“I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10 For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 57:9-10 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash
Sometimes I just shake my head in amazement at how easily the American mind has been shaped by the world. Current trends have more influence over what we believe than we would like to admit. It makes me ask, “Who’s molding the clay?”
“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 NIV
I have had the privilege to observe the world though the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and beyond to the present day. The changes I have seen are shocking. People’s attitudes and beliefs have changed dramatically.
Some molding of the mind has been good. For example, the importance of recycling has been beneficial. That didn’t just happen. Through education the thinking of people was shaped to believe it was important. This is especially obvious if you worked in the schools.
Some of what people have been educated to believe is not good. We have to ask ourselves, is God molding the clay of my mind or is the world?
Take the belief, “Women should be in control of their own bodies.” This pops up all the time. Young people think this is a given because of societal influence, television, and the media. Societal pressure says there is no room for debate. Accept the beliefs of the culture, or be called a hater. The problem is, once one accepts the belief that women should control their own bodies and that nothing can override it, abortion becomes acceptable. Some say it is the lesser of two evils.
Where do you draw the line anyway? at 6 weeks, 3 months, 9 months? after birth? Once one accepts the belief that a woman should control her own body, there is no line. A woman can kill her baby anytime she sees fit. Why? Because nothing trumps the woman’s right to choose. This is why abortion has gotten so out of hand and why some states are fighting to expand abortion rights.
My point is this: the world has too much influence on what people believe and think. But God’s Word says,
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8 NIV
All you have to do is watch popular TV shows to see what I mean. Things that were once considered disgraceful are now presented as completely normal through movies and television sitcoms. Who are we allowing to mold the clay? The Bible says,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV
God is more interested in changing our heart than changing our circumstances. He is more interested in molding the clay of our minds than fixing all our problems.
God, Mold me and make me into the person You want me to be. Circumcise my heart and make me pure. Renew my mind according to Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:7,8,10
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:20-22 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
“God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” Psalm 46:1-3 NLT
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Stefano Zocca on Unsplash
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 TLB
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
“The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.” Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Picture in your mind an apple tree loaded with ripe, red apples. Big, juicy apples are weighing down the branches until they brush the ground. Below, dozens have fallen and cover the ground like a quilt. You have no doubt what kind of tree it is. It’s an apple tree!
Then picture another tree. It has no fruit hanging on the branches. There’s no fruit lying on the ground. There’s no fruit anywhere. You don’t know what kind of tree it is!
Galatians 5:16-26 explains how to produce the fruit of the Spirit and cast aside the lust of the flesh.
“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Pay special attention to the bolded words, “walk by the Spirit”. The Greek word for walk is peripateo. It means “follow as a companion”. If we live our lives with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion, we will not entertain those fleshly desires.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (NIV)
Verse 25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
The Greek word translated “keep in step” is stoicheo. It means “to march in military rank, to conform to.”
It’s just like marching in a group. I’ve never served in the military, but I once marched in a band. In the 6th grade I was a majorette. The most exciting event of the summer was the 4th of July parade! I knew I had to keep in step with the others or I would stand out like a sore thumb. (I also had to try really hard not to drop my baton!)
To keep in step while marching means following the voice of the one calling the cadence. You don’t watch your feet! Likewise, keeping in step with the Spirit means following Him, focusing on Jesus and His precious Word.
Doing those things will produce the Fruit of the Spirit in your life and everyone will know what kind of “tree” you are. These are the characteristics that will define you: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Don’t be discouraged if your fruit doesn’t develop overnight. It takes an apple seed 5 to 10 years to make an apple! But when we’re serious about our relationship with God, He will change us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. Our part is to “keep in step” with the Holy Spirit. God will do the rest!
May God bless you as you yield to His will and follow in His steps, allowing the Lord to develop in you the precious fruit of the Spirit.
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Featured Image Photo by Nathan Hulsey on Unsplash
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:7 NIV
With Love,
Cindy
This Is My Journey Unscripted.
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
realchristianwomen.blog
Real Christian Women 