I Been Thinking

Happy Sunday!
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued preaching from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. He encouraged us again to "Break Out of the Box", but entitled this message, "I Been Thinking".

Brian Tracy said, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." That's exactly what Jabez did. He did not allow his negative experience to control his destiny. He determined in his heart and mind that things could and would be better. He realized that, "People cannot save themselves. But with God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 (Voice)

If we did a survey of everyone we know, we would find that we are all "Survivors". Each person has gone through their own type of hurt, disappointment, and loss. We are living our lives successfully in spite of the difficulties. We "put on a happy face" for those around us, especially in church. But we have to admit our lives changed as our minds changed. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". (Amplified Version)

Think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He'd been thinking incorrectly for 38 years. He had a "welfare" mentality. He thought he could never make it because the system, The Man, or a man was never there when he needed it. Jesus asked him a question. Remember, Jesus is God in the flesh. He never asks a question because he doesn't know the answer. He asked the question in order for the man to realize he wasn't thinking right. We do it too.

What about the Prodigal Son? He thought he knew it all. He thought the inheritance would make him happy and bring fulfillment. Luke 15:12-16 says, “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any". (Message Translation)

Bishop said, "You don't have to be in prison to do time". The enemy wants to keep you trapped in the box. He wants you to believe his lies. He wants you to think this is how it has always been and will always be. But you can "THINK" your way out! Start thinking of all that God has done for you, start thanking him for all he can do for you! Renew your mind with the WORD of God. Meditate on the Word and memorize it too. When the enemy starts trying to depress you, Speak the Word. Think on the Word. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new". (Message Translation)

Love and prayers, Cynthia