Posted June 30, 2016 under Blog

Do not Enter

There is a story of a robber who broke into a house, and stole some valuables. He was easily caught because he charged his cell phone in that house, then forgot to unplug it and bring it! Dumb, right? It was easy for the police to trace him using his cellphone!

I realize sometimes how we allow 'dumb robbers' into our lives too. What could these dumb robbers be?

It is easy to trace them. These robbers are our careless words and thoughts. They steal our hopes and drain our energy.

Sometimes, we "unbless" ourselves with our own words. "I'm never going to make it." "I'm hopeless." "I'm so dumb." "I'm so forgetful! I think I have Alzheimers." "I always lose things." "I'm so awkward." "I'm a lousy parent."

That's why the Bible says we need a security guard!

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalm 141: 3

I have a dear anonymous friend whose favorite expression is "Mamamatay akooo!!!" ("I'm gonna die!!!") When talking about. . .

Politics: "Those hearings are driving me crazy!!! Im gonna die!!!" Fashion: "I love that dress!! Im gonna die!!!" Traffic: "Its horrible!! Im gonna die!!!"

So one day, I asked her, "So, when are you going to die?"

She looked at me with amazement and asked, "What are you talking about?? I dont want to die!"

To which I replied, "So why are you always saying it??"

"She's not the only one guilty of saying it. Sometimes, I catch myself thinking dumb thoughts, too. Thoughts like:

"They don't really like me. They're just pretending." "I'm such a failure." "Why can't I be like_______?"

When I was a teenager, I remember myself thinking that my problem was so huge, and I would think, "Why not just kill yourself and end it all?"

That's why God says we need a GUARD. Not just in banks. Not just in offices. We need a GUARD over our lives, and over our mouths.

These unguarded, unarrested thoughts and words are sent to steal YOU of your destiny. What is the devil stealing, keeping, and destroying in your life? Don't allow him to steal God's promises to you as His child. Take action!

1. ARREST THE ROBBER, DEMOLISH THE LIE

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Demolish: To knock down, tear down; overwhelmingly defeat

Many of us are security-conscious. We guard our bags, our computers, our phones. We lock our cars. We can't sleep until we make the rounds, and check all the doors. Yet we easily believe what we read, see or hear from the internet or news.

The most important thing we can guard is our soul. Proverbs 21:23 says: He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.

A Psalm of David said, I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.Psalm 39:1

2) FILL YOUR MOUTH & SOUL WITH BLESSINGS

How many times a day do you bless yourself? Yes, you can read that question again : >

How many times a day do YOU bless YOURSELF?

Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all the day.Psalm 71:8

You don't build yourself up by mere positive thinking, or by avoiding conflict. You build yourself up by filling your mind with the unchanging promises of Jesus. A God who promised to never leave you or abandon you, no matter what challenges you are facing that day.

3) VERBALLY AND ORALLY RECITE GODS PROMISES DAILY

Yes, I do it out loud. The more discouraged I feel, the more verbally I proclaim God's word.

Why? Psalm 142:3 says, 'When my spirit is faint within me, it is YOU that knows the way.'

I would go into my children's rooms, lay hands on their beds, and DECLARE OUT LOUD:

"ALL MY SONS WILL BE TAUGHT BY THE LORD; AND GREAT WILL BE MY CHILDRENS PEACE."

"SURELY, YOUR GOODNESS AND LOVE SHALL FOLLOW US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES, AND WE WILL DWELL IN YOUR HOUSE FOREVER."

"YOUR PLANS FOR ME ARE ALWAYS FOR MY GOOD. NEVER FOR MY EVIL."

I read Psalm 119:97 onward and make it a prayer of Blessing for me and my household:

"Lord, my family will love Your Word. Your commands will make us wiser than our enemies. You are giving us the insight we need this day. We meditate on your statutes and obey You willingly. My children are gaining wisdom and understanding and will hate every wrong path."

Every since Lukie was born, I have blessed him with a blessing from God." The Lord bless you Lucas, and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and give you peace." Joshua, his dad, looked at me in amazement. Apparently he's been blessing Lukie with that prayer since the day he was born too.

So it is with 2 year old Philip. So it is with his grandpapa Joey at 59. The Blessings of the Lord are available for all of us to claim daily.

How many days has the devil stolen your peace, and replaced it with worry and fear? It's time to put a new padlock, and enjoy the security of God's unchageable Word.

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