Mind

Captive Thoughts

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:15 NIV

Once I was in a bible study and the leader brought that last verse up. I immediately found myself confused and overwhelmed. “Wait,” I said.” I have no police or military training. I’m not even sure I’m qualified to perform a citizen’s arrest! Besides, we’re talking about arresting thoughts. How? Should we be contacting Ghost Busters?” A brief group discussion ensued regarding whether this particular bible study was appropriate for me. After I agreed to some ground rules which involved my raising a hand and only speaking an agreed upon number of times per class, I was given some instruction which began to clarify the issue for me.

Seriously though, it’s clear God is telling us the battlefield of our mind needs a lot of attention, the kind of attention which calls for continued prayer and attention to the Word. Challenge what passes through your mind and the concepts you allow to shape your mental and spiritual life. Changing our discussion’s locale, consider your mind a garden. Something will definitely grow there. Either you choose that something, or you can wait to see which weeds volunteer. How do we choose what grows? First, identify the behavior and customs God would have you emulate and compare and contrast those with that of the world. As you identify and quarantine those thoughts which war against you spiritually and mentally, allow God to make you a new person. Make yourself a student of the master gardener. Finally… Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

Lord, your gracious promise to us is to finish what you’ve begun
by the blood soaked sacrifice on the cross rendered by your Son.
Jesus, you gave us victory when you died and took death’s keys.
I will be forever grateful to You for this gift to sinners like me.

© Joel Tipple 11/23/2019











Think on These Things

(Consider your mind)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV

If you find yourself sick,
you might wonder…
have I been around someone
who was sick too?

When it comes to a healthy mind
the same principle applies,
so negative exposure
can make you blue.

Guard your heart,
guard your mind,
dream well, read well, think well,
God’s children.
Be sure to train yourself,
You know, God wants you well
Christian pilgrim.

The journey’s hard enough
without
wasting time
on stupid stuff.
There’s plenty of pain
without standing out
in negative rain
with no umbrella.

© Joel Tipple 10/21/2018

Freedom

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It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV

A perversion of freedom that isn’t freedom at all has clearly been sold to mankind.

But we don’t really need help to find our way to bondage

for the seeds of destruction are in our minds.

Almost anything that starts out worthy, can be twisted or taken to excess.

Too late, we find ourselves in currents fast and deep,

thrashing about to swim out of the mess.

It can be hard to wrap your mind around,

that giving yourself away makes you free.

But it’s just what God promises when you reconcile with Him,

the scales fall from your eyes and you see.

© Joel Tipple
366

Warriors Forgive

Forgiveness is not for the weak of will, it’s for the warrior,
who knows well the battleground of his mind.
Each day he puts on his best armor,
choosing what to set free and what to bind.
A warrior is not mastered by bitter hate
that seeks to dominate and make subservient his will.
Instead he emulates his Savior, Jesus Christ,
the warrior who gave all on Calvary’s hill.
If we ever choose instead the wrong path
and install ourselves as judge
we will find ourselves the prisoner
instead of being freed by the warrior’s love.

© Joel Tipple
350

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)
Colossians 3:13

This is a Recording

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The recording that’s playing,
running in your mind,
that condemns at every turn,
only to rewind,
is not correction or direction
unless you count the blind alleys.
This voice makes it difficult
to rebound or to rally.
It’s not an encouraging voice
to bring you to the fold.
It’s purpose is to bludgeon,
criticize and scold.
Its name is Self-Talk,
and if this sounds like your own,
record new material, call yourself
on the phone. Read what God
says about you
apply some of that.
Let His voice redeem yours;
set your mind to this task.

© Joel Tipple

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 12:2