Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

The battle that you and I fight is not external to us but rather internal.  It is a battle of the mind.  The exciting thing is that each time that we get upset or feel anxiety becomes an opportunity to surrender to God.   It becomes a gate into which more peace can come through if we allow the renewal to occur.

From the Christian perspective the mind is made up of the will, thoughts and emotions.  We have either good thoughts or bad thoughts.  What we want is more good than bad.  When our mind is filled with good, then we are able to live in relative harmony with ourselves and those around us.  When our mind is constantly raging, then our emotions and bodies are affected.

Peace comes through renewal of the mind.  As we allow God to reprogram the thoughts that enter, then we have more and more peace.  A thought like “I will never achieve anything” can be so toxic to our minds and emotions that it can cause you to die prematurely.

A thought like “Everyone else is successful but me” can keep you chained in poverty the rest of your life.

A thought like “I am stupid, why try” can keep you from doing the things that you long to do.

A thought like “There is no way I can escape the cycle that my family is in” will keep you and your family under the curse.

The Holy Spirit cleanses us and leads us to pure waters.  These waters are the words of God for our life and they wash away the lies we hold onto.  As we meditate on the Bible and listen to God’s voice, we are programmed with the thoughts of God.  He is the most encouraging person that I have ever met.  He is constantly speaking good things over my life.

I remember when I first started hearing God say nice things about me, I thought He was wrong.  I didn’t believe He could really love me that much.

There was a time in my life when I felt no one in the world loved me and in fact I believed they were afraid of me or hated me.  It was a very difficult way to live my life.

So the feeling of being loved by God was life changing.  I learned to love myself because I knew He loved me.  I knew He loved because He said it all of the time.  I became the center of God’s attention.  A mystery of God is that each one of us is the center of the universe when Christ is in our heart.

God becomes my personal God just as He becomes your personal God.  He is there for me day and night.  There is not a time that He isn’t there for me.  It is really like it is just me and Him living in the earth. Such great love He has for you and me.

When you are filled with the presence of God and become centered in the Shelter of the Most High, His thoughts for you become your thoughts as well.  Old lies begin to fall away.  Each day you become aware of the destructive thoughts that once bound you.  Each day the truth sets you free.

Yes, Christ died once for my sins on the cross, but each day my freedom grows brighter and brighter.  As I continue to gaze upon the one my soul loves, then my mind becomes freer.  Peace goes deeper into my heart and I am not as easily shaken.

We all want to be in that place of unshakable peace.  It comes with a price.  In order to enter into that place, we must freely surrender all of our fears.  God will make us face each fear for freedom’s sake.  The lies that you hold onto will bind you until Christ reveals them and you surrender it back to Him.  He will show you the truth that you believe and you must repent or forgive.  When you pay these costs (which can seem very high), then in return Christ gives you a peace deeper and more wonderful than anything you can imagine.

So I pray that today you will enter into that deeper place.  I pray that you will be open to the renewal that God wants to bring.  I pray that God will just show up in your life and begin this work.  Just cry out to Him today and watch what He will do.