Take Captive

“Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. . . . We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”-2 Corinthians 10: 3, 5-

The Bible says that our thoughts determine who or what we worship. Proverbs 4:23 instructs, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Let me reword that for you: Be careful how you think, because what you think about determines what you will worship. That’s why the Bible tells us to take every thought captive.
Psychologists have given us increasing insight as to how that happens. The field of cognitive psychology examines how our thoughts shape our attitudes, emotions, and behavior. They’re all intertwined, but our mind is the all-important starting point.
Experts say that the first time you think a new thought, it’s like blazing a trail through the woods. In your brain, this new thought carves what is called a “neural pathway.” Like the wooded trail, at first the path is barely visible. But then the trail begins to get used, and before long, it becomes a well-trodden path that looks as if it’s been there forever.
Children and teenagers are especially busy carving out the trails of their young thought processes. Adults build plenty of new pathways too. I read a study about a young man who viewed pornography on his computer, with a baseball cap on top of the computer’s screen. After some time elapsed, it was shown that he could be sexually aroused by the sight of a baseball cap. He had worn a mental path that he will find nearly impossible to change. Remember, this is mental warfare.
So, we choose to go to war. We decide to take prisoners. We take captive every thought that meanders down the road and subject it to Christ’s command. Taking every thought captive means we wrestle every thought to the ground and force it to submit to Christ. One way or another, there will be a prisoner. Either we take our thoughts captive by the power of the truth, or we’ll find ourselves taken captive and imprisoned by lies.

DENYING TODAY
What thought pathways are you reinforcing in your mind? Where will they lead you? Philippians 4:8 gives us a great filter for our thought life. Read it and memorize it. Ask God to make you more conscious of what is on your mind.

Be Still

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”(Psalm 46:10)

I read about an interesting social experiment that was conducted in 2007 by a writer at the Washington Post. At a Metro subway station in Washington, D.C., on a cold January morning, a man with a violin played 6 Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. He was casually dressed and wearing a baseball cap. Hundreds of people passed by while he played, hurrying on their way to work or other obligations.
After several minutes, a 3 year-old boy stopped to listen, but his mother impatiently tugged him along. Several other children did the same thing, but every parent — without exception — forced their children quickly along. One woman threw a dollar bill in his open violin case but never stopped to listen. In all, about 20 people gave money — about $32 in all — but kept on walking at their normal pace.
During 45 minutes of continuous playing, only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. Interviewed later, most people would say they didn’t even notice that someone had been playing the violin. When he finished, no one noticed or applauded. There was no recognition at all.
Here’s the irony: The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. Just 2 nights before, he had played in a sold-out Boston theater where concertgoers paid an average of $100 a seat to listen as he played the very same music. In the subway, passers by threw their loose change into the case of his violin, an instrument worth $3.5 million.
How often do you hurry through life without taking time to notice the beauty of life around you? From the moment your alarm wakes you each morning to the instant your tired head hits the pillow at night, the day is full of noise — cell phones, talk radio, hurried conversations, instant messages, popular music, television, social media. All with the potential to crowd out the “still, small voice” that whispers to us: Come away to a quiet place. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Be still, and in your stillness, you will come to know that I am God.

DENYING TODAY
For some of us, busyness props up our own self-importance. When is the last time you just sat still, in silence? Try it now. For just 5 minutes, be still. (I think it was Mr. Miyagi, in The Karate Kid, who wisely said, “Being still and doing nothing are two very different things.”) This week, turn off the radio. Silence your phone. Shut down your machines for a chunk of time each evening. Give yourself the gift of stillness.

Power Down To Power Up

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him.”
-Psalm 62:1-

I read a magazine article about church services in Haiti. It talked about worship services lasting 4 to 6 hours; how most people walked to get there, and once they arrived, they would stand crowded together in un-air-conditioned buildings; no coffee, tea, or doughnuts after the service either.
As I read, I was impressed with that level of commitment. Most preachers here in the states would tell you that they start losing people if the service goes much longer than an hour. There’s also the pressure of making sure that hour is filled with enough song and entertainment and multi-media to captivate the congregation. Can you imagine the members of your church leaving home an hour or so early in order to walk to the church, staying there for half the day, and then trudging back home under the hot afternoon sun? It seems pretty far-fetched.
In the article, they spoke to a Haitian pastor about the time difference between their services and ours. They asked him, “What is it about the Haitian people that keeps them worshiping at church for so many hours?” The answer was not very profound. The pastor laughed and replied, “In Haiti, we have nothing else to do!”
I sort of laughed at that, but then I was almost immediately struck by the weight of that answer. They didn’t have televisions, radios, smartphones, laptops, tablets, or movie theaters. The Lord God didn’t have very much competition! And then I realized the implications of that truth.
The psalmist observed that God leads us beside quiet waters (Psalm 23:2). The prophet Jeremiah knew that it is good to wait quietly for the Lord (Lamentations 3:26). Jesus invites us to get away with Him to a quiet place where we’ll find rest (Mark 6:31). God Himself says it this way: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
What would happen if you eliminated God’s competition, just for a test, to see what would happen? Turn off the T.V. Log off Facebook. Turn down the music. Unplug the game console. And turn your eyes to the Lord.

DENYING TODAY
What kinds of media and entertainment captivate you the most? Is there any device you just “couldn’t do without”? Well, try it! Take the challenge. “Go Haitian” for the next few days. Consider a “media fast,” other than your work requirements. Turn your full attention to the most fascinating Presence of all. He is more than enough.

Success Upside Down

Jesus looked at him and loved him. . . . “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.(Mark 10:21-22)

We don’t even know his name. This rich young ruler was probably well known to the people of his time, but we have no clue what became of him. Chances are, he went on to become the richer, older ruler, playing the game of life pretty well.
His conversation with Jesus began with what seemed like a great question: “What must I do to gain eternal life?” The problem was that the rich young ruler was used to getting things done. On his own, by himself. When he wanted to get something done, he had the means, the energy, and the authority to make it happen. And we get the sense that when he asked Jesus that important question, he was ready to check another thing off his bucket list and collect another lifetime achievement award.

But Jesus redefines a successful life as one that humbly says to God, “I can’t do this on my own. I need your help.” Jesus takes success and turns it upside down. So He challenges the young man head-on. Give up your self-sufficiency. Stop depending on your own resources and abilities. Depend entirely on me.
If only he had answered Jesus differently. Then, I imagine, we’d know his name. Maybe there would have been 13 disciples instead of 12. Maybe there would have been 5 gospels instead of 4.
Instead, “he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? He went away sad because he was rich? People don’t go away sad because they’re rich; they go away sad because they drive a 17 year old 3 cylinder Kia. Why would having so much make him sad?
Because he had too much to give up. He owned so much that it owned him. He was a rich young ruler, and Jesus was offering him an opportunity to be a poor young servant. But the god of success took his hand and led him away.
Humility is a consistent theme with Jesus. It was the first thing He addressed in His Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). “Poor in spirit” isn’t a reference to the size of your checking account or retirement portfolio. These words describe people who know they don’t have it all figured out, people who are humble enough to ask for help.
The rich young ruler was one right answer away from treasures he could not even imagine, but he backed away, unwilling to heed the very advice he had asked for.

DENYING TODAY
Write down your definition of success. What would have to happen for you to be successful? Remind yourself that God measures success by faithfulness, by obedience. Read Matthew 25:21, then write your own commendation from Jesus. Prayerfully consider: What will He praise you for?

MERIT BADGES

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
-2 Corinthians 4:18-

Personal achievement is a very powerful and alluring idol. Think about our experience as children. Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts; Brownies to Girl Scouts. These are wonderful organizations that teach many positive values — in particular, the value of achievement. Learn to tie a knot; you win a merit badge. Go on a hike and fulfill the given requirements, and you earn that colorful “camping” patch. If you were a member of a scouting group, do you remember how great it felt when the scoutmaster or den mother pinned that patch to your uniform?
Or maybe as a high school athlete you got the letter jacket for your sport, and every year you worked hard to add pins and patches to your jacket to show your achievements. Maybe it was the “1” rating at the state music competition or the blue ribbon watermelon you entered at the state fair or the stack of perfect attendance certificates or academic scholarship awards — the list goes on and on. Many kids find their identity and value in what they achieve. They put their hope in what they one day might be able to achieve.
So, the vest plastered with badges, the jacket covered in patches, the trophies weighing down the shelf, the ribbons and pins and medals, the report cards, the diplomas and degrees, the promotions, raises, and bonuses can all become idols to which we bow. For some, it simply translates to a daily checklist completed, a spotless kitchen, or a perfectly manicured lawn. These are all tangible representations of what we have achieved through hard work and dedication.
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these achievements. In fact, they can be acts of worship that glorify God. But when our lives are all about getting things accomplished we discover there’s not much room left for God. Our approach to worshiping God may be like checking off a box on our to-do list labeled “go to church” or “read the Bible.”
Denying ourselves means not placing so much focus and energy on these temporary, tangible trophies. Instead, we look beyond to what is unseen, to what has eternal significance: “achieving . . . An eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

DENYING TODAY
Go ahead, brag on yourself for just a minute: What awards or achievements are you most particularly proud of? Whose congratulating voice do you most appreciate hearing? Think through what you’re currently working hard to achieve. Hard work is good, but honestly evaluate: Why are you doing it? To prove yourself? To compete against someone? To provide a comfortable life? Pray these words from the apostle Paul: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8).

No Happier Now

“Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” -Luke 12:15-

When Torrie & I were first married, we lived in a very, very small apartment. It was the best we could do at the time, but we looked on the bright side. For example, we just had to plug the vacuum cleaner once because its cord could reach every where in the apartment from one outlet. It was small but it was cozy.
We didn’t Have central air or heat; there were no double-panned windows, so ice would form on the inside of the windows. The walls were paper thin and I’m fairly certain that the one bathroom we had was taken out of a small airplane.
We were just starting out and we were technically living well below the poverty line. We ate Ramen noodles regularly. A night on the town meant ice water for two and then splitting an appetizer. Our goal was to keep the check under $10. Yep, the servers loved us.
Years later, we were lying in bed reminiscing and playing “Can you top this?” And cracking each other up with the memories. Then we grew quiet and she said, “Are you any happier now than you were then?” I didn’t even have to think. “No,” I said. “I’m not.”
That story isn’t unique; if you’ve been alive for awhile, you can probably tell a similar one. Even though we know experientially that money won’t satisfy us, still we always seem to be chasing it. But the Bible reminds us many times that our lives are not measured by how much we have and that wealth can never really satisfy. So Paul gives this advice to young Timothy: “Flee from pursuing wealth; don’t put your hope in money. It is so uncertain. Be rich in good deeds. Be satisfied with having food and clothing. ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’ ” (see 1 Timothy 6:6-19). It’s advice worth heeding.

DENYING TODAY
Sit with your spouse or a close friend and tell some of your own “remember when” stories. Ask yourselves the same question: Are you any happier now than you were then? Read 1 Timothy 6:6-19, and then write several phrases of Paul’s advice regarding money and possessions. Underline the ones you most need to be reminded of today.

Money, More Money

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
-Matthew 6:24-

You knew we’d get to this issue at some point, right? The god of money has been around a long time. Oh, you used to know him as gold and silver, heads of cattle or animal skins — pretty much anything that could be traded. These days he goes by cash, dough, bacon, benjamins, moolah, bank, and the list goes on. He might even take the form of a plastic card or be a file named “portfolio.”
Money has grown so dominant in our culture that it’s difficult for us to stand far enough back to get a perspective. No matter what we may say, many of us live as if the pursuit of wealth is the real goal in life. Sometimes we hear rich people say things like “Money doesn’t make you happy,” but most of us think they all probably flew first class to some exotic destination where they get together and agreed to say that to make the rest of us feel better.
We pay lip service to the idea that money isn’t very important, but the way we spend our time and the things we pursue reveal our true beliefs. For many, the ultimate fantasy is winning the lottery or inheriting a fortune from some rich relative.
The wisest — and wealthiest — man who ever lived, King Solomon, recognized that “whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The apostle Paul, who knew what it was like to live both with wealth and in poverty, came to this conclusion: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). It might surprise you to know that even Jesus spoke a great deal about money. Of the 38 parables He told that are recorded in the Gospels, 16 of them deal with the topic of money.
And He spelled out a pretty succinct bottom line: You cannot serve both God and money.

DENYING TODAY
Have you fallen into the trap of serving the money god? Test yourself with these revealing questions: How often do you compare what you have and how much you make to others? How much anxiety do finances add to your life? To what extent are your dreams and goals driven by money (or lack of it)? What is your attitude toward giving? Maybe today you would consider giving some money away even before someone asks.

Marriage

It is better religion to be kind at home than to pray in church.

Our feelings vary from day to day. A close friend, who has one of the greatest marriages I know, shared with me a feeling she had very early in their married life. One day, all of a sudden, she looked at her husband and her heart sank. Something had happened to her feelings for him. The thrill was gone. She was conscious of saying to herself, “Okay, this is it. This is the way it’s going to be. I’ve made a commitment to God – and to my husband – and I’m going to live by that commitment, not feelings.”
And so she proceeded, by faith, to love her husband sincerely – if not with the same sense of thrill and depth of emotional feeling. It wasn’t long before one day, just as suddenly as the feeling had gone, the feeling returned…and more. It overflowed!

The apostle Paul has given very clear guidelines for Christian marriages. And though these guidelines can be humanly challenging, they are fully achievable with the power of the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians 5:21-33.

4 Biblical Truths About Christian Marriage

1.) Husbands and wives are first subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and then mutually subject to one another.

2.) The husband needs to be the spiritual leader of the home in the same way that Christ is the leader of the church.

3.) Both the husband and wife are to be loving, sacrificial, caring, responsible, and committed & consistent.

4.) It is the desire of God’s heart to do whatever it takes to keep the marriage together, and for each couple to experience His love through the other.

My Time With God

Preparation Time
Read Ephesians 4:26-31.

Check the areas you are struggling with in your marriage:

( ) Unresolved Conflict ( ) Children ( ) Finances
( ) In-laws ( ) Not in Love ( ) Communication
( ) Kindness/Respect ( ) Spouse non-Christian
( ) Previous marriage problems ( ) Other
( ) Spiritual Growth

Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…

Love You.
“God, I feel your love today, especially through my spouse, because…”

Search You.
“God, You have permission to reveal any issue that I have not forgiven or needs to be forgiven.”

Show You.
“God, is there anything that I need to know as I enter this day?”

Confession Time
Read Colossians 3:12-14. Then confess the areas that are hurting, or at least not helping your marriage.

Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.

…Read Philippians 2:1-5 slowly a couple of times.
…Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
…Pray the Scripture and allow God to minister to you.

Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind:

Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing and thanksgiving for the marriages of the people for whom you will now intercede.
Name Request

Petition Time – Praying for Yourself

How to petition God properly:
Talk to Him about the “little things.”
Be honest with God.
Pray “Thy Will Be Done.”

Prayer Requests

Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.

Q: What is the main thing that God has impressed on me today?

Q: What am I going to do about it?

Steps to take in my obedience to God this week:

My Goal: To implement the above steps in the next 7 days.

Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying through your eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!

Praise & Thanksgiving Time

Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS!
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE!

This Week’s Memory Verse: (Philippians 2:3)

This Week’s Time Alone With God

Monday – This Lesson

Tuesday – Pray for your spouse today

Wednesday – Evaluate yourself compared to the characteristics and qualities in Colossians 3:12-14. Which one will you work on today?

Thursday – Write a letter to your spouse describing your commitment (see Matthew 19:5-6).

Friday – Review your memory verse

Finding Nemo

“I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless.”
-Ecclesiastes 2:1-

When my kids were little, they wanted a pet. I agreed, but there were a few conditions. The pet had to be something that didn’t bark, meow, or make any kind of noise. It couldn’t shed any kind of fur or hair. And the pet had to cost less than $5. Within those limitations, we settled on a goldfish.
At the store, there was a sign on the fish tank that said a “three day guarantee, no questions asked.” To me, this seemed like a safe policy and even good stewardship, not an omen.
The kids named the fish — wait for it — Nemo! They wanted to play with their new pet, but how do you play with a fish? You can’t take it for a walk or teach it to fetch. But you can take it swimming. So we went out to the pool. I explained to the kids that the chemicals in the pool would not be good for a fish, so we brought Nemo in a glass cup filled with water and set the cup on the edge of the pool (so he could see). While we were splashing in the pool, I noticed that Nemo was watching us. I figured he wanted to get out of the cup and into the vast ocean that the pool must have looked to him.
After a few minutes, I looked over again to check on Nemo, but the cup was empty. Apparently, the lure of freedom was so strong that Nemo had flip-flopped out of the cup and into the pool. I tried to catch him, but catching a goldfish in a swimming pool is more difficult than you might think. Eventually, though, Nemo rose to the surface, belly up. The kids were upset, but I reminded them of the 3 day guarantee and they were happier.
Nemo might have been having the time of his life, but what he didn’t know was that what promised pleasure was really bringing poison. When pleasure becomes our primary pursuit, it delivers the opposite of what it promises. Pleasure has this unique trait: The more intensely you chase it, the less likely you are to catch it. Philosophers call this the “hedonistic paradox.” The idea is that pleasure, pursued for its own sake, evaporates before our very eyes.
Jesus painted this sharp contrast: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Here is the powerful truth I hope you discover: When we worship God by denying ourselves, we experience what we were really wanting all along — deep and ultimate pleasure.

DENYING TODAY
Think for a moment about the pain that pursuing pleasure has brought you. Write down a time (or times) when the pursuit simply didn’t deliver what it had promised. We are told to count the cost of following Jesus, but for a few minutes, consider the cost of pursuing pleasure instead.

Humbled To Be Exalted

“Do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. . . . Everything they do is done for people to see. . . . Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! . . . Woe to you, blind guides! . . . You snakes! You brood of vipers!” -Matthew 23:3, 5, 13, 16, 33-

Matthew 23 records one of Jesus’ last sermons here on earth. It’s a sermon traditionally known as “The Seven Woes,” and it is directed at the religious leaders of the day — the Pharisees. In this particular sermon, Jesus holds nothing back. If you grew up thinking of Jesus as a “Mr.Rogers” character who was always smiling, winking at people, and wearing a sweater vest, the tone Jesus takes with these religious leaders may surprise you. He isn’t trying to fix the Pharisees; He’s not simply giving them a warning or a caution. Jesus isn’t offering them counsel or advice. He is strongly opposing these religious leaders because He doesn’t want people to confuse following the rules with following Him.
The word “woe” is both an expression of grief and a curse, and Jesus repeats it multiple times. He is saying to the Pharisees, “Cursed are you. You’re afflicted and tormented.” And He is saying to us, “Don’t imitate these leaders.” Jesus is not impressed with their fancy robes, wordy prayers, or self-righteous authority. He takes issue with the way they operate. And Jesus doesn’t want His followers to imitate them or admire them.
Instead, He wants us to “imitate God” (Ephesians 5:1 NLT). He calls us to deny ourselves and have the “same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). He practiced what He preached: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He reminds us that in His kingdom, “anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). And He used the Pharisees to illustrate this “upside-down way of Jesus” truth: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).

DENYING TODAY
Read Philippians 2:1-11. Write down several words or phrases that jump out at you. Take a quick but thorough inventory of your last several days. Describe a time when you demonstrated “selfish ambition or vain conceit.” Is there someone you need to make amends with because you didn’t consider or value them above yourself? When did you look out only for your own interests? Humbly confess these things to the Lord. Then picture the greatest servant of all — Jesus — humbly washing your feet, forgiving your sin, extending His grace.