November 23, 2009
I know that we are approaching the thanksgiving holiday and each of us have several reasons to be thankful. While this day has been scheduled on the calendars to set aside and be observed we ought to know that everyday ought to be a day of thanksgiving. There should not be one day that goes by that you do not acknowledge your gratefulness and gratitude for the wonderful things that God has done in your life; and not only that but express your thanks to those who are a blessing to you directly and indirectly. As I was in my quiet time my mind began to wander off on some things that my husband and I are facing at the moment. My attitude and countenance changed almost immediately, it felt as though a weight had been placed upon my shoulders and at that moment I was aware that I needed to shake it off and release it to God so that the enemies gateway would be closed in that area of my life.
As I was reading the scriptures I came across a familiar one Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done
Some of you may say well how can I not worry? I think we make it much harder than it really has to be. We have to make a choice to release and let go. If you can’t decide to let go than you need to ask yourself why am I really holding on to this? What is it that I am really uncertain about or afraid of if I do let it go? Am I afraid that I won’t be in control? Giving up control is difficult for some people but it’s worth it, if the other option is vexation in the mind.
The word worry is defined as:
1. Mental distress or agitation resulting from concern or anxiety.
2. To cause to feel troubled or uneasy; make anxious distress
3. To annoy, bother, harass or vex
4. a troubled state of mind
5. To pluck out, push on repeatedly in a nervous or determined way.
The devil attacks us in our minds. Our mind is our control center and if the enemy becomes successful in planting seeds that will cause contamination in our minds than he will begin to manipulate you and eventually control you. We have to take authority over our minds and override any programs that the enemy is attempting to upload into us. How do we do that? By releasing and giving to God what we find to be weighing heavy upon us. 1 Peter 5:7 (King James Version)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
The word cast means to:
1. To cause to move or send forth by throwing
2. To get rid of
3. To shed
God desires for us to get rid of and give to him our cares, our worries, our concerns, our situations and our problems. Why? God cares about us because he knows that when we are weighted down in the mind we become depressed. Proverbs 12: 25 (King James Version) says:
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad
The word stoop in the scripture means:
1. To sink or depress
But what exactly does it mean to be depressed?
To be depressed means to: 1. To press down, push or pull down
2. To lower; lover in spirits, to make gloomy; discourage; sadden
3. To decrease the force or activity of; weaken; to lower in value, price or amount.
The enemy seeks to force you in your mind to a place where you are lower in spirit. He is trying to break you and consume you with stuff to prevent you from reaching and releasing your full potential in God. The devil knows that what you have in you is powerful and it is detrimental to his Kingdom therefore he has to take you out. It’s not enough to attack you in your body, your pockets, your career or even your family but he has to take you out in your mind! Why? because what you think is what you become. The visions and dreams that you have are conceived in your mind and are eventually birthed out through your diligence, talent and dedication to bring it into manifestation, You will do whatever it takes to bring it into existence when you are passionate about what you do or are doing, Do not allow the stuff to weigh on you. Shake it off, release it and give it to the one who truly cares for you. Besides what positive thing does worry produce? Nothing that’s what it produces. The bible says in Matthew 6:27 (New Living Translation):
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
Worry does not add to your life one bit. It does however bring about a reduction in the quality of your life. You can’t possibly live your very best life stressed out and vexed. The devil loves to keep bringing up old things in your life. He will remind you of what was and try to tell you what is. You have to know for yourself that all that old stuff is just that its old and it’s under the blood if you have repented. You are a new creation if you are in Christ and the old things have passed away ( see 2 Corinthians 5:17). When I think of the word passed away I immediately think about the death of something. That old stuff is dead; let it die in your heart and in your mind. Allow God to trash it in the sea of forgetfulness.
Today I pray that you are encouraged to give to God your concerns, issues and weights. Pray and give thanks for what God has done, is doing and will do in your life. Trust that God has the solution to your problems and have the faith to believe that even if things do not work out the way you desire them too that God is working it out in a manner that is best for you. You can’t change the past but you have power to do something about your right now. Choose to follow God for he will never lead you leave you. I am thanking God for each of you and I am excited about your future. Continue to stand upon the word of God.
Blessings,
Evangelist Camille Frazier
