Take Every Thought Captive!!

Do you ever feel like your mind is a battlefield? Like you constantly have to fight your thoughts? For me this occurs on days that some people would call "bad days." Well I refuse to believe that I have bad days. Anyways it can start with one little thing going wrong, or maybe one huge thing, and your day that started off with a beautiful time in God's presence and His revealing of the assurance of who you are gradually starts to deteriorate... Now I believe we all have a choice. We can choose to have joy and a grateful heart (regardless of the situation that's impeding our joy) or we can choose to let the negative crippling thoughts overshadow the light of God in us.

For me to retain my joy, to remain the light in the midst of the impending darkness I have to denounce every thought that is not of God. What happens is that when things start going wrong, we start doubting if God is still watching, or if we did something to push Him away, or if He is still on the throne. Thoughts that have us question who we are in Christ, our confidence, our worth, our boldness, our joy, etc. starts attacking us. Did you know that the devil doesn't know what goes on in your mind unless you let him in on it? So in that moment when you are fighting these thoughts, abstain from letting him know that you are struggling. Take those thoughts and counteract them with the word of God.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV

No seriously when that thought tells me I'm not good enough, strong enough, beautiful enough, bold enough, capable, that God is done with me, that I can't get it right, that I will not succeed etc.. I remind myself that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers. That God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. That I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That I am the head and not the tail. That in my weakness His strength is made perfect. That I am created in the image and likeness of God. That I am beautiful and there is no flaw in me. That the Lord has thoughts of good towards me to lead me to an expected end. That the name of the Lord is a strong tower and I run into it and I am safe. That the Lord fights my battle and all I have to do is to hold my peace! That I know my God therefore I will be strong and I will do exploits. (Bible verses down below respectively).

See "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 KJV

It's okay to shout "Get away from me devil!" He has no place in your thoughts! Resist him and he shall flee!! And don't forget the first part of that verse, submit yourself fully to God. I recently found myself in a situation where I had to make a choice. I decided to choose joy even though the environment around me was fighting it. I constantly remind myself that I choose joy. Say it out loud "I CHOOSE JOY" and may God give us the grace to constantly choose joy in all situations. Amen.

- Didi

Bible verses: 1 Peter 3:12, 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13,  Deuteronomy 28:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Genesis 1:27, Songs of Solomon 4:7, Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 18:10, Exodus 14:14, Daniel 11:32b.

My Powerful Encounter with God.

This was my third time attending the North East Winterfest Conference at Rochester. My sole purpose of attending was that I wanted to be in a big congregation of believers; I wanted to worship. I went with absolutely no expectations than to worship and get a short weekend getaway from school. Spiritually my relationship with God was phenomenal and I started to get to a place where I felt like there has to be more to our relationship: something deeper and more profound. I had reached what I'd call the peak of my relationship with Him (I know right? So naive) and I was wondering if there was something more, something deeper. I'd hear others talk about what the Lord was doing with them and I wanted Him to do more with me. For sometime I got nothing so I stopped pressing Him about it and concluded that maybe this is as far as I could go.

Winterfest is an all weekend event so I was pretty much excited. Friday night was astounding, it's always amazing to fellowship with other young believers. Saturday morning, the preacher and her sermon literally blew me away. Her name was Devine (I will never forget it) and as she started preaching, I felt as if God was exposing me in front of everybody. I vividly remember every moment through that sermon, she was talking about some of us being called to climb the mountain first so we could lead other people up and we need to stop being hesitant. I literally just sat there ashamed, shy, angry and remorseful because this lady was telling my business to the world, I knew that word was for me.

It was followed by an altar call which I casually walked up, worshiping and speaking in tongues like every other person. The next thing I knew an overwhelming power overtook me (remember I was standing in front of the stage). It was so intense that I could not prevent myself from moving back and falling onto the first row of seats. I found myself bouncing on them, my back and legs were doing their own thing at this point. My tongues were on a different level. All I could think of was to try and get a hold of myself because now my body was hurting but I couldn't, the power was too strong. And all this while God was telling me "Didi I love you, Didi I'm not done with you. Didi I love you I'm not done with you." Repeatedly. Again and again. You can imagine being under such power and your body moving vigorously, I started to shout "Okay. Okay! Okay!"

In that moment I felt sorry for believing there was a peak to our relationship.
Ashamed for assuming He was done with me.
Relevant because why would He make such a scene just to tell me He's not done with me?
Loved because yoooo God just told me He loves me!!!
And above all, thankful that He loves me regardless of my shortcomings.
But thank you to the lady that came and held me because I was struggling at this point: body was aching under this power, I was drenched in tears and my outrageously speaking in tongues mouth was dry.

The next morning on Valentine's day I received the gift of new tongues. Someone wasn't kidding when He said He loves me and what better way to show His love than a gift on Valentine's day. Can you tell I fell deeper in love with God this weekend? It was a power and love packed weekend for me and I was so joyful!

Now imagine how the devil wanted to steal this encounter from me this last summer by telling me God couldn't use me? Isn't he such an opportunist? Don't let Him take what belongs to you, stand your ground and protect your portion.

Stay shining! :)
Didi