What Do You Think?
Scriptures For Meditation — Mark 9:14-29; Luke 6:45; Proverbs 4:23
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Pro 4:23, NLT
Normally, conventional wisdom would advice that people should think before they speak. However, if some people did that, it would undoubtedly be a grave mistake for them indeed!
Following on from yesterday’s devotional, we recall that the Bible tells us that the words we speak can either produce death or life.
Many times however, what we say is not really the problem that we need to be wary of; rather, it is what’s on the inside, what we think, that is the real problem.
There are times that even when we do manage to speak the right words with our mouth, the thoughts that we harbor in our hearts are contrary to, and negate what we say we are believing God for!
This is what James calls being double-minded —
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Jas 1:5-8
Though in the text, James was particularly referring to asking God for wisdom, but the general principle can still be validly applied to whatever we ask God for — Doubt is the state of our heart when we think about an issue, and we are not confident of the favourable outcome that we expect. When you doubt, you don’t receive.
Think Right
Dear friend, it is not enough for you to just “decree and declare” all those wonderful pronouncements and declarations with your mouth, if your heart is filled with thoughts of doubt and fear. Eventually, what is really in your heart is what will come out of your mouth and prevail in your circumstances!
That is why the scriptures warn us to keep vigilant watch over our hearts!
Hear what Jesus says:
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luk 6:43-45
As the New Living Translation Bible puts it:
What you say flows from what is in your heart.
You’ve got to think right — Your words that come out of your mouth have to align with, and be in agreement with the thoughts that are harboured in your heart. That is the first place your “prayer of agreement” must begin — your mouth agreeing with your mouth! Even with Salvation, the bible says we must confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts to become saved! (Romans 10:8-10)
Think Big, Dream Big
Remember the bible also tells us that we have the mind of Christ (1Cor 2:16), and that God is able to infinitely exceed all we can ever ask or think (Eph 3:20), and He has a lot more planned for us than we can ever imagine or even hope for! (1Cor 2:9-12)
As we get ready for our divine encounter with God over the coming days, let’s make an intentional resolve to think right — to dare to think big; to dream big and believe that our God, The Mighty One of Israel, is infinitely bigger than the issues, challenges or giants that we may be confronting in our lives!
I pray that God will show Himself strong on your behalf as we gather in His presence and that you will receive your miracle and not leave disappointed in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Shalom,
Pastor Wale Ola
Prayer Focus
- Ask God to show you the state of your heart; and if there is any doubt in your heart, repent of your unbelief, and pray for His grace to strengthen your mind and garrison your heart in the Name of Jesus.
- Read the scripture that God has given to us as the theme for this retreat (Zechariah 8:1-23). Meditate on the promises that God made to His people in that text, and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to see, and your heart to receive what He has for you.
- Ask God to fill your heart with thoughts of victory as you meditate on these promises, and begin to declare this over your life and into your situation in the Name of Jesus.
- Pray that there will be no distractions that will hinder the work of God in our midst. We come against every demonic assignment and we render them powerless in the Name of Jesus.
- Let’s declare and take authority over every devise of the enemy against the gathering. We render them impotent in the name of Jesus and we bring them into subjection under the blood of Jesus, to the dominion of His Power.
- Let’s pray for open heavens and for angelic ministration as we gather in Jesus name.
- Pray that the Fire of God will be released over the meeting to destroy shackles and ignite a fresh passion for God in you.
- Pray for the salvation of anyone that is unsaved amongst us, and for the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction leading to restoration for anyone that is backslidden.
- Spend the rest of the time thanking and praising God for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen.
We’ll be praying corporately every night over the 7 days of fasting.Please join us online for prayers from tonight between 7.30pm and 8.00pm (UK Time)
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