Scriptural Foundation:
Proverbs 23:7 – New King James Version (NKJV)
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.
Isaiah 55:8 – New King James Version (NKJV)
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
John 10:10 – New King James Version (NKJV)
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Reflection:
Years ago, I worked with an older gentleman that most people thought was very gruff. People often joked that his effort towards his job should be called “close enough construction”. All my interactions with this gentleman were positive. He was gruff, yet kind and attentive. He always accomplished the tasks that he did for me in an expeditious fashion, and it was always above and beyond what I asked for. I often wondered how one person could have two very different perceptions of his work ethic.
For as he thinks within himself, so is he. He will grudgingly say, “Go ahead and eat all you want,” but in his heart he resents the fact that he has to pay for your meal. – Proverbs 23:7(TPT)
We have often heard that perception is reality. I don’t agree with that. I think narratives define perceptions/stereotypes and then those perceptions create an alternate reality. The Word of God is black and white – truth or deception; blessing or curse; heaven or hell. Man in our infinite knowledge added our perceptions to God’s Word and created a grey area – purgatory, once saved always saved, etc. With God, there is no darkness. With God, there is no negotiation.
For my thoughts about mercy are not like your thoughts, and my ways are different from yours. -Isaiah 55:8 (TPT)
There was One voice in the garden, before the serpent came in with a different narrative:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1(NKJV)
God’s response was:
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” – Genesis 3:9-11(NKJV)
It is key what you think. Your thoughts produce your words and actions. God is always speaking to us. At the same time, the devil is also sowing seeds of doubt and deception to counter those words.
A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow! – John 10:10 (TPT)
That is why it is imperative to renew our minds every day with God’s Words. We need to constantly be plucking out the weeds (idle thoughts) in our minds. We need to take every thought captive and apply the Word of God to them (2 Corinthians 10:5). Studying the life of Jesus as a man, the enemy of our soul(mind) was always present to try to knock Jesus off His course. Despite all the devil’s attempts our Lord and Savior never sinned (1 Peter 2:22). It has always been the plan of God that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). And spoiler alert, He knew that mankind would fail to hold up our end of the covenant.
Now when God made a promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater than himself, he swore an oath on his own integrity to keep the promise as sure as God exists! So he said, “Have no doubt, I promise to bless you over and over, and give you a son and multiply you without measure!” Hebrews 6:13-14(TPT)
So, if we are going to fail and if the devil is going to constantly be coming around to remind and accuse us of that failure then it is in our best interest to meditate on God’s narrative. . .on God’s Words. As a result, when we hear and then see something that is “close enough” we can quickly identify it as counterfeit. Let us be lifelong students of the Word of God, and not constantly stumble when we get tested out in the world. God has pre-destined you to live life in abundance.
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- Make a conscious effort to monitor your self-talk for a week.
- Write down the three major narratives that you have running around in your mind.
- Watch to see if your words and actions follow those narratives for a week.
- Write the actions next to the three major narratives you had previously written down if they apply.
- Now look in scripture to see if that narrative is in the Word. If it is not, then that narrative is counterfeit. Rebuke it and seek the Lord for scripture and/or narratives from the Bible to replace that counterfeit narrative.
- Meditate daily on that scripture and or narrative from the Bible for thirty days.
Walk in the light you were given, nothing more, nothing less.