"FOR the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)
• How to work on your Heart.
- How can you, as an individual, change your heart; thoughts and intentions?
I. Being reborn. To be reborn means to establish a relationship with God, through Christ Jesus (John 3:3-5).
WHEN you Acknowledged that you are a sinner, and believed in your heart that Jesus died for your Sin and resurrected that you might be justified, and confessed it with your mouth; you become a saved soul, a new creation—a Believer in Christ Jesus (Romans 4:25; 10:9,10; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
THIS is the foundation for a changed Heart and life.
II. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, It was your spirit, the inward Man, that became a new creation.
YOUR soul, or mind, which is the seat of thought, is not saved. In other words, the mind where thoughts are groomed has not changed.
THE changing or transformation of the mind is done through the reading, studying, and pondering on the Word, in addition with the application or the doing of the Word of God: "DON'T copy the behaviour and customs of this world, BUT LET GOD TRANSFORM YOU INTO A NEW PERSON BY CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2 NLT).
THE Word of God is a type of water needed for the washing of the mind. If your mind is opened to the Word of God, It would be purified and purged of the dirty things of the world.
WHEN the Word purifies your thoughts, the thinking pattern; your attitude or character is changed, and you begin to reason and think in line with God's Word—you have the thoughts and the perspectives of Christ Jesus.
CHRISTLIKE Character is formed by the transformation of the mind, through the Word of God. Those who claimed to be born-again, but still living in sins, had their minds not renewed.
UNTIL your mind which is the seat or base of your thoughts is renewed through the Word of God, your life or attitude, or character, would not change, regardless of the number of years you have been in the Christian Faith.
NOTE: renewing of the mind happens or occurs through the reading, studying, and pondering on the Word of God.
III. Another thing that would change your mind, thoughts and intentions, is the association. The company you keep.
WHO are the people you relate with?:
"DO NOT BE DECEIVED: “EVIL COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD HABITS” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV).
THE people you associate with influence your life; your thoughts and intentions, directly or indirectly.
NO relationship or association leaves you the same. A relationship or friendship moves you closer to God, or away from God.
CHECK the people you relate with. If the company you keep makes you thirst for Sin and moves you away from God, wisdom demands that you break up with such relationship or company. Remember, relationship, or friendship, is by choice and not by Force.
IV. Worship centre. The point here is similar to the third point mentioned above, but slightly different.
WHERE you go to church determines what you hear, what your mind is fed with, and that eventually determines your thinking pattern—your thoughts and intentions.
IF you attend or worship where the integrity of the Word of God is not emphasized, where the Word is not taught and practiced, your mind would remain in a depraved state. You are the product of what you hear, your thoughts and intentions are shaped through the things you hear.
a. What kind of spiritual food are you eating?
b. Who is the one feeding your mind with the Word of God?
c. Who is the one speaking to your life?
THESE questions could be answered in relation to where you worship. Spiritual healthiness or wellness is determined by what you are fed with, It is similar to the physical healthiness.
IF you are born-again, but you are in a wrong worship centre, your soul would be famished, or lean, or unproductive. AND this would determine the state of your Heart, your mindset, thoughts and intentions. Think on this and ask God in prayer to lead and guide you to the right place or church If you are not in the right place of worship.
V. Prayers. Praying always in tongues, in the language of the Holy Spirit, purges and filters your mind, decongests it of wrong and negative thoughts.
A BELIEVER who consistently engages in praying in tongues, decongests his or her mind, and makes it prepared or ready for whatever instruction and message from God.
YOU are built up, edified, when you pray often in the language of the Holy Spirit, and your sensitivity and perceptiveness, is sharpened the more (Jude 20).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Should there be any sickness in your body, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- Whatever God has not planted in your life that might be working against your health and wellness, such is cursed and completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED
STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).
- If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!