Anxious thoughts are an unwanted energy in our heads we can do without. When we get anxious thoughts there’s a comfort that can cheer and delight our souls based on today’s verse. The only way our many rampant thoughts can be tamed is by God. More specifically it’s by our understanding of His word, based on the renewing of our minds, with it. Once we change our way of thinking, (which should be based on the Lord’s teachings and precepts), we will have something that will drive those anxious thoughts out. The Bible says think about those things that are true, things that are lovely, honest, of a good report, etc (Philippians 4:8). We can change the channel in our heads sort of speak, to help get rid of bad thoughts. It can be a toe to toe battle at first until you get trained in fighting this way. Because of God’s word in your head and heart, those irrational, anxious thoughts fueled by emotions, will not have the power to run rampant because of the word of God working in you. In our head is where the fight begins and ends. An idle mind is the devil’s playground. So fill your head and heart with God’s word and lose the anxious thoughts once and for all.

Is there something or someone that can analyze and judge the very thoughts and purposes of our heart. Sometimes we don’t realize what we’re about to get into until it’s too late. Imagine having a built in governor that lets us know we are about to go with some thoughts in our head that are about to get us into some serious trouble. The word of God is a discerner of our heart intentions and is able to penetrate to divide the line of the breath of Life (soul) and our spirit which is immortal. God’s word when meditated on day and night, can expose, sift, analyze and judge the deepest parts of our nature. If we allow God’s word to work on us, and through us to make us better, we will first of all learn some much needed information about human nature. We begin to see clearly what life’s supposed to be like outside of the demonic rule of this world system. The words that God speaks are alive and full of power, and we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 7:17) so we can use God’s word to our advantage in everyday life. Let’s get God’s word out, because mankind has been starving for that which they don’t realize they need most.

The word of God never fails. With God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be void of power. God’s word is spirit and is life, it is a living entity full of creative, corrective, delivering, and healing power (John 6:63). When His word is spoken from the mouth of a faith believing Christian, that word spoken forth will accomplish that which it was sent out to do. It will return to you having produced a victorious outcome. God and His word are one, it is His will written down for our understanding of who He is. The word of God is sharper than any two hedge sword. It will give insight into the different levels of our makeup as three part beings like our Father God, who created us (Hebrews 4:12). We can understand ourselves better by understanding God’s word. He exulted His word above His name (Psalm 138:2). If you work the word, the word will work for you. The word of the Lord, will always come to pass. Whatever we speak based on God’s word in faith believing, it will come to pass for us as well.

In the beginning was the word and the word (Jesus) was with God, and the word was God. Don’t try to figure that out with your mind. God is a three in one triune being, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When Jesus came to earth to be our atonement for sin, He came as a man, stripped of his deity and all His Godhead power before coming to Earth. He was the sacrifice for justice to be satisfied due to mankind’s sin. Jesus is the living word of God. He came to earth to live as a man with all the life struggles we deal with. He got a first hand look at what we experience concerning all the temptations and distractions of this world. He was successful in His ministry on earth, and in hell giving Satan the Holy beat down. Jesus was and is the living word in action. He left an example of how to work God’s word to our advantage, overcoming life’s struggles (Matthew 4:1-11). When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He had been fasting for 40 days, and He didn’t just zap the devil with power from heaven for messing with Him, but used the word of God to ward him off. God has exalted His word above His name because His word is Himself, and His name is a representative of Himself to be used by faithful believers as a weapon against the enemy (Psalm 138:2). Without the living word there would be no earth or creation, yeah He goes that far back (John 1:3-4).

The name of the Lord is to be praised. Everywhere from east to west we are to praise the name of the Lord. Praising the Lord gives validity to our understanding of the worth of that name. It is the name above every name. To that name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10). Jesus literally went through hell earning the validity of the name that is above every name, exalted by God because of His completed work at Calvary. The fullness of the Godhead and its power resides in that name (Colossians 2:9). There’s no other way to be saved except by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). We are joint heirs with Christ, and have the authority to use that name in battle against the devil. He knows the power of that name, but do we. The enemy can tell whether or not you have faith in the name. Everything delivers true from the heart. Mental assent doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to true power. Faith generated power initiates from the heart and then it delivers through our confession based on the word of God. Yes, you can have what you say, that which we confess or declare will turn into our reality over time (Mark 11:23). Understand the name, use the name to get out of difficulty, and praise the name of the Lord from the raising of the sun, to its going down.

God will never force Himself on anyone, that’s the job of Satan and his crew. Since we have free will, God respects that and wants us to decide what we want or don’t want in life. The Lord only knocks at the door of our heart and whispers gently to help us. If we take heed to His voice of direction or comfort, He will come to us and will eat with us, which is indicative of close fellowship with Him. The Lord desires close fellowship with us at all times. We have a relationship with God because we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life, but He wants close interaction with us, His children, acknowledging Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:6). There are times when we must seek and then we shall find, knock and the door will be opened to us. This is when we are knocking at the door of God’s heart to help us with victorious living in this lifetime. Usually when God’s knocking at a person’s heart it’s generally to get them born again, Saved from hell’s fire. When the Lord is knocking at the door of His children’s hearts, He’s trying to help us with life. He’s a gentleman, you must let Him in.

Love your neighbor as you do yourself. How’s your self love, is there enough to work with. Many people don’t love themselves, possibly due to a bad experience in life they are blaming themselves for. Guilt and or insecurity can stop us from loving ourselves. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1), (your emotions or bad intentions should not rule you). The command here is to love your neighbor as yourself. This is indicative of you caring for them and having concern for them as you do for yourself. Imagine if everyone did this, the world would be a much better place. The love of God has been shed aboard in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It is in seed form lying dormant in our hearts once we get saved. This love along with all the fruit of the Spirit must be developed. If you don’t know how to love yourself, start to develop the fruit of the spirit in your life. By walking in Love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, goodness, kindness, and self-control, we begin to understand that, yielding yourself to these godly attributes will bring awareness of self-worth. You will begin to love your neighbor as yourself.

The Lord wants us to copy Him and follow His example. Jesus walked the earth years ago to show us how to live for God in the mist of a demonically influenced world. Since creation has fallen along with mankind, all things lend themselves to a cursed demeanor. I don’t believe roses had pricking thorns before the fall of creation. I believe the lion would have been able to lie down with the lamb without eating him before the fall (Isaiah 11:6-9). The weather also has been affected from the fall of creation with earthquakes and hurricanes, global warming, etc. This has occurred due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God in the garden by eating the forbidden fruit. By following God’s example we can live above all the demonic influences and activities of agitating spirits and moral conflicts. We must love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. Jesus has made it possible for us to walk the walk of love which will cancel all weapons formed against us by Satan (Isaiah 54:17). There is no law against love. As we follow God’s example and walk the way of love towards God and mankind, we will be imitators of the Lord. Producing a fragrant offering, and we will become a living sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

If you suffer being a Christian by someone who contemptuously calls you one, do not be ashamed. This is reason to rejoice because you have been deemed worthy to carry the torch for the gospel and kingdom of God (2 Timothy 3:12). Being persecuted for the gospel’s sake is a good sign, and it speaks to the fact of you being an active Christian who is about their Father’s business. Many times it can be uncomfortable sharing with people this good news not knowing how they will respond. They will not be refusing you, but God, and you would need to just keep it moving to the next person. Suffering as a Christian is part of our cross to bear being children of God on this foreign turf called earth (Philippians 3:20). But if the suffering seems to be too much, that means your supply tank is getting low. If we don’t stay built up in the Lord, our witness can weaken back into being uncomfortable again (Jude 1:20). The power to witness comes by way of the Holy Ghost Who works through us. Are you deemed worthy to suffer for the gospel’s sake. If you are being persecuted and contemptuously called a Christian, then you are deemed worthy in God’s eyes.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. When we live a righteous life and people persecute us because of it, that means we’re living for Jesus the right way. Be a witness for the Lord, and not a closet christian whose afraid and embarrassed by his faith in God. If that’s you, we’ve got some work to do. The more time we spend in God’s word and in prayer, it will strengthen our faith. And what’s in your heart (God’s word) will boldly come out of your mouth with confidence and anointing and power to witness to others (Luke 6:45). Persecution won’t matter anymore because you’re sold out to God and don’t care what people think about it. Blessed are those who are persecuted because they stand up for God on the enemy’s turf. The Born again child of God will enjoy and find satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation as he or she stands up for the gospel. To be spiritually prosperous is an overcoming achievement sought after by high ranking officers of Christ. It is expected by the Lord that we all aspire to become higher ranking officers for Christ. God needs, Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Generals in His army. We’ve all been called to these positions for battle. Having the full armor of God in place (Ephesians 6:10-18) with the boldness of God’s word in your heart, and a victorious confession on your lips, who can stop you. Blessed are those who are persecuted.