THE MIND OF CHRIST: BY JUANITA JOHNSON As we grow into the fullness of Christ, we are called to at conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 The word of God has made it very clear that what we think is vital our life and the plan of God. It is in our mind where Faith comes and it is where the fruit of the Spirit grows and lives. We know that it is the area of the mind, that the crossroads of duality exists, In I Cor 2:16 we are told, For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1Cor 3:3 For ye are yet carnal for whereas there Is among you envying, strife and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? The Lord tells us that we must, Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus, Phil 2:5. We are instructed to make a conscious choice to direct our thoughts in: Phil 4:8-9 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. Those things, which ye have both learned and received, heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. In Isa. 26:3, Thou wilt keep him In perfect peace, whose mind stayed on thee: because he trusteth In thee. It is clear that the Lord is concerned about our every thought, but as for myself I realize that I am often unaware of effect that every thought has on our physical bodies. One day the Lord showed me this truth, when I was fearful my heart began to pound, when I was nervous my hands began to shake, anyone who has ever been angry knows that physical sires immediately occur from this state of mind. I heard one who lost his brother to a fit of rage put a sign on his desk, "the man who makes me angry can kill me." These are direct immediate physical changes that result from the thoughts of our mind. Could It be that every thought of the mind has a physical reaction? The Lord makes it clear that dead thoughts produce death. Romans 8 6-7 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 7 Because the carnal mind enmity against God, for it b not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Conversely, life thoughts from the mind of Christ, produce life. 3 Jn 1:2 Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. The Lord has left it to us to possess the land of our minds, but he has not left us alone. He has given us the Holy Spirit. 1Cor 6:1 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? We are told in 2Cor 10: 4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.) 5 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. Yet at times, it seems as though are mind and thoughts can "run away with us", and that certain circumstances and situations can trigger uncontrollable, undesirable thoughts. Why should it be so, and what must we do, remembering that we have received power after we have received the Lord's life and His Holy Spirit. We have the fruit of the Spirit growing up in us. Gal.5: 22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. 23 Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. It is the fruit of the Spirit, particularly our faith and our temperance (1466 egkrateia (eng-krat-i-ah), from 1468, self control 1468 egkrates (eng-kat-ace), from 1722 and 2904; strong in a thing (masterful) i.e. (figuratively and reflexively) self-controlled (in appetite, etc.): 2904 kratos (krat-os), perhaps a primary word; vigor ["great] figuratively or literally): KIV-- dominion, mightily, power, strength... that will renew our minds so that we may live and move and think in Him and out from His glorious mind, which we have. The Word of God produces faith, the substance of that for which we hope, the fullness of the manifestation of the Sons of God. return Well Drawers: