NO PARKING
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
My first outside sales job was in 1986. I was working for the Commercial Division of Waste Management, Inc. It was a fun job filled with tons of prospective customers because every business generates trash.
One of my prospects was The Summit in Houston. In my sales days, The Summit was the home of the Houston Rockets basketball team (now it is the home of Lakewood Church). The Summit was a great prospect for me because they could generate tons of trash.
I became friends with the Operations Manager, Henry Thomas – the Big Hen as the players called him. He was a super guy. Although he never gave me the business there, he did bless me in other ways.
One day he called me up and said he had tickets to the game for me. I said, “Are they good seats?” He was a little offended. The Big Hen ONLY had good seats. Turns out they were great seats, sitting at mid court on the floor, one row above the general manager of the team. As a big time Rockets fan, I was in basketball heaven.
One of the perks that came along with the Big Hen’s tickets was a parking pass. He worked it out for me to park in the players’ parking area. As I pulled up to the entrance, a security guard was there. He had a clipboard with approved names. I had to give him my name … and it had to be on the list before he would allow me to park in that primo spot. If my name wasn’t on the list, I would have been turned away.
BAD THOUGHTS CAN’T PARK HERE!
Did you know that God wants us to put a security guard at the entrance of our mind? He wants us to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” EVERY THOUGHT!
The clipboard of acceptable thoughts God approves to park in the mind is found in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
What is parked in your mind today? Do your thoughts match up with Philippians 4:8? Could it be that you have been lax in taking every thought captive? Could it be that some lies have been allowed to park in your mind – I’m no good … I can’t be forgiven … God doesn’t love me … I can’t overcome this addiction … my family would be better off without me … my circumstances aren’t going to improve … my marriage is never going to get better … what’s the use of trying … what’s the use of praying? Does any of that sound familiar?
Make no mistake: you are what you think. If you fill your mind with negative, rotten, depressing things, you will feel negative, rotten and depressed.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?
1. Start right now towing out those negative thoughts that came straight from the pit of hell and fill your mind with the truth of God’s Word – I am loved by God … I am forgiven and washed clean by the blood of Jesus … God has a good plan for me … God does hear my prayer and will answer at the right time … I am NOT a victim, I’m a victor in Jesus’ name.
2. Reinstate the security guard with his clipboard intact. From this day forward, do not let negative, rotten thoughts park in your mind. Tell them to “hit the road, Jack.” Your mind belongs to Jesus. Hellish thoughts are not allowed access.
Rest assured, if you will start putting God’s Word into practice in your life, you will start seeing wonderful changes take place. God’s Word is not only true, it is also powerful to transform your life. Do what God says… and start today!
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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