“I’m sorry, God,” I whispered as I nursed my baby to a slumber sleep. “I admit, lately I have not focused on you as much as I should.”
These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of current events. I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, so the events really hit home. I prayed for comfort for families who lost loved ones, but I forgot to pray for my mind. The impact of the Scripture hit. “God does not give the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
I knew I had to break this Scripture apart to really understand. If God does not give the spirit of fear, then it is the devil putting thoughts of worry and anxiety in my head. God gives me power, love, and a sound mind. Suddenly, I knew what I needed to do: rebuke the devil with this Scripture, and he would flee my mind. Immediately, I felt better.
God has given us power through His son Jesus Christ to cast down all negative imaginations that cause us worry or anxiety. He wants our minds to be free so we can focus on His purpose for our lives. He’s given us His agape love that endures all. He wants this type of love to beam through us for all the world to see.
Unconditional love is attractive. It’s a love that can draw an unbeliever to salvation. Love conquers hate, and as the world saw in Charleston, love endures. For all these pieces to come together, God gave us a sound mind. If we renew our minds with prayer and Scripture, focusing our attention on God, He will give us peace that surpasses all understanding.
Have you unconsciously forgotten to pray for your mind? It is very important to pray for what is going on in the world today, but if we don’t cover our minds from the enemy, we will not be fully effective. Don’t sit back and let the devil put worry and anxiety in your head. Cast him out with 2 Timothy 1:7 so you can help grow our Father’s kingdom.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile and Ardanea.)
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With a BA in broadcast journalism from University of North Florida, Army veteran April Ready has been writing poetry and screenplays since the age of sixteen. Her true passion for writing books flourished with the birth of her daughter. After ten years as a pharmaceutical representative, she has now put all her energy into her passion, which is writing and touching people’s lives. April’s children's book, Up and Away on My First Flight, is the tool she uses as she tours schools, teaching children how to deal with fear and anxieties. April lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband Jamel, daughter Brielle, and their crazy but loveable chi weenie dog Koko. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and Writer’s Guild of America West. www.cubventures.com