POSITIVE THINKING ERROR - IITB 15.18

 

Chapter 15.18

Positive Thinking

Error

The Word of Faith Movement – The power of positive thinking - Norman Vincent Peale

Decree it & Declare it - Confess it & Possess it - Name it & Claim it – Blab it & Grab it 

Positive Mental Attitude –– Twisted Scripture

 

 

First Word

     In 1983 I became aware of the “New Age Movement” and the “Word of Faith Movement”; of which both were promoting “SELF” as a way of fulfilling your needs.

ü  The New Age Movement teaches that the power of the mind through “IMAGING” combined with what you believe or have faith in, will change your life and change the world.

ü  This Word of Faith movement has its roots in “Positive Confession”; we must SPEAK to our circumstances... Decree it & Declare it... Confess it & Possess it... Name it & Claim it... Blab it & Grab it.  This pretty much says that the only thing standing in the way of us and our desires is our THOUGHTS, which when properly controlled will produce changes in our circumstances and will bring prosperity and healing.

     I was caught up in the Word of Faith movement of “Positive Confession”; I was all in.   I told a friend that “MY headache was just killing me”; he told me to quit confessing and claiming that the headache was MINE and that I was dying, this was NEGATIVE CONFESSIONS.   Today I still find myself restraining from saying; MY arthritis and MY backache as if to imply that I don’t own these things, I just have them.

     My Belief System recognizes that well-chosen positive or negative words spoken can paint pictures that lift up as well as tear us down.  Out of the abundance of the heart is what the mouth will speak.  My BS in this study looks at the “theology” that YOUR THOUGHTS WILL CHANGE YOUR FUTURE.

 

Luke 6:45 - Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks
⁴⁵ The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil,

FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE

OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS. (ESV)

Side Bar

     A man had two sons which he asked to go work in the vineyard for the day;

1)      One had a Positive Confession and said he would go, but did not. 

2)     The other had a Negative Confession; said he would NOT go, but changed his mind & went

     One had the correct Confession and the other had the correct Action.  The commendation in this parable was NOT to commend the Positive CONFESSION, but rather to commend the eventual obedience; the Positive ACTION.   It’s not what you confess, it’s what you do.  Remember what your momma said; “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.” [1]

     The following scripture is used to teach Positive Confession - ”Whatever is true and honorable, whatever is just and pure, whatever is lovely and commendable, if there is any excellence or anything worthy of praise Think (Dwell)  on these things[2]... This is NOT a Belief System of Positive Confession per say, but are THOUGHTS THAT SHOULD COME ALIVE THROUGH EVERYDAY PRACTICE. 

 

PMA

     Thinking positively is certainly a good thing, it’s when we think there is supernatural power in positive thinking that gives us pause.  This New Age error is a human idea MASQUERADING as truth; this watered down theology states that people can change the outcome of their future events by thinking them into existence... The theology is confidence of faith in yourself.  It operates under the premise of the “Law of Attraction”, similar to the law of gravity.

     PMA; Positive Mental Attitude became a buzz word in the early 50’s through the efforts of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, founder of Guide Post which has inspired millions upon millions to make their lives better through “The Power of Positive Thinking”;  a book he published in 1952.

     Peale wrote; “When you expect the best, you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a “law of attraction” brings the best to you.”   PMA is a false version of Faith and Hope; a flawed theory; an unbiblical notion that is NOT BASED ON TRUTH.   It emerges from the “Self-Help” movement that says you can create your own reality simply through forming the correct mental IMAGES and by YOUR OWN willpower.

 

 

     Phil Donahue in a 1984 interview; Dr. Peale said: “It’s NOT necessary to be born again. You have your way to God; I have mine.  I found eternal peace in a Shinto shrine. … I’ve been to the Shinto shrines, and God is everywhere.” Donahue shocked, said, “But you’re a Christian minister; you’re supposed to tell me that CHRIST IS THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, aren’t you?” Peale replied,

“Christ is ONE OF THE WAYS! God is everywhere.”

 

     Peale said; “WHO IS GOD?  Some theological being?  He is so much greater than theology.  God is Vitality.  God is Life.  God is Energy.  As you breathe God in, as you VISUALIZE His energy, you will be re-energized.”  

 

 

     Peale’s book “Positive Imaging” teaches an activity of the mind that he calls IMAGING where you get an image in your mind of a desired thing or goal and hold it there until it sinks into your sub-conscious and then with prayer, give thanks for it before it is received.

 

     Sure sounds good to me, but in my BS, there is a difference between CREATING an outcome with a positive mental attitude and PERFORMING with a positive mental attitude.   Doesn’t this teaching make Christianity man-centered instead of God-centered?  Doesn’t it reduce God to just an energy force? God doesn’t necessarily want us to “climb” every mountain, sometimes He chooses to lead us “around” the mountain.

     The things that we receive come down from God, not from positive thinking.[3]  God gives us the Holy Spirit who guides our steps.[4]   Does the teaching lead you to become more and more dependent on yourself or on God?  Submit to God all of your thoughts and ask Him to search your heart and take away all your anxiety.[5]

 

Beware of any teaching that puts the burden of performance on YOU rather than on God.

A Little Yeast

     The Bible says a little yeast leavens the whole loaf of bread.[6] (Yeast is symbolic of Sin)

     Peale, a very gifted communicator MERGED Worldliness and Godliness into a self-confidence theology and philosophy.  His first church started with only 40 members and grew to 900; his second church grew from 52 members to some 5,000.  People want to hear positive messages that make them feel better about life and themselves.  Hellfire and Brimstone, Repent and be Saved have really become “Downers” to preach.  

     The inspiration of Peale has been very wide and appealing to the multitudes.  The Church’s that just preached “inspirational messages” grew to be MEGA CHURCHES;

ü  Robert H. Schuller of The Crystal Cathedral taught “POSSIBILITY THINKING”; “The only place where YOUR dreams become impossible is in YOUR own thinking”. 

ü  Joel Osteen; “Do all you can to make YOUR dreams come true”... “When you demand riches, all of heaven comes to fulfill your material desires.”

ü  Joyce Meyer; God’s people are not taking their proper places.  You are little gods.

You can also see Peale’s influence on celebrities.

ü  Oprah Winfrey; “The more you praise and celebrate YOUR life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Oprah started a new church that points to no specific god and embraces no particular theological commitments. 

     The BIBLE says; “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness”[7]... “To whom much is given, much will be required.” [8]  At the judgment, ALL of us will be responsibility for the souls that we have caused to be led away from Christ that will spend eternity separated from God. – SAD -

     Regardless of how positive our thoughts are on the inside of ourselves, salvation must come from the outside.  The BOOK says we have an alienated hostile mind and are DEAD in our sins and furthermore,[9]

 

Apart from Jesus Christ we can do nothing about it.[10]

Donald Trump

     Fred Trump and his family attended Marble Collegiate Church where Peale was head pastor, Fred’s son Donald Trump and his sisters were all married there as well as funeral services were held there for his parents, Fred and Mary.

     President Trump frequently mentioned Peale’s influence on him during his 2016 Presidential campaign, saying that it gave him his optimistic attitude.  He stated; “I refused to give in to the negative circumstances and never lost faith in myself.”

 

     Words are used to control, guide and manipulate people to think in a specific way in order to obtain a desirable outcome.  In an election, you can use POSITIVE words to elevate yourself in the eyes of the people.  You can also elevate yourself by using NEGATIVE words about your opponent. The words spoken are about SELF.  WORDS MANIPULATE THINKING

 

ü  Trump’s POSITIVE key Words that he uses about his own efforts; - Successful - Win – Amazing – Hugh – Tremendous – Terrific – Smart – Leader – Strong – Important.

ü  Trump’s NEGATIVE key Words about his opponents – Idiot - Stupid – Zero – Weak – Loser – Bad – Moron – Dangerous – Lightweight – Out of Control – Horrible – Terrible – Disgusting – Disaster – Unqualified.

     Having a positive confession is a wonderful thing and it is great to be around people that speak positive things, but it crosses the line when you believe that your THOUGHTS will CREATE A DESIRED OUTCOME.

 

 

If anyone thinks he is religious and DOES NOT BRIDLE HIS TONGUE, but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless[11]...

“The tongue is set on fire by hell itself,[12]

from the same mouth come blessing and cursing,

THESE THINGS OUGHT NOT TO BE SO.” [13]      It’s in the Book

 

 

Power of Words

     Proverbs teaches the power of words showing how words can stir up anger or squelch it.  The Word of Faith movement takes scripture out of context and make it appear to be addressing the power of “Positive Confession”.   Here are FOUR of the big ones;

1)      As a man thinks in his heart, so is he[14]...  Speaking here is; that what’s ALREADY in a man’s heart is who he really is.  This scripture does not say “as A MAN” thinks, it says; as “HE” thinks; Proverbs 23:1-7 is addressing a specific man in scripture[15] who appears to be friendly and generous on the outside, but is stingy and selfish on the inside.  READ THE WHOLE THING

2)     Death and life are in the power of the tongue[16]...  This is addressing the fact that there should be wisdom in your words, not foolishness.  You should choose your words when you speak, knowing their impact.  A soft answer turns away wrath,[17] but a harsh word stirs up anger...  The lips of the righteous feed many[18]... The mouth of a godless man destroys his neighbor[19]... Rash words are like sword thrusts[20]... A good word makes a man’s heart glad[21]... Words are a honeycomb, health to the body[22]... Flattering Words could be a trap.[23]

3)     Calls things which do not exist as though they did.[24]  STOP - READ THE WHOLE SCRIPTURE; GOD, WHO GIVES LIFE to the dead AND calls those things which do not exist as though they did...  This is talking about the Power of God, who alone speaks things into existence, not Abraham... Abraham’s job was just to Believe and have Faith in God... There is NO record of Abraham calling forth anything into existence.  The only thing he CONFESSED was that he was a stranger and a pilgrim. [25]

4)     Whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes WHAT HE SAYS; will come to pass.[26]  This is the most commonly used passage for “SPEAKING TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES”. “Speaking” is synonymous with “Prayer” as you will see in the very next verse.  The mountain is a hyperbole; not intended to be taken literally; it is just saying we can overcome any hurdle even if it is as big as a mountain.  Sometimes God’s plan is not to remove or climb the mountain, but to guide us around it.  The emphasis is not on “speaking” but “believing” and trusting God.

 

     We read Positive Confession into this scripture only because of the pervading influence of the New Age Word of Faith movement.  Go back and look at the Disciples; when they were arrested, they did NOT literally speak to their circumstances; they all went to God in PRAYER to plead their case.[27]

     THE PRACTICE of the Disciples was to gather together in prayer.[28]  There is not ONE INSTANCE in the Bible of any Disciple speaking a “Positive Confession” to a situation to make it change; what we see is actually the opposite.

     Negative Confession; Jesus said “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death”[29]... The disciples said “we are unworthy servants”... Job said; “The thing that I feared has come upon me.”[30]  Proverbs says “our words are snares in our mouth”[31]...   How about these; A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating... A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul[32]... The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.[33]

 

It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person,

It’s the WORDS that come out; it’s an unclean heart.[34]

 

Rabbit Trail

     Some of the best known PMA leaders are;

 

Kenneth & Gloria Copeland – Pat Robertson – Joel Osteen - Paul & Jan Crouch – Bishop T.D. Jakes - Benny Hinn - Fredrick Price - Joseph Prince - Creflo Dollar – Bishop Earl Paulk – Robert Tilton – Kenneth Hagan – Joyce Meyer – Paula White – Charles Capps – John Avanzini

 

     Along with Positive Confession Theology comes the first False Teaching in the Bible which was taught by Satan himself in the Garden of Eden; that you TOO can be like God.[35]  Today, that is being espoused by many of the mega-church pastors.  Their teaching is “I am a little god”, and they give scripture that is miss-quoted; taken out of context to back it all up.

ü  Paula White – “You are a little Elohim; a little god”.

ü  Joyce Meyer – “God’s people are not taking their proper places. – You are little gods.”

     The Apostle Paul says; I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE that you have been taught; AVOID THEM.  False Teachers will secretly bring in destructive heresies.[36]  This “little god” subject is a Word Study into its own self, but just watch for the “little god” teaching and AVOID IT.[37]

 

Mind over Tongue

     We should not confuse HOPE; speaking positive words or positive thinking with FAITH.[38]

ü  Hope is optimism, it is something you hope for.  Hope is positive thoughts in your mind.  The Word of Faith movement has Positive thinking focusing on “CONJURING UP” something that does not yet exist. This is of the occult.[39]

ü  Faith is focusing on FACT; what has already been promised... It is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things to come that are not seen. [40]

If you will read Hebrews chapter 11 you will see that

Faith is “NOT WHAT YOU THINK”... it’s “WHAT YOU DO”.

 

     The Bible is full of positive thoughts.  It commands us to have thoughts that dwell on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable and anything that is excellent or praiseworthy,[41] to PUT THESE THOUGHTS INTO ACTION... It pretty much says that when your THOUGHTS are on His WORD, day and night, you will have good success and your way will be prosperous.[42]  

It’s in the Book

 

The Take Away

     Today the line of truth is continually being moved, blurred between right and wrong; it now has become 50 shades of gray... It’s all about SELF... Be all you can be.   Positive thinking for the Christian is rooted in what we believe about God.  Positive thoughts about God activates our faith to think on the endless possibilities of His Grace.  It releases the power of God to discipline our thinking.

     The way we control our lives is to not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may discern the will of God.[43]  When a scripture is quoted, we must consider carefully the original meaning intended based on the “understanding” of the hearers, their culture, upbringing and religious background.  Different cultures, words and expressions change meaning over time.  

     ALL OF US pull, stretch and twist a scripture to get a specific point across, but in doing so, sometimes the TWIST is repeated as a new truth when it was actually just a hyperbole; something not intended to be taken literally.   When the Bible is handled rightly; it does not teach Positive Thinking nor Positive Confession as a means to manipulate future events in our lives.[44] We are to rely on what God has already given us through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is...  THE MIND OF CHRIST.[45]

 

 

Positive Thinking and Positive Confession used to manipulate situations in your life is HERESY. 

It puts the burden of performance on YOU rather than on God.

 

 

.

It is NOT by OUR might, nor by OUR power,

but BY THE SPIRIT, says the LORD of hosts. [46]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

 

 

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

and see further that I otherwise ever could have.

 

 

Writings outside of the Bible should be viewed as “informational”, but not authoritative.  They give insight to customs, manners and thoughts of a particular culture at a particular time in history.

 

Along with the Apocrypha, I have also enjoyed

“The lost books of the Bible” and “The forgotten books of Eden”. 

Many of these will include folklore, superstition and “embellishments”.

 

Prove scripture with scripture, line upon line, and precept upon precept.

                                                                                                                                     

    

.American Standard Version Bible – ASV

.Amplified Bible – AMP

.Dake annotated Reference Bible – DAKE

.English Standard Version Bible – ESV

.King James Version Bible - KJV

.Message Bible; The – MSG

.New International Version Bible – NIV

.New Living Translation Bible – NLT

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

A Planned Deception – New Age Messiah – Constance Cumbey

All the Parables of the Bible – Herbert Lockyer

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

An expository Dictionary of Biblical Words – W. E. Vine

Angels A-Z – Lewis Oliver

Angels: Gods Secret Agents – Billy Graham

Another Gospel – Tucker

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha; The – Edgar J. Goodspeed

Arithmetic of God; The – Don Kistler

Armageddon-Appointment with Destiny – Grant R. Jeffrey

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Walter A. Elwell

Bethel Baptist Church – Forrest L. Keener

Bible Almanac; The – Packer Tenny White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Bible Hub.com

Block-Chain - www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EeFeaHb2vs

Book of Bible List – Tyndale

Can America Survive? – John Hagee

Countdown to Armageddon, the 1980’s – Hal Lindsay

Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible – Finis Jennings Dake

Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The – Florentino Garcia Martinez

Escape from Armageddon – Thomas Reed

Exposition of Genesis – H.C. Leupold

Exposition of the Parables – Benjamin Keach

Expositor’s Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein

Final Battle; The – Hal Lindsey

Final Dawn over Jerusalem – John Hagee

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Four Blood Moons; TV Series – John Hagee

From Daniel to Doomsday – John Hagee

Future Fuehrer – Hal Lindsey

Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley

Great Doctrines of the Bible – W.A. Criswell

Great Pyramid Proof of God – George R. Riffert

Guide to Survival – Salem Kirban

Harper’s Bible Dictionary - Harper & Row

Haven’t you Heard? There’s A War going on! – Eldred Echols

Heaven – Randy Alcorn

Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow; The – Constance Cumbey

Illustrated Bible Dictionary – Nelson

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

In the beginning was the End – Wim Malgo

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse

Islam and the Bible – David Goldmann

Jerusalem Countdown – John Hagee

Late Great Planet Earth; The – Hal Lindsey

Lost Books of the Bible; The – Bell Publishing

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Megachurch False Prophets 100% exposed... www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZWYG0JfaFk

Meredith’s Book of List; 1&2 – Bethany House Publishers

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Mystery Mark of the New Age – Texe Mars

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas Tenney

New Millennium; The – Pat Robertson

Noah’s Family Tree – Stewart Trott

Parables of Jesus; The – J. Dwight Pentecost

Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Zondervan

Reformed Apologetic Ministries... www.reformedapologeticsministries.blogspot.com

Revelation of Jesus Christ; The – Walvoord

Revelation Seminar; The – 1975 - Hilton Sutton

Revelation Study; The - 1973 – Dr. Warren Wiersbe

Revelation; The – verse by verse – Oliver B. Green

Secret Kingdom; The – Pat Robertson

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Seven Deadly Sins – British Broadcasting Network

Systematic Theology – Berkhof / Erdmans

Systematic Theology – Stanley M. Horton

Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha; The – E.A. Burtt

The Other Side of the Good News – Larry Dixon

Theomatics – Jerry Lucas and Del Washburn

Thru The Bible Commentary – J. Vernon McGee

Unseen Realm; The – Michael S. Heiser

Victor Journey through the Bible; The – V. Gilbert Beers

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

What the Bible says about Death - Signs of the times

Where to find it in the Bible – Ken Anderson

Who’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible – Stephen M. Miller

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wikipedia Dictionary

Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney

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[1] Matthew 21:28-31 – Positive confession is not Positive action

 

[2] Philippians 4:8 - Whatsoever things are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue, praise, think on these things

[3] James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father above

[4] Luke 11:13 – God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us  -- Galatians 5:16 - Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives

[5] Psalm 139:23 - Test me O God, and know my anxious thoughts

 

[6] Galatians 5:9 – A little yeast will permeate the entire loaf

[7] James 3:1 - Not many of you should become teachers; we who teach will be judged with greater strictness

[8] Luke 12:48 - To whom much is given, much will be required

[9] Colossians 1:21-22 – Apart from Jesus; we have an alienated & hostile mind --  Ephesians 2:1-2 - Without Jesus we are dead in or sins

[10] John 15:5 - Apart from Jesus Christ you can do nothing -- John 14:6 - No one can come to the Father except through Jesus the Christ

[11] James 1:26 – The tongue must be controlled; bridled

[12] James 3:6 - The tongue is set on fire by hell itself

[13] James 3:9-10 – The tongue can bless and curse these things ought not to be so

[14] Proverbs 23:7 – As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. -- Philippians 4:8 – Think on whatever is true, honorable, just, whatever is pure, lovely, commendable, excellence good, so you can put it into practice

[15] Proverbs 23:1-7 – A notable Man pretends to be generous, but is stingy in his heart

[16] Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue

[17] Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger

[18] Proverbs 10:21 - The lips of the righteous feed many

[19] Proverbs 11:9 – The mouth of a godless man destroys his neighbor

[20] Proverbs 12:18 - Rash words are like sword thrusts,

[21] Proverbs 12:25 - A good word makes a man’s heart glad

[22] Proverbs 16:24 - Gracious Words are a honeycomb, health to the body

[23] Proverbs 29:5 – Flattering Words sets a trap

[24] Romans 4:17 - Call things which do not exist as though they did

[25] Hebrews 11:13 – Abraham confessed that he was a stranger, a pilgrim on earth

[26] Mark 11:22-24 – Whatever YOU ASK IN PRAYER, believe that you have received and it will be yours... What He says will come to pass

[27] Acts 4:23-31 – The Disciples prayed to God for relief, they Did not speak to circumstances

[28] Acts 12:12 – Practice was to gather together in prayer

[29] Matthew 26:38 - My soul is very sorrowful, even to death

[30] Job 3:25 – Job said the thing that I feared has come upon me

[31] Proverbs 6:2 – You are snared with the words of your mouth

[32] Proverbs 18:6-8 – A fools lips and mouth is his ruin

[33] Proverbs 26:22 - The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

[34] Matthew 15:11 – It’s the words a man speaks that defiles him

[35] Genesis 3:5 – The First False teaching; Satan said you will be like God

[36] 2 Peter 2:1 – False teachers will slowly and secretly bring in destructive heresies

[37] Romans 16:17 – Avoid those who teach doctrine contrary to what you have been taught

[38] 2 Corinthians 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight

[39] 1 John 4:1 – Do not believe every teacher of the Word for many false teachers have gone out into the world

[40] Hebrews 11:1-3 - Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

[41] Philippians 4:8 – MEDITATE ...Think on things noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy -- Romans 12:2 – MEDITATE Have thoughts and reflections on what is good, acceptable and perfect

[42] Joshua 1:8 – MEDITATE on God’s word day and night and your way will be prosperous; successful -- Psalm 1:2 - MEDITATE s on God’s word day and night -- Psalm 119:148 - Awake early to MEDITATE on God’s promises -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Giving thanks IN all circumstances -- 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Take every thought captive destroy arguments and every lofty opinion and obey Christ -- John 15:7-8 – Abide in God’s words and God abides in you -- Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God and all the rest will be added

[43] Romans 12:1-2 - Be transformed by the renewal of your mind

[44] 2 Peter 3:16 – Teachers Twist scripture to their own destruction

[45] 1 Corinthians 2:16 – Rely on the Holy Spirit within us; WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST

[46] Zechariah 4:6 – It’s not by your power, it’s by Gods Spirit