Daily Devotional

STRONGHOLDS OF THE MIND

We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The nature of the battle for your mind is clearly presented in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

WHAT GOD HAS PROVIDED

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Galatians 6:3)

THE ONLY LIMIT TO FAITH

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17)

When people struggle with their faith in God, it's not because their faith-object is insufficient. It's because people have unreal expectations of God. They expect Him to operate a certain way or answer prayer a certain way - their way, not His - and when He doesn't comply they say, "Forget You, God." But God doesn't change; He's the perfect faith-object. Faith in God only fails when people hold a faulty understanding of Him.

FALSE SELF-CONCEPTS

The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful (Proverbs 12:5)

ACCUSATION AND CONVICTION

The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10)

THE SPIRIT'S CONVICTION

I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God (2 Corinthians 7:9)

DEATH OF THE OLD SELF

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)

A pastor visited me a few years ago, and he was in real turmoil. "I've been struggling to live a victorious Christian life for 20 years. I know what my problem is. Colossians 3:3 says: "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.' I've been struggling all these years because I haven't died like this verse says. How do I die, Neil?"

"Dying is not your problem," I said. "Read the verse again, just a little slower."

NO LONGER UNDER OBLIGATION

Our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Romans 6:6)

PLACED INTO CHRIST

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me (Galatians 2:20).

All unbelievers have an old nature that is characterized by sin. Before you came to Christ you were one of those individuals. You were a sinner because it was your nature to sin. This 'natural man' cannot accept or understand the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

GOD WORKS IN THE ORDINARY

He [God] Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

A devout Christian heard an urgent news report on his radio that a flash flood was within minutes of entering the peaceful valley where he lived. Immediately he went to his knees and prayed for safety. The words were still on his lips when he became aware that water was gushing under his door. He retreated to the second floor and finally onto the roof of his house.