The Power For a Healthy Life is in Retaining God’s Word!
They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved (vile, corrupt) mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Rom. 1:28 God gives to me according to what I believe.
| Synonyms for retain: hold on to mentally; absorb, cling to, enjoy, have, hold, keep, maintain, own, possess, remember, save, hang onto, hold fast, keep in mind. Antonyms for retain: abandon, desert, dispossess, ignore, lack, let go, lose, miss, neglect, not have, release, disregard, forget. |
When I don’t retain His knowledge I end up believing and doing things that I ought not do! But when I retain His knowledge I end up believing and doing things that please God, bless myself and others, and make me whole!
God declares I will be transformed through His Word (made a new person that’s healthy, free, and whole) as my mind is renewed. Rom. 12:2
For as I think in my heart, so will I be. I will not be carnally minded and bring death to my soul, but be spiritually minded and bring life and peace to my soul. Rom. 8:6; Prov. 23:7
When I yoke together with Jesus, the Word, my life is easy and light and I have rest in my soul. When I yoke with my weary thoughts, my life is full of burdens and heaviness and I am anxious in my soul. Matt. 11:28-30
God’s Word removes all vile images and detestable idols from my mind and heart, gives me an undivided heart, and puts a new spirit in me, His Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ez. 11:18-21; Gal. 5:22-23
I abide and remain in God’s Word and I know the Truth, and the Truth will set me free from all sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, and drunkenness. John 8:31-32; Gal. 5:19-21
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at my heart. I see that where my treasure is, there my heart will be also. 1Sam. 16:7; Matt 6:19-21
Jesus is the treasure of my heart and is strengthening me with power through his Spirit in my inner being and dwelling in my heart through faith in His Word. Eph. 3:16-17
I’m extremely wise by storing up God’s Word in my heart that I might not sin against Him. Staying on His Word lets me enjoy perfect peace! Ps. 119:11; Isaiah 26:3
I love trusting the Lord with all my heart, and don’t desire to lean on (put my faith in) my own understanding, because that will always lead me to the wide road of destruction. Matt. 7:13
I enjoy many wonderful blessings and see Him straighten out my life by acknowledging the Lord, and speaking out His Word in all my ways. Prov. 3:5-6
Above all else, I guard my heart against conforming to the pattern of the world’s thinking, because everything I do will flow from my heart. Prov. 4:23
The daily fight I’m in is a fight of thoughts! The weapons I fight with are words of divine power that demolish strongholds of rebellion and pride coming against my mind. I am alert and ready at all times to demolish arguments and every pretension that tries to set itself up against the knowledge of God in my mind, and take captive every one of my thoughts to make it obedient to Christ. 2Cor. 10:3-5
The reason I know certain verses really well is because I needed them so bad! Apart from Christ, the Word, I’m not a thankful person and would never think to give thanks in every circumstance, especially the difficult ones. Sure when things are good I may give thanks but even then I’ve focused on negative things and have not been thankful at times. Knowing that through thankfulness I glorify God and bless myself and others, I want to be a thankful person! Only through God’s Word will that happen.
Again, I know many forgiveness verses because apart from Christ I’m not a forgiver. Sure I might be able to forgive if someone apologizes but even then it can be a struggle. God calls me to love my enemies- impossible! I can see the dilemma in my life. He’s calling me to do things I cannot do. Apart from Him I can do nothing. (John 15:5) Only the Word, Jesus, will change me and make me into His image, enabling me to do the impossible: love unconditionally, be free, humble, peaceful, patient, wise, pure, and holy, all which lead me to a healthy life. Luke 9:23-24
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
I notice that thoughts and ways go together and see how much higher His thoughts and ways are!! Way higher! What I decide to think on affects every area of my life!
I will live according to how I think. Making Jesus my Lord and my life means that I retain (take hold of) His thoughts and ways, (through confession and meditation of His Word) then Jesus becomes my life and I live life more abundantly. John 10:10
