“Because the Holy Spirit is a teacher, He will correct us and teach us all things. He chastens us always with a purpose of setting us on a righteous course. Case in point, His word purposes to encourage and build up His people. When we speak on our own and out of our flesh our words have the opposite effect of God’s word. Our words become void and are discerned by the spiritually alert that empty utterances have gone forth. In addition, there is no spiritual fruit to evidence that what we have said or done is truly of the Lord. However, when we speak under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our words are really God’s words. They minister, heal, encourage, correct, and whatever else He deems essential for the listening ear. We see scripture come alive in such moments.”

GIVE GOD ALL OF THE GLORY

“Prior to our outward show of holiness, there is an inner transformation that must occur; the renewing of our mind. It is what goes on within us that brings us to the point of wholeness with God. It is not the fashioning of the exterior; it is the constructing of the interior. So, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Any child of God can live holy. It is a matter of choice. Will we choose to think in conformance with the world or in the transformation given by God?”

I THINK THEREFORE I AM

“There are times when we should evaluate ourselves; question our agenda. Do we remember offenses to validate evil or promote righteousness? In our choice of remembering, are we seeking supporters to rally around our selfish cause? Do we fear the challenges of progression? Do we enjoy images of personal vengeance? When we truly forgive, recollections of personal offenses are not granted authority to thwart God’s plan for our spiritual development. Surrender of our pain and anger to the Lord disables the intentions of Satan.”

FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN OPTION

“Time alone with God forces us to see ourselves truthfully. The Lord will show us aspects of ourselves that represent self-centeredness and other vices that are not in His will for us. The flesh detests the truth so be prepared to fight; to wrestle with yourself. An uprising of the flesh will work vigorously to thwart God’s will for us. Do not yield to its’ maneuvers. Yield instead to the absolute control of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of how sensible it seems to do things suggested by the mind or an intelligent friend, hold on to what God has spoken into your spirit. And when it becomes necessary, talk to yourself. Encourage yourself in the Lord. Know when to admonish your moods, emotions, desires, and thoughts in Jesus’ name.”

SHUT IN FOR A GLORIOUS PURPOSE

“Our minds, hearts, and bodies belong to Him rather than the circumstance. Little wonder people are unaware of our vyings. Whether God chooses to place us with our burden on display or confine it to a small group of confidants, many will marvel and stand in awe as they witness what God does to, through, and for us. Like an outfit tailored just for us, sufferance can bring out our best. The cross that we bear is personally designed. Through Christ we are able to wear affliction well whether others are able to discern that we are indeed struggling or not. Because our God is the God who preserves and restores, we do not have to look like we have gone through ten years of famine. But if God decides to take our physical health, the Holy Spirit has a way of altering our minds to the likeness of Christ Jesus. We must confront raging storms in life, yet Christ desires that we emulate Him completely in the process.”

YOU WEAR IT WELL

“Whether the report of the adversary contains some truth or is totally fabricated, the Holy Spirit is ever ready to remind us of who we really are. As new creatures in Christ we are responsible for living up to God’s standards and His alone. If it is not settled in our spirits that we are sinners saved by the grace of God, then we are prime targets for those who dare to use unsettled and old issues as weapons against us. Confronting and challenging ourselves can be discomforting and a real eye opening experience. An honest evaluation will show us that we are not all that we or others think we are because of sin. But there is someone who deals with sin thoroughly. One of His specialties is image building, an unfulfilled promise of many seminars and workshops.”