-6

Colossians 3:2

Psalm 119:15

Philippians 2:5-8

Prayer:
Dear God, we thank You for minds to seek You. As we go through this week focusing on cleansing our minds, we ask that You remove anything that is not like You. Draw us closer to Your Word and grant us understanding. Let Your Word give us life and breathe new life into our minds. We desire a change in our thinking. We desire to let go of thoughts that hold us bound...stuck. To go forward in this thing called life, we know that we need an infilling of You. Speak to us. We're ready. We're hungry. We're desperate. Have Your way in this journey. Open our minds to receive from You. In Jesus' Name...amen.

Be blessed,

Tee

I Got You!

I'm training for a marathon to be run later this year. I have a good friend, my #RunBoo, that I get a few runs in with a few times per week. We have a great time on and off the pavement. One day last week torwards the end of a run, she frantically says, "Sis, give me your hand! Give me your hand! I want to quit!" Yes... we were rolling at a pretty fast pace. I have her my hand and began to encourage her.

When we got to the stopping point, she was weak. Doubled over, spitting up, and all that comes with having the wind knocked out of you when you push it during a run, she ended up on the ground. I let her sit for a few until she said she was dizzy. I was able to get her to her feet and instructed one of the other ladies to squeeze some of my electrolytes in her mouth. She said, "Sis I'm going down." As she began to go down, I held her tighter and said, "Nope. I gotchu." She was dead weight up against me. But I was girded against her, with my feet firmly planted and my arms around her waist.

How many times have we given so much of ourselves until we are just ready to quit? We need someone's hand because we know we can't go another step without that "grip", that "assurance", "them". The Bible encourages us to cast our cares upon God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), and to come to Him for rest... those of us who are weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28-30). We can't be afraid to ask for help no matter what!

In your getting weary, reach out for Him. He will hold your hand, carry you through and over, and allow you to finish. He will hold you in the midst of it all, ensuring that you keep standing, despite the fact that you feel weak. His strength IS made perfect in our weakness. When we're weak, He's strong (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)!

Be blessed,

Tee

Weeping Endured

As we all know, yesterday was Mother's Day. I awakened yesterday to a lot of text messages from friends and loved ones. I even got dressed in my cream suit and 6" pink heels (yes, I was cute!) and headed to church service. I thought everything was going just fine until the Pastor began talking about Mothers and their children right before he prayed for all of the mothers.

It seems like everything the Pastor said was so on point. He talked about children not being disrespectful, not talking back, honoring your mother and father so their days may be long, and even the sacrifices mothers make for their children. He also said, "Your mother loves you even when you're not lovable". I think I lost it there, and the tears began to flow...uncontrollably seemingly.

You see, the truth of the matter is, I didn't feel like I look. I didn't have on a mask, per se. I felt great on the outside but was a mess inside. No matter what happened on yesterday, I didn't feel like a mother, and it didn't feel like Mother's Day to me. 

I felt like I cried and cried and cried, and couldn't stop crying. A little later in the day, I saw that I was still crying. I was hurting not just for me, but for my sister (who's a mother) and my own mother. None of us appeared to be happy, and it was Mother's Day! Through my tears, my sister hugged me tight and said, "I don't care what anyone says, you are and have always been a great mother." Ohhh...how I sobbed more and more!

I ended up enjoying a fun dinner with my sister, my niece, nephew, and the Grizzlies/Clippers game! We laughed, cheered the Grizzlies on, and even had ice cream to wrap up the evening. I slept for 5 hours after that only to come home and go to sleep again after speaking with my spiritual mother.

My spiritual mother said something to me last night that I have often shared when ministering to others - "You've got to speak those things that be not as though they were. You've got to encourage yourself. You're going to get through this." It's amazing how He will bring things back to us :) 

I guess I needed the rest! I'm up this morning and glad that yesterday is over. At one point, I thought I wanted a Mother's Day 'do-over', but nahhhhh! I'm determined to honor my mother every day and not just one one day. I'm glad that my focus from how I feel to where I'm going. I'm convinced that my latter is going to be greater than my past. Weeping endured yesterday and on last night, but joy has come this morning. I will continue to encourage myself in the Lord, and encourage you to do the same! I know that my help truly comes from the Lord. I must continue to lift up my eyes to Him and trust Him to keep me. 

He loves us...He really does.

Be blessed,

~Tee