Good morning dear ones!

Did you know that problems, issues, negative and positive attitudes ~ all the issues of life, flow out of our HEARTS?  That’s why it’s imperative that we renew our minds with the Word of God.  What we think affects our HEARTS.  Proverbs 23:7 says,

• As a man thinks in his HEART, so is he.

This is what connects us to success in every area of our lives.  It’s important to know that when the challenge comes, we can’t leave out the part in which we have to study the Word and understand it.  2 Timothy 2:16 declares,

•  Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I exhort you to keep your mind set on the higher things, like Colossians 3:1-2 says:

• If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

We want to get rid of our old way of thinking; it leads to wrong behavior.  We can see this from Colossians 3:9-10:

• Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…

See, God wants us to be just like Jesus in our character.  I pray every day that I be transformed into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ and that I be an imitator of God our Father as a dear child.  Romans 12:2 says,

• Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Family, our issues come out of us.  Problems and issues in life are developed in our hearts.  Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-35,

• A tree is identified by its fruit.  If a tree is good, its fruit will be good.  If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.  You brood of snakes!  How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?  For whatever is in your HEART determines what you say.  A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good HEART, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil HEART.

I encourage you to put the right things inside of you, and you will bring forth the right things.  In other words, people will see what is in our HEARTS, one way or another, good or bad.  

Whatever is in your mind is also in your HEART.  When our minds are not right, our circumstances will not be right.  Our minds need to be renewed day by day.  We’re exhorted from the Word to love the Lord our God with all our HEART, soul, mind and strength (See Deuteronomy 6:5).

I encourage you to pray Ephesians 4:29 every day.  It says,

• Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].

Protecting my heart (Proverbs 4:20-23),

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church