Is Your Mind The Source Of Your Misery

Proverbs 23:7
For as he [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he.

Many of my past experiences within the confines of group recovery meetings have been life changing and yet challenging at the same time. Sharing my past experiences with women who have also been through the same things was most certainly a challenge for me because my heart and mind had changed from what I previously believed and practiced as truth. I realized that I was merely surviving while I was living my life in addiction and I shared my thoughts with everyone within those group meetings. Other people would share what was in their hearts and I would sit there and listen to them and be in awe of what they were living with and struggling to get through. For some reason I had this strong desire to help them through their difficulties and problems, but I thought to myself, who was I to take on such a task when I was in the same group meetings seeking help as well. All I would speak about was how the Lord changed my heart and my mind, and how I wanted to live for Him. I wanted everyone in the group to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and I was going to slip His name into the conversation one way or the other. All I could think about was how am I going to get people to hear Jesus and had the nerve to think I could save them from themselves and their addictive behavior. Even in my own needy state I desired to point people to Christ. I wanted to meet their needs in spite of my own needs.  I had the right spirit, but I believe it wasn’t the right time. I had not yet been educated, equipped or empowered to operate in that capacity at the time. Even though we all shared the same affliction I believed I was being influenced by the Holy Spirit to be an influence to others, whether they wanted to hear it or not, which brings to me disclose why Proverbs 23:7 is the main reason why people recovering from addiction may be failing in their efforts to truly be free. So much of the negative things people in recovery go through and why they go through them is a direct result of their incorrect thought life, which is without a doubt connected to the condition of their heart. When you’ve lived a life that is fueled by a mindset that only says, “Get more, Do more” by any means necessary you have to understand that there has to be a drastic change in not only the mind of that person, but also in the heart of the person. I was only scratching the surface t that point of my life. Sometimes God will show us things that we feel are for the “Right Now”, but in fact they are for the future. Nevertheless, there are some people who have no idea what goes through the mind of a drug addicted person and some of those people would simply think that they can just stop instantly. Even some of the people within the church have no idea the kind of spirits that inhabit the hearts and minds of those who are addicted or are recovering from addiction. There are many people recovering from addiction that have not yet learned what type of thinking is good, acceptable and pleasing in God’s sight, and for this reason I have made it my goal to go to as many treatment facilities and transitional houses to share my story of what the Lord has done for me and through me by His grace. Believers in Christ are Ministers of Reconciliation and are commissioned by the Lord to go to unbelievers and plead with them to be reconciled to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) 

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Imagine having a conversation with a person who is fresh in recovery; you could hear their issues and see what has to be changed within them.  You first have to have compassion for them and tell them how it really is, whether they immediately receive and understand fully what you’re saying or not. You also have to be very attentive to what they are saying. You don’t have to be a counselor or have a PhD to assist in the liberation of another human being. Please don’t misunderstand me, I am in no way saying that professional counseling is not necessary in some cases, but what I am saying is that the Body of Christ have been given the power and authority to heal the hearts of people by ministering to them as well as praying and interceding for them. I have come to realize and truly believe that one plants, one waters but God gives the increase. 

(1 Corinthians 3:6-8) 

In other words, the two who plant and water are united in their assignment, but by faith they stand in hope and with patience that God will increase what they have sown in the lives of those people. I have experienced listening to the torturing life experiences of several young women in recovery and had to pray for them immediately. I could feel their misery, I knew what the enemy had planted in their minds, and I understood that the more they believed those lies, the more their heart would make it their reality. Only the Word of God can destroy that kind of yoke! I have to admit that there are some people who just do not want to be a part of this kind of ministry because it can take a lot out of you, but there is a scripture that I pull from when I get wearied by ministry. Philippians 3:10-11, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” I pray that those who are called to this type of ministry don’t get caught up in the Power of the resurrection alone, but embrace the fellowship of His suffering. You can’t experience one without the other. Well at least you shouldn’t. Ministry itself can be consuming when there is no balance and no constant communication with the Father, and we can become consumed when we don’t approach it in the order in which it was given. We don’t want to become miserable ourselves or become so busy in ministry that we loose ourselves and neglect our families in the process. I would rather you be productive and not just busy. (Being busy is bordering on witchcraft) 2 Thessalonians 3:11 and 1 Timothy 5:13. God is a God of order and he will lead and guide us into all truth. We must not allow our minds to tell us to do things that are out of the order of God, even if it involves ministry. We must be lead by the spirit of God and be very discerning because the Spirit leads us externally (the word) and internally (the indwelling of the Holy Spirit). Psalms 119:105; Ephesians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 2:9-13
So I pray that you will be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the works of the Lord,  knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord

Divide & Conquer (The Absence of Unity Within The Church)

What if I told you that we are our worst enemy and that the enemy of our souls starts with our agreement with, and submission to what satan plants in our minds and hearts. You would probably have to think twice or analyze that statement first before believing it. The term “Divide and Conquer” is said to derive from King Phillip II of Macedon (382-336 BC), which described his policy toward the Greek city- states. According to him, this well known phrase is referring to a strategy of gaining and maintaining power based on the fact that many smaller opponents are easier to manage than larger opponents. The strategy includes breaking up power alliances into smaller groups that are easier to subdue/manage and preventing those small groups from linking up and becoming more powerful. If this strategy was to be effective it would allow those with limited power to control those who collectively would have had a lot more influence. I do however believe that many other ruler like Caesar and Napoleon put this technique into operation as well.  Strangely enough, this technique has been effective in many cases, for many reasons, in many genres and for many centuries’.

I would, however like to point out a more spiritual perspective of this strategy according to the Word of God. In Matthew 12:25 Jesus makes a very powerful statement directed at the Pharisees that I think we should know about UNITY!
Jesus has just healed a man from being blind, mute and demon-possessed. The multitudes of people were amazed and began to ask, “Could this be the Son of David?” The Pharisees heard it and said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Jesus knowing their thoughts says, “Every kingdom divided [separated or at odds] against itself is brought to desolation [misery, anguish despair], and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” The Pharisees have just accused Jesus of operating under the power and influence of a demon in order to cast out a demon and Jesus with the knowledge and discernment he has didn’t get offended, and didn’t begin to accuse them back; he simply laid the truth in table, goes into a parable about the strong man and shifts into  a powerful statement concerning “The Unpardonable Sin,” which is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, this was Jesus’ way of warning them to be careful how far they took their statement concerning operating under the influence of God’s Holy Spirit. He was saying in essence that they could speak against him and be forgiven, but don’t take it to far trying to disprove who I am and end up not being able to be forgiven.

This passage of scripture has so much in it, but I want to focus on what Jesus pointed out concerning the absence of unity and why it’s so important in order for us to remain powerful, effective and productive. If you notice, there are two elements to the phrase “Divide & Conquer.” Division must first occur before the conquering comes into play, so this suggests that there is a process of time that it will to cause that division. First I want to point out that there must be contention, strife, anger misery and anguish in the midst of any group if division is to occur. The bible says in James 4:1-3, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” In other words, James is pointing out the root cause of division amongst the saints, which lies in their selfish desires (the bible calls them evil desires). This is how the enemy gets in and causes division amongst God’s people. He causes us to look more at ourselves and our own lack in order to gain ground. If there is no gratitude towards God for the gifts he has given us, our views are skewed and we begin to covet what the world has with evil intentions, as if God’s gifts to us are not enough, and when we do seek and ask God, we ask with the wrong motives. Romans 16:17-19 says, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.”

Isn’t it ironic that because of our obedience to Jesus Christ the enemy will use people within the church to deceive us with flattering words in order to get us out of the Will of God (Word of God) for our lives? Our urgency and instruction to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil is just that. We don’t have to make things so complicated and deep all the time. We should never over think things. Some things are simply surface knowledge to the children of God, but we have this saying, “I’m going to have to pray on it.” What is their to pray on if the word is rooted richly in your hearts? Why allow someone to come along and deceive you? What sounds good on the surface must first be examined by the Word of God that lives in us. It’s just that simple. This is just but one of the ways in which division is accomplished within the body of Christ. Selfish desire is trying it’s best to defeat the saints and we’re falling for it. We listen to songs like “Go Get it” (Your Blessing) and just run with it. We forget about the Ministry of Reconciliation that we’ve been made Ambassadors for.

We must never forget the purpose in which we were saved to begin with.(2 Cor. 5:11-21)

When will we realize that collectively we have more influence in this world as the Body of Christ? Unfortunately, I believe our focus has shifted to what’s around us and not what’s in us. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “So Christ himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” The main purpose of unity in this text points to being equipped for the purpose of ministry and for our edification until we are unified in the faith. This is what the enemy is after! The absence of unity has repercussions that we have yet to comprehend, and if the truth be told, the absence of unity is the beginning of our demise. But it all starts from within us. Philippians 2:1-4 sets us free. It says, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” This is how we overcome and take back our power from the enemy, our influence in our families, with our friends and in the world. Don’t get me wrong, this will not be an easy task because we must endure hardship as a good soldier, but I believe we will reap if we faint not.
The bible wasn’t lying when it asks the question in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?” The answer is obvious. We cannot continue to walk together as believers in Christ if we all have our own selfish agenda’s. As you can see, in each verse I have shared, Selfish ambition, Selfishness or Selfish desires is the root cause of division. So in essence, when we stray from the will of God, turn away from our humility towards Christ and become discontented in the gifts He has given us for the equipping of one another, we in fact conquer ourselves. We are our worst enemy!
Absence of unity is presence with defeat!