Taking every thought captive

Some Monday mornings I wake up and am ready to charge hell with a water gun. Other Mondays I wake up and the smallest trickle of water can put out my seemingly dwindling embers. This morning seemed as if there were only smoldering ashes and the booming thunder of an immanent rainstorm was echoing loudly.

That's how the enemy works isn't it? Like a lion that roars and threatens the weak and wounded. But there is truth greater than the lies he hurls at us. And it brings us to a fork in the road. What will we believe today? What thoughts will we dwell on? Will we live like we know the truth or like the lies are reality?

2 Timothy 1:6-7 says: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For the Spirit of God did not make us timid but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

I don't think I'm the only one the enemy is lying to. How about we fan these embers with some truth? We can burn for him even in a downpour.

In Jesus I am:

~loved! John 3:16 For God so loved (insert your name) that he gave his one and only son that when (     ) believes in him, (     ) will not perish but have everlasting life.

~chosen! Ephesians 1:4 Even as he chose (     ) in him before the foundation of the world that (     ) should be holy and blameless before him.

~made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if (     ) is in Christ, (     ) is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. (Last year, last week, last night is gone! Today is a new day!)

~confident! Philippians 1:6 I am certain that God, who began a good work within (     ), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

~victorious! Romans 8:37 No, in all these things (     ) is more than a conqueror through him who loves (    ).

~free! Galations 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set (     ) free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Read that one again! We do not have to be slaves to anything. Not to emotions, not to addictions, not to fear, not to the past - he has set us free!)

He is working. In us, around us and through us. He sees us. He knows us. He loves us. He is with us. And He is greater! Praise his name!

Be encouraged today and fan those embers with the truth till that flame is roaring hot and burning off those lies and sharing the light with others who are in the dark. This is what we were made for!

Thank you Jesus for the truth of your word. Wash my mind in it today. All attention belongs to you Lord. You are so good!