Good morning,
The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving and Black Friday are done. Now comes the push to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. There will be stress coming from gifts to buy, food to prepare, parties to attend, decorations to display, and maybe some time for our families.
If we are not prepared to deal with the stress Biblically, we will have a miserable holiday season.
God has given us a battle plan not only to survive but to thrive. This week we will look at who is our enemy, our need for a spiritual mindset, spiritual conversation, spiritual fruit, spiritual conduct, spiritual trust, and spiritual cleansing.
SPIRITUAL MIND (PHILIPPIANS 2:1-3, 4:8-9) KEY VERSES 2 AND 8
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
(Mercy, like mindedness, love, being of one accord, are qualities that will help us handle the stress of the holiday season.)
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION (JAMES 3:1-18) KEY VERSES 10, 17-18
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
(Our tongues can be a blessing or a curse. Let us allow them to be a blessing by practicing the characteristics above.)
Once we have determined who the enemy is, then we must prepare ourselves for the battle.
First, we must prepare our minds. We must be in God’s word. Here we will learn what a spiritual mind is. Then, as we apply what we learn to our daily tasks, we become overcomers. We know God’s mind and are willing to obey what He asks us to do.
Second, we speak the mind of God. We will speak in such a way that it will glorify God. Many times this will open up conversations that center around Jesus. This is called civility.
So are we willing to allow God to give us His mind and speech? If so, not will we be overcomers, we will actively be witnessing for Jesus.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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