Stepping Stones: Let the Holy Spirit be Your Director

30 July 2010

Transformational Tip

By making the decision to spend time with Your Lord, His thoughts will begin to form your mind. But you see, God made our minds so powerful and complex, that we have so many thoughts competing to form the lenses our mind uses to see life’s situations. A big stumbling block is our difficulty dealing with our emotions, especially real or potential emotional discomfort or pain.

Loneliness, rejection, feeling unimportant, lack of control, competency questioned, hopelessness, helplessness…these are all terrible directors of our thought world. Our desire to avoid these feelings really drives many inadequate at best, and often self-destructive, decisions we wish we could have back. These decisions often evolve into patterns or habits we want to change.

God gave us the Holy Spirit to be the Director of our Christ-likeness development. Godly decision-making keeps the Holy Spirit on the throne of our heart. (see Spiritual Basics link and then click Confession). When we do not make a Godly decision, we need to confess our wrong decision, make right with God, and get the Holy Spirit back on the throne. As we attempt to spend time with God in prayer, scripture reading, or meditation, turn this process over to the Holy Spirit…let His Spirit be the Director of this process.

Today, track your feelings, especially what you feel when people say something to you or an unexpected situation occurs. Also, practice confession today. Unfortunately, we all have a number of decisions (internal thoughts or external behaviors) each day that require confession to restore the Holy Spirit to the throne. You will be amazed the direction your life takes when you have the right director directing your thoughts and mind.

Prayer
Dear Father of Truth, There are so many things that influence my mind and thoughts…I thank You for Your Spirit who brings order to and infuses life and peace into my mind. I desire to think Your thoughts my Holy One. I know that without the Holy Spirit directing my thought processes, my mind scrambles and searches to avoid discomfort and pain and to get quick-fix relief and satisfaction…and I know that the Evil One, the father of lies, tries to worm his way into my mind in the name of distraction and satisfaction. I thank You, Lord, for all your goodness and blessings…and I continue to pray for Your protection. I pray this in the name my comfort when stressed, Jesus; and all God’s children say – AMEN!

The Truth
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
Romans 8:6

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8
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  • Stepping Stones: Mixed Super Bowl Memories
    February 4-5, 2012

    Transformational Thought

    I’m a Steelers’ fan … born in the Pittsburgh area … so Super Bowls in the 70’s, my teen years, were unbelievable events as my beloved Steel Curtain smashed their way to an unprecedented 4 championships in 6 years. Teamwork, sacrifice, perseverance, commitment, intentionality, practice, heroes, legends, invincibility, power, role models. I learned so much through those fun Super Bowl Sundays.

    For a while though, Super Bowl Sunday also conjured up some terrible memories. You see, from late high school through college and into medical school, I made a lot of poor choices leading to many issues including a significant alcohol addiction. My worst memory ever: January 25, 1987, Super Bowl Sunday … middle of medical school, an awesome future ahead of me. It started off at a party with a bunch of med school friends. Through a series of progressively stupider decisions … consuming lots of alcohol, winning $600, more “celebrating” at a strip bar, driving drunk (after a severe snow and ice storm), 6 counts of aggravated assault, a cut, bruised and battered body … I ended up in a Newark jail. Could’ve gotten killed, or worse, killed others, several times that evening.

    Jail … it was what I needed at that time to protect me from myself, Satan, and the world … it was the best place to think. And God really spoke to me. I finally listened and decided that life according to my instruction book … my kingdom come, my will be done mentality … wasn’t working. My hole kept getting deeper and deeper over a 10-year stretch. I finally understood what Jesus did for me, and what God wanted to do in my life … transform me and bless me with an abundant life by fulfilling all my needs. I started to really know, love, and delight in my Lord. I finally decided to make Him not just Savior, but also Lord of my life.

    Well, it took me several years to sort it out and really appreciate that day, and now I look back and thank God so much for what He has done for and through me. My terrible memories of that one Super Bowl Sunday have been wiped clean with the blood of Christ. What He has blessed me with since then … spiritual growth, a loving wife, my girls, friends, profession, ministry, coworkers, experiences, has been beyond my wildest dreams, especially compared to being in jail facing felony charges. (Not wanting to test God, I always make sure I am in a safe place Super Sunday.)

    Today, realize that each decision, regardless of how big or small it is, has definite ripples. Are you measuring the ripple effect? Second, if you are experiencing difficulties, hope is in the Lord, not in your efforts or abilities. Third, if you have done some terrible things in the past, God will forgive and help you move forward, using even those events in powerful ways to impact you, others, and His kingdom. Lastly, after accepting Christ as your personal Savior, make the defining decision of your life on Earth to let Him be the Lord of your life. That’s when life really comes alive and makes sense as it pushes you to connect fully with Him. Life is your decision, so choose well. And enjoy the game.

    Prayer
    Dear Father God, You, Your love, and grace are truly amazing. I thank You for not leaving me even though I left You many times. Thanks for landing me in jail, so I finally could block out all the distractions of life and meet You and listen to what You had been trying to tell me for many years. Thanks for the tremendous opportunity to serve You and for Your willingness to use me in Your service … it is truly humbling. I pray this in the name of the One I delight in, Jesus Christ; And all God’s children say - AMEN!

    The Truth
    Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
    Psalm 37:4

    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
    John 10:10

    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
    Romans 12:1-2
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