Word of the Day
Beloved, it is time to not only look on Me but to think on Me. It is not enough to look away from other things and look on Me and not think of the magnitude of who I am. It is in doing this, through the instruction and revelation of the Word, your mind becomes renewed.
A renewed mind thinks like I think, loves like I love and is what I am. I lead by the example I set and I am the complete source of all your faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Beloved, faith COMES. It comes to you in response to the hearing of the Word. Speak My Word out loud and let your own speaking bring this truth to pass in your own life. Speak! Hear! And faith will come.
The surest way of thinking on Me is to know something about Me. In knowing something about Me through the reading and meditation of My Word, you are enabled to gaze on the attributes of who I am. Meditating on these aspects equates to thinking on Me with a deliberate intention that promotes the building of steadfast faith and an unwillingness to give in to the lies and deceptions of the enemy.
Imagine for just a moment all of the hostility I endured, all the shame I despised and ignored in order to overcome, in order for you to believe, to receive. See Me sitting at the right hand of the Father far above all powers and principalities, having defeated death, hell, and the grave. See Me enduring the hostility and abuse of sinners in order to be your defender, your Redeemer regardless. Think, meditate, muse, consider, ponder, reflect, and imagine all these things and more that you might not grow weary and faint—that you might not lose heart causing you to relax to the point of faint in your minds, your beliefs.
Yes, contemplate individual portions of Scripture, especially those portraying My character, nature, essence and beauty. Let these Words fill your thoughts as you gaze on Me. Repeat them, say them over and over. This is meditation. This is thinking. Time is here to put gazing and thinking together. They are a power-packed duo capable of changing your whole life and way of thinking. Come; I am waiting with open arms to reveal Myself as you avail yourself to gaze and think.
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.(Consider Him and look away from all that distracts) Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. (Hebrews 12:2-3 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, Your Word says we have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts and intents of Your heart. Therefore, I choose to delve into Your Word and discover who and what You are in a fresh and new way. I choose to speak the Word with my mouth and my spirit will hear and embrace the truth. My mind will comprehend and hold the precepts and revelations held within every syllable of the Word of the Lord. Faith is coming to me because of the Word.
My eyes are set on the Lord and as I gaze into His loveliness, I am changed. I meditate on the precepts of the Lord. I taste and see that He is good. He is my provider, my hope, my sure foundation, and my stronghold in the day of trouble. He is the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star and I delight in Him. His lips drip with honey and His Word is sweet. Healing Oils flow from Him and I am set free. His blood purchased me and set me free from the law of sin and death. He is lovely to behold. There is none like Him. He is waiting for me with open arms to embrace me for I am engraved in the palm of His hand. I am here to gaze and think upon You, Lord. I am here. Amen
Reflect and Journal
- To gaze means to fix the eyes and look steadily and earnestly; to look with eagerness or curiosity; as in admiration, astonishment or study; a fixed look of wonder and admiration (Webster 1828).
- To think means to have the mind occupied on some subject, to imagine, to conclude, to muse or meditate, to consider, to deliberate, to presume, to believe, to esteem and to remember with favor (Webster 1828).
- Consider the two definitions above and reflect on your relationship with the Lover of your soul in the area of gazing and thinking. Have you been gazing and thinking?
- Take some time to rest in His presence, use the scriptures above, or some you know, using them as an opportunity to gaze and think on those aspects of Him. Ask Him to renew your mind with the truth of the Word. As He speaks to you, write what He says. What He speaks to you can and will become future meditations for the renewing of your mind.