As I was seeking the Lord in preparation for the second half of this year 2023, these words somehow dropped on my thoughts: "Expect the goodness of God in your life!"
The Lord then said: "As My people enter the realm of My goodness and My victory, tell My people to guard what they think, and guard what they speak!"
The Lord said further: "Commit your thoughts and your spoken words to Me, and I will establish you. Do not be conformed to the ways and to the patterns of this fallen world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you look to Me, I will cause you to see and understand the many things that the world cannot see and understand. I will show you My will and My way. I will show you what is to come."
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) says, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
Yes, 'present your bodies' here includes 'present your mind and your mouth'. It includes what you think, how you think, what you speak, and how you speak.
The word 'prove' here is 'dokimazo' in Greek. One of the definitions of 'dokimazo' is 'allow'. In other words, 'that you may allow what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God happening in your life'. And that's what happens when you allow your mind to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, renewed by the Holy Spirit, and not to be conformed to the ways and the patterns of this fallen world, i.e. how this fallen world thinks, or rather, how this fallen world makes you think!
Romans 8:5-7a (NKJV) says, 'For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God...'
The word 'carnal' here is 'sarx' in Greek. It can be defined as 'of the flesh'. In other words, the person's mind is unrenewed in his or her way (or pattern) of thinking. That's what it means by 'carnal mind' here, i.e. the unrenewed mind that is still conforming to what is 'of the flesh'. The person thinks and sees things in the way (or pattern) of this fallen world, instead of how God thinks and how God sees.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) says, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.'
The word 'meditate' here is 'logizomai' in Greek. It can mean 'think, impute, conclude'. It means 'keep thinking about all these things', or 'keep putting it into your mind continuously'. In other words, 'what you think continuously', 'what you regard continuously', 'what you put into your mind continuously', 'what you remind yourself continuously', or 'what you conclude in your mind continuously'. And that's what 'logizomai' means here!
Let's move on to your spoken words now, i.e. 'what you say to yourself', 'what you say to the situation around you', or 'what you say into the spiritual realm'. Never underestimate the importance of your spoken words!
Proverbs 18:20-21 (NKJV) says, 'A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.'
It means if a person loves to speak death, or loves to speak negativity, they will have it! But if a person loves to speak life, loves to speak what God says, or loves to speak what is agreeable with what God says in His Word, they will also have it! In other words, death and life are in the power of what you say! You see, words are powerful! And especially so in the spiritual realm! The enemy knows that! Therefore, you as a beloved of God must know the importance of your spoken words! In other words, what you say into the spiritual realm, or what you say to yourself, is what you see happening in your life in the physical realm!
Proverbs 15:3-4 (NKJV) says, 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.'
The word 'wholesome' here is 'marpay' in Hebrew. It can mean 'healing, remedy, cure'. It means a wholesome tongue or a wholesome word that you speak can bring healing, remedy, and cure in whatever situation that you are facing!
The word 'perverseness' here is 'sehlef' in Hebrew. It can mean 'distortion, vicious, crooked'. So, do not allow yourself to speak words that worsens your situation! Many people in this world often use their mouths to complain and speak about all the negative things and bad things that are happening in and around their lives. And you know what? Unfortunately, they get what they say!
There may be people who think I'm teaching nonsense here. They may say I'm teaching people to escape from reality. No, my friend. I'm not teaching you to escape from reality. I'm teaching you that in spite of what's happening in and around your life that is not good, you can change it with God's Word! You can use God's Word, the sword of the Spirit, to change your life! You can change your life by how you think and what you say out! It is likened to a sword! It can be used to slay any 'giant' or power of darkness that comes against you!
So, instead of dwelling in negativity, why not speak God's Word upon your life instead? And why not speak God's Word upon your situation instead? Now, of course the change that you want to see may not happen immediately. It may take time. But it will happen! Just do not limit how God is going to do it!
Keep thinking how God thinks! Keep speaking how God speaks! That's how you're going to be aligned with 'what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God in your life'! And that's how you're going to taste and see more and more that the Lord is indeed good in your life! Amen!
