Wheat Harvest Magazine (2024)

Wheat Harvest Magazine is a Magazine that shares the truth of God's word and the testimonies of those who have experienced the love, grace, favor and faithfulness of God.

30/06/2024

Nathan had two children: a little girl from his first marriage to Stacy, who didn't live with him and lived with her mother, and a second child, a son, who lived with him and his present wife, Francis. Nathan spoiled his son because he believed he should always say only positive and pleasing things to him. Nathan never corrected him and often got upset when others corrected his son's behavior. Nathan always spoke sweetly to his son and never said anything harshly to him, even when he did something wrong.

Nathan was also a very organized man. He meticulously packed everything away before leaving his work desk daily, and his home office was just as organized. Everything was in place, and he knew where everything was if needed.

One day, Nathan was working from home. He walked away from his office for a few minutes to make himself a cup of tea. During that time, unaware, his eight-year-old son slipped inside his home office. And his son wrecked the whole room!

His son pulled down most of the papers and files, opened all the pens and markers he could find, ripped some of the papers, attempted to bite through some, and marked over most of the rest of the papers. During all that excitement, his son found Nathan's stack of chocolate on his desk and ate some, threw some on the carpet, and wiped some over the desk and papers.

Nathan finally arrived back at his office. How could his son do so much damage in 10 minutes when he had spent years fixing, pulling, and finding the best way to organize that office? But Nathan never corrected his son before. And he had no intention of starting now. As Nathan stood there, steering at the hurricane of an office, he would have to clean up. His son walked up to him, pleased and smiling.

Nathan returned the smile and said, "It's alright, don't worry. Everything is fine." He did not address the behavior or say it was unacceptable. Two months later, Nathan forgot to close the office door (again), and a similar situation happened.

Each time, he would simply say, "It's alright, don't worry. Everything is fine." Nathan did not address the behavior. Nathan allowed this issue to create a massive problem that caused his son to get into serious problems as an adult. His son never had to face the consequences of inappropriate actions. His son never had someone say this is wrong or unacceptable. It was (only) after situations arose where Nathan no longer had control and serious consequences faced his son that Nathan eventually addressed the issue with him, but this came when his son was much older and too late.

Jeremiah 6:13-14 says, "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace."

The little things matter to God. In this scripture, we find the spiritual leaders at the time, priests and prophets, falsely instructing the people that all was well. Instead of telling them the truth, the scripture says they "healed their wounds slightly" by telling them there is peace. But in reality, there was no peace.

In this scripture, peace means "safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace." Don't we want to hear these things? Of course! We all want to hear good, nice things. Who doesn't want to hear they are healthy, wealthy, prosperous, and safe? God wants the best for us. He has the very best intentions for us. The Lord wants us to be prosperous, healthy, and safe. He wants us to be blessed and live with joy. But sometimes, we miss the Lord's best (for us) because we fall into disobedience and walk away from God's truth and purpose for our lives. In the scriptures, this was the situation. They had fallen in disobedience and believed they were doing well. They believed that there was peace.

But God was saying there was no peace. There was no peace because the people had not listened. They had turned away from the straight and narrow path and lived lives of disobedience. But the priests and prophets soothed the people with nice words! Isn't it the same way today? Even when doing something wrong, we don't want to hear someone say it. We want to hear the opposite and call the wrong things right. We prefer to hear correct even when things are incorrect. We all want to hear these all the time. All is well with you! God is pleased with you! God doesn't mind how we live or treat our spouse or family!

God doesn't mind if we spend just enough time writing a sermon or preparing for worship but have no time to pray or read the Bible at other times! God is all right if we have hate, anger, and hypocrisy in our hearts! God is fine with our unforgiveness, backbiting, and pride! Don't worry about malice, prejudice, favoritism, or strife; just go to church, give some money, and pretend all's well! There is peace, peace, peace! And it is well. All is well! It is well with our souls!

It sounds harsh, doesn't it? But God said smooth talking is not helpful and will eventually lead us astray, as it led the people in the scriptures astray. Soothing words will not cause us to obey God. Isn't it wise to know the truth or reality so we can self-reflect, admit our failings, and do better? In this scripture, God warns everyone from the least to the greatest, from the prophet to the priest, not to deal falsely and say everything is well when it is not the situation.

This is for our situations today, from those of us who sit in the pew or are at the pulpit, from those who preach to those who sing, those who lead, or those who (just) attend church without assigned posts or roles. All of us! We all must consider what we are doing and how we are living. We all must ask God, is this (really) pleasing to You? Is my life pleasing to You? I may feel that I am doing well, but we must ask the Lord if this is, in fact, the reality.

It may sound harsh, but the only opinion that (really) matters is the Lord's! What we think does not matter. Our thoughts or assessments don't matter; this is the reality and truth. Only what God's word says matters. That is all that matters! Let us evaluate ourselves sincerely. Are we obeying God's Word? Is our daily lives a reflection of a life surrendered and obedient to Christ?

The people we read about in Jeremiah are like many of us today. They heard that all was well, and week after week, they believed all was well. But God was not pleased. And all was not well. Let this not be our situation. In the scripture, the reality was that they were about to enter 70 years of captivity, and they were about to be overtaken. In fact, there was no peace! But the leaders kept speaking falsely to them. The people believed the lies partly because they made them feel good. The lies made them at ease, so they didn't have to address the problems and consequences they were facing.

No one knows our hearts, motives, or the sort of relationship we have with God but God! People don't see how we live in our homes, treat our spouses, children, or families, or speak about or think about others. But God knows and sees it all. We don't know, so we can't judge each other, and we should not judge each other. And this Bible teaching is not about judging anyone.

In fact, the Bible reminds us that we ought to judge ourselves. We ought to allow God to clean our lives and hearts so we are vessels of honor fit for His use. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 says, "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

Prayer
Our Father, we pray today that You will search our hearts. See where there is wickedness in us: a little hate, envy, pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, covetousness, or lust. So many little things may be in our hearts and lives that need to go. We pray today that You will help us not to allow these things (no matter how small we may think they are) to linger and fester into something even worse.

Please help us, God, to reflect Your light, love, and glorify You. May our lives glorify You in how we speak, think, act, believe, and treat others. Please help us not to say soothing words contrary to Your Word. But help us reflect, see where we may have fallen, and repent. Let us see it as essential to take genuine steps to remedy unresolved or partially resolved situations with others so that our offering may be acceptable and pleasing to You.

Lord Jesus, may You be the source and flow of all we are. We humbly come to You. Thank You for Your love and grace, in Jesus' name, amen.

🙏

Wheat Harvest Magazine is a Magazine that shares the truth of God's word and the testimonies of thos

12/05/2024

Have you ever been in an impossible situation? Have you been in a situation that keeps you up at night and seems like there is no way out, no matter how many times you look at it. I have been in a few impossible ones. Situations that I thought there was no way out. And, in these times, I cried to the Lord to help me because I knew I didn't know the answer, nor did anyone around me know the answer. It was obvious that only the Lord could find a solution. In these times, the Lord heard me and helped me. Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." I have proven that God is a very present help in times of trouble.

There is nothing wrong with seeking the Lord for help. The issue is I don't always seek the Lord in all the problems arising in my life. There are times when I have been in difficult situations. These were challenging situations, but in my mind, they were fixable ones. These problems are not impossible, like the parting of the Red Sea or water turning into wine. These were not the impossible ones. In these situations, instead of going to God first, I relied on the advice of others and on my (own) intellect to solve them. I didn't know I was failing until recently. The Lord gives us smart people who can offer sound advice, and there is nothing wrong with hearing advice from these people. Proverbs 11: 14 says, "Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety." But I have realized that seeking the Lord first in all matters, whether completely impossible or just tricky is biblical. It doesn't matter how smart we are. It doesn't matter how smart others around us are. Seeking the Lord's will before we seek the wisdom of others or the wisdom within us is essential. It was not until I read the story of King Asa that I realized just how important this is. I still err in doing it, but now I know I must consciously try to do it.

II Chronicles 14-16 recounts the story of King Asa, a wise king who tried to do what was right in the sight of the Lord. His convictions were so strong that he removed his mother from her position when she sinned. II Chronicles 15:16 says, "And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron."

Asa trusted the Lord when faced with an impossible task. II Chronicles 14:9 says, "And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a thousand thousand..." One thousand multiplied by a thousand is one million (1,000,000). Can you imagine seeing 1,000,000 people? This many people would have looked like a sea of heads in front of Asa, spreading out more than 57 acres. My school had 3,000, and some days, I felt like a dot among them when we gathered in the auditorium on the first day of school. To Asa, to anyone, seeing one million people must have been overwhelming. He was in an impossible situation. There was no way to win without some severe consequences. But Asa knew better and called on the Lord to deliver him. II Chronicles 14:11 says, "And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee." And the Lord heard him and delivered him.

Asa then encouraged everyone to seek the Lord. II Chronicles 15:12 says, "And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul." And later, at the end of verse 15, it says, "… and the Lord gave them rest round about." Verse 19 says, "And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa."

So, Asa had peace for the first ten years of his reign. He had this incident with the one-million-man army, and then afterward, he had peace for another twenty-five years. Can you imagine not worrying about conflicts or resolving any disputes or disagreements with neighbors, friends, or enemies for twenty-five years? Often, it is difficult to get through one day without a conflict or potential issue. But the Lord gave Asa rest from these for approximately 9,131 days plus the decade before. He had rest, and he prospered. II Chronicles 14: 6-7 said, "And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest. Therefore, he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So, they built and prospered." The Lord delivered Asa and gave him rest because he sought Him first and purposed (in himself) to seek the Lord with all his heart and soul. What a concept!

Things were going well for Asa until another problem arose. This time, there were not a million soldiers and 300 hundred chariots. This time, it was a neighbor trying to be shady and troublesome. This time, it was a fixable problem. King Asa thought this was a fixable problem; to be fair, it was if you were clever. And Asa was clever. II Chronicles 16:3 says King Asa sent to his friend to ask him for help. It says, "There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." This is something Asa could handle. He had a friend and knew he could solve the problem with minimal causalities or consequences if he linked him.

The real issue was not the bothersome neighbor or the cleverness of Asa. The issue was not the fact that this was a fixable issue. The issue was King Asa trusted in his (own) intellect to resolve a fixable problem. Was there something wrong with Asa trusting in his skills, smarts, or training? Why not? After all, Asa was raised to be king. He was trained in diplomatic relations. He was brilliant, and the path to the solution was clear. Here is the problem with instinctively trusting your skills, smarts, or other people (first) before going to the Lord. The skills, the intelligence, and the opinions of others become the source: the source of information and the source from which everything flows. If the first instinct is to solve it through my intelligence, then I am the source. If the first thought is to call a friend to help solve an issue, the friend becomes the source. Proverbs 2:6 says, "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Psalm 32: 7-8 says, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."

Sometimes, we get good results from those sources. Verse 5 says the plan did work. Asa's friend did help him, and the troublesome neighbor stopped being troublesome and went home. "And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease." This was an easy fix, right? Yes. They even got some stuff that helped them. Verse 6 says, "Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah." Free merchandise is not a bad thing. A blessing? But was it the right thing to do? Absolutely not! The consequence was stated in verses 8 and 9, "…yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."

Asa’s response was anger and uncharacteristic behavior for him. II Chronicles 16:10 says, "Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time." The Bible says in Proverbs 9:8, "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee." Asa reacted like an unwise man because of his anger and failure to accept what the Lord said about him. Often, it is hard to hear what is said about us, especially if it is not something good. Imagine being so angry that you become someone you're not.

Asa never repented. The Asa we read about in Chapter 14 was someone who was seeking the Lord with his own heart. Indeed, that Asa would have repented. The Asa who removed his (own) mother from being queen because she sinned against God. That Asa might have repented. What happened? The fact is, it was the same Asa, which is why we must be careful to double-check ourselves as we walk this path of life. Even if Asa thought it was an unfair assessment, this was a terrible response. Asa disagreed with the interpretation of his actions. He definitely didn't understand why the Lord would be so harsh. At the end of it, acceptance of the Lord's assessment of us and our actions, followed by repentance, is essential. Truth, our understanding, and our agreement are not required for repentance. The Lord is sovereign!

Asa did not turn from his current thought process and ideas. He didn't stop and think that what I did was wrong, and the Lord was displeased even though I thought I was doing good. Asa didn't contemplate the possibility that his goodness, intentions, or vision were irrelevant. Seeking the Lord is always the best way and is what Asa had promised to do. He had made a covenant to seek the Lord with his whole heart. But Asa's response was disbelief and anger. He didn't think he did anything wrong. Asa's decision not only lacked the truth and clarity that comes with seeking the Lord's instructions. It also showed that he regarded his ability and intellect above all. No matter how brilliant a chess player we are, seeking the Lord first is always the right move. The Lord would have delivered a rising foe into Asa's hands before they reached the height of power. This was the wisdom Asa didn't have when he decided on his own.

Moreover, Asa was so angry and missed the point of the lesson that even when he got sick, he didn't seek the Lord. King Asa missed it. Yes, he did wrong, but he could have learned and, moving forward, did what was right. II Chronicles 16:12-13 said, "And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."

Today, remember to seek Christ in all things, great and small. We may be brilliant and have excellent training and skills. But remember, the Lord is the one who grants us this intelligence. Regardless of our wisdom, we are obligated to seek the Lord's wisdom in all that we do. The Lord wants to instruct us and impart more wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (in us). Seek the Lord first! "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (St Matthew 6:33).

Wheat Harvest Magazine is a Magazine that shares the truth of God's word and the testimonies of thos

03/03/2024

"Where are YOU?" If you have not already asked that question, you may find yourself doing so someday. It is a question that humanity has asked for centuries and will continue asking as long as the world exists. We hear of all these miraculous and magnificent things that people say happened to them, and we question, are these things even real? And if they are real, why don't they appear in our lives that way?

A story is told about a man who had a tough life. He was born into a family that never appreciated or loved him. He spent all his time trying to prove his worth, which left him heartbroken and depressed as people usually hurt him, rejected him, or never saw his significance.

After a time, the man became very bitter, especially when he heard of all the good things happening to others around him. His friend Oliver would cheat on his wife and abuse her, but he still got the promotion at his job. His friend Michael was a chronic gambler, but banks would loan him thousands of dollars, yet he couldn't get a sensible loan to help with his expenses. His friend Nelson would cheat on how he paid his workers, but still seemed to have a thriving business.

And one day, he got so frustrated. He got so annoyed and upset at his life that he cried to God and said, "Where are You, Lord, in all of this? Where are you when I need You? It seems you are always more busy fixing someone else's life. Where were you when my child got ill? You never answered my prayers. You left my life broken. Where were you when they closed the business I was working at and left me redundant?"

And so this man was in a terrible place. And he cried out to God. Perhaps a bit upset, but with complete honesty. For a while, he was depressed and confused. But then the answer came. And it wasn't what he wanted to hear, but it was what he needed to hear. It wasn't in some thunderous voice or angelic encounter. No, instead, it was more of an inner revelation. Thoughts, memories, or ideas that made sense.

He remembered when he wanted to leave the job, even felt compelled to do it, and another job opportunity came along; he didn't take it because he felt comfortable in the present role, and then a few months later, the business closed down.

He recalled being so busy that when his child needed help, support, or a listening ear or said she wasn't feeling well, he never took the time to check it out, listen, or just be there. He was always too busy, and he took so long to recognize the symptoms of the issue that are now causing great distress to his child.

He remembered all the times he felt prompted to pray but refused, or prompted to do something, call someone, or go somewhere, but decided it didn't make sense, so he didn't. And at that moment, he realized God was always there; he just never listened. And that was the hardest thing for him to learn, but it was the truth.

Judges 6:13 says, "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian." God is here with us. God is with us, here in our pain. He is here in our regrets. He is with us in our shame and our confusion. The LORD is here with us in the moments we come to realize our poor choices and consequences. God is always here!

The challenge is that we fail to see God in the here and now. In this scripture, these people had done some terrible things; consequently, their lives became difficult. They were now being oppressed. There were people taking advantage of them. They felt overwhelmed. The fields and crops they planted and relied on to grow and produce were being taken away or destroyed. They were in a tough place. And we all can relate to this experience. Perhaps it has nothing to do with farming but can be associated with any other area of your life.

After investing in something, only to realize it has come to nothing. For some people, that's their relationships. After investing so much time and effort, it didn't work out. For some people, it's their finances. After investing in something, you find out it didn't work out how you thought, and now, instead of being an asset, it is a liability. Or perhaps it is your education, ministry, or business. After investing so much into it, it hasn't produced the results you envisioned. So, these people were out of options and realized they needed help badly. And like most of us, they decided to call out to God.

The scripture tells us that when they called out to God for help, God sent them a word, basically explaining that these things are happening because of the consequences of them not listening. They didn't want to hear that. But they needed to hear it.

Judges 6:7-10 states, "When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me."

And that may be a word for you and me today. It's a word we may not want to hear, but it's a word we may need to hear. Some of the things you and I are facing or have faced in the past may be because we never listened. So the question is, will we continue not to listen, or will we begin to listen?

The Bible says that God also provided a solution after the word of truth. And this is something we all can learn. God is not just saying all the bad things that happen are our fault. No, the Almighty God always gives us the solution to the problem, so you and I don't have to relive the same consequences repeatedly if we can just listen!

God shows up to a man called Gideon and says, "You are a mighty warrior. And the challenges facing you and all the people around you can be resolved."

And like many of us, Gideon starts with why all this cannot work. Firstly, Gideon says, I know God is not with us. If God were with us, all these things would never happen. Secondly, Gideon says, well, even if God is with us, I am no warrior, and my clan is the weakest among all the people, so pick someone else because I don't have the skill set or background to do this. Thirdly, even if I can accept what you are saying, well, God, I need further proof it's you talking to me, so do a few things for me as a sign to make sure I know it's you.

Does this line of thinking sound familiar? I am pretty sure many of us are like this. I have said similar things to the Lord. But God is faithful. God indulges Gideon. In verse 17, we read, "Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you."

And the Lord said, "I will wait until you return." As we read through this scripture, we see where God gave Gideon instructions on what to do, and he did it. Interestingly, even while Gideon obeys the instructions, he is still timid. He still has some level of doubt. But he presses on anyway and does it. In verse 27, we read, "So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime."

If you and I wait until we are fully persuaded to do something well, this may never happen. But we have to have enough faith to begin. And we see that even after Gideon starts listening and doing what he believes God is telling him, even though he remains unsure (at times). So again, in verse 38, he asks again for a sign, "Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew." And as we read through, we see God leading Gideon step by step. Some choices were hard. Some choices caused opposition and arguments. But Gideon continued along, listening to God's direction.

So, where is this mighty God? God is here with us - in our weaknesses and our strengths. God is with us - in our joys, grief, and pains. The LORD is with us when we have more than enough. He is here with us when we barely have enough to get by. He is here with us when we do not have enough. God is with us even in moments when we feel alone.

Isaiah 41:10 states, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

PRAYER
Dear Lord, please help us know you are always with us despite what is happening. Help us listen because LORD, You always have the solution to our problems. In Jesus' name, amen.

Wheat Harvest Magazine is a Magazine that shares the truth of God's word and the testimonies of thos

04/02/2024

In this life, people are always striving for success. And success looks different depending on the person you are talking with. For one person, a successful life may mean paying off the mortgage, having children, being debt-free with savings, and growing old enough to see your grandchildren. For someone else, success may mean starting a profitable company, getting on the stock market, and growing that company to a billionaire venture. While someone else may say being successful means reaching the height of their career, receiving an award like the Nobel Prize or some humanitarian award, and then, for another person, being successful could mean growing their congregation to maybe a thousand members, owning the church building and seeing lives changed for the better.

The point is that success looks different depending on who you and I are talking with. So, what brings success? Ecclesiastes 10:10 tells us this answer. The first time I read it, the verse made me think. The scripture says, "If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success." Another translation says, "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success." And another interpretation says, "Remember: the duller the ax the harder the work; use your head: the more brains, the less muscle."

So far, we get a few words from this text depending on the translation used: an axe, unsharpened wisdom, skill, and your brain (mind). If you ever needed to chop meat or wood, you would understand what Solomon was teaching us in this passage of scripture. Whenever you have an unsharpened knife or cutting instrument, it takes far longer to do what needs to be done. You use far more strength than you need to. You work much harder than you should to get the job done. At the end of the day, depending on what you need chopping or cutting, you may find yourself weak, tired, and, in many cases, frustrated.

Why? Because you are spending too much time doing the work when all you need to do is spend more time sharpening the edge, knife, or cutting instrument before you start working. Does that feel like your life at times? You work tirelessly, but the results are minimal. You spend hours doing so much, but at the end of the day, all you have is sleepless nights and nowhere near where you need to be or what you need to accomplish. You are chopping and cutting, but it isn't very sensible because you are using an unsharpened instrument.

Now, here is something powerful and true. Most Christians live their lives like this. Most Christians spend their whole life cutting, chopping, and fighting the wrong things. Many Christians focus so much on the supernatural world and all the elements they perceive are out to get them or what they think may be stopping them from living fruitful lives. But the reality is, as Christians, we are often unsuccessful because we lack preparation, planning, or skill. Moreover, we have not utilized God's wisdom, and our minds have not been transformed as they're still worldly. These are harsh words, but they are often the truth if we are honest with ourselves.

Paul encourages us to desire to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2: 16). Here, the word for mind in Greek is νοῦς (nous), and this means "understanding, reason, the reasoning faculty, intellect, intelligence, reflective thinking, knowing truth from false, perception, thinking and judging situations." Paul then speaks more about the benefits of having this renewed mind in Romans 12:2. Because once our minds are transformed to thinking and perceiving things through the lens of Christ, you and I can know, test, and approve what is God's good, pleasing, and perfect will in our lives.

Paul continues to explain this in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. Here, Paul tells us that our struggle is because our minds have not been changed. What we think about and make our minds dwell on impacts us significantly. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Now, it's good to break down what Paul was saying simply. Here, Paul tells us that a struggle or war is happening inside us, and it's in our minds.

So he says this struggle or fight is not something you can use worldly strategies to win. Why? Because the whole issue is that your mind and how you view things are incorrect, you already have a worldly mindset. So, you cannot change your mind by applying worldly strategies. You are fighting everything outside yourself, but the real battle is within, and it starts in your mind.

So Paul tells us that these tools or weapons that God has given us must be used to fix our minds. We must fight really hard to align our thinking and behavior with the word of God. We must fight hard to take control of any mindset that stops us from fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. This fighting involves more of an intellectual and mental exercise. It is not how much you scream, shout, sing, or jump. Many Christians, after having a very energetic encounter at church, leave still broken, leave still hurt, and leave still unchanged.

This internal fight requires reflective thinking, a deeper understanding of God and His word, and transformation from the inside. And that takes time and effort on our part. So, these strongholds are like fortresses that hold us captive mentally. And these strongholds can be how we see ourselves. It can be our view of the world and how that influences us and our behavior. It can be our fears and our doubts, our insecurities and worries.

This sort of thinking keeps you up at night and influences your lifestyle. It keeps us depressed, broke, broken, and fearful. So, we cannot shout our way out of these things, no matter how lovely the church service was. But Paul tells us how we can overcome any blockage or fortress in our lives. Paul says that all these thoughts and ways of thinking that exalt themselves above what God says about you and keep you in a defective lifestyle need to be removed. And you have to make a serious effort to get rid of that mindset. You have to cast those things out of your mind and replace them with good and true thoughts. Meditate on God's word day and night. Let God's word and wisdom guide your mind and behavior. Reflect on thoughts that exalt God and how God sees you and your circumstances.

You have to be persistent and consistent in having your mind renewed. Otherwise, you will always be thinking something is out to get you. Or something or someone out there has more power than God and can stop you from achieving what God has for you. This is false because we know God is all-powerful. But it starts with your mind!

Now, looking back at our text in Ecclesiastes 10:10, Solomon was telling us the same thing. Solomon explained to us that we have to get control of our minds. We have to apply the wisdom of God's word in our daily lives if we are going to be successful. Stop working so hard at things that bring little to no success. Stop living a life of fear, worry, insecurity, and unbelief. Solomon says, spend more time sharpening that mind of yours. Spend more time sharpening that skill of yours. Spend more time renewing the way you think. Then you will spend far less time to become successful.

Prayer
Father, we love You and appreciate all You have done for us throughout the years. We thank You for life. We thank You for Your faithfulness and love towards us. We thank You for another day and another year. As we continue into the second month of 2024, may we focus on renewing our minds. Let's focus on sharpening our understanding of Your word and commit to applying Your wisdom daily. May we desire to have the mind of Christ. In Jesus's name, we pray, amen.

Wheat Harvest Magazine is a Magazine that shares the truth of God's word and the testimonies of thos

Address

Website

https://wheatharvestmagazine.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wheat Harvest Magazine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Wheat Harvest Magazine:

Wheat Harvest Magazine

30/06/2024

12/05/2024

03/03/2024

04/02/2024

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Videos

Shortcuts

Share