Just the other day I saw a quote come in through Zig Ziglar Facebook page that said “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”. Looking it up I discovered it is a famous Henry Ford quote. So do you realize the power your thoughts have over your life? Do you realize how much your attitude determines your destiny?
What do you believe? What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe about others? What do you believe about different positions or jobs or roles? What do you believe about God? Why do you believe that? Do you believe it because God’s Word says? Do you believe it because of your life experiences? Do you believe it because it was on TV? Do you believe it because it was on the radio? Do you believe it because it was on the internet? Do you believe it because it was on social media? Does it matter how creditable the source is? How do you know which source(s) is/are creditable?
Let’s compare what we tend to say and think against what God has to say:
Do you have a foundation on which you can build your life? Do you have a foundation on which you can test things to determine the accuracy and truth of the matter? Do you have something that helps you measure the truth? Do you have something that can be trusted?
Does who you think you are align with who God says you are? Ever wondered “Who does God say I am?“? So don’t hold yourself back with what the world says, instead consider who God says you are!
Can you believe that not only have we left behind 2020 but that January is now behind us too? Ever heard how time flies? How has time gone for you in the midst of everything taking place in this world? Did January go by fast? Was it better than 2020? Did 2021 start off on a good note? Are you ready for February to begin?
What do you think?
The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for February 1st
Be True To Your Heart
MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: Proverbs 23:7
‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.’
POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:
- What do you think about most?
- Where do you spend most of your thinking time?
- How do you spend most of your thinking time?
- What thoughts do you allow to run through your mind?
- Do you consider the thoughts taking place in your head or just go with the flow?
- Do you take every thought captive and make them obedient to Jesus?
- Do you allow thoughts to flow in and out without a care?
- Do you allow the truths of God to flow through at the same rate as the lies of the devil?
- Are your thoughts on things that are real?
- Are your thoughts dreaming about successes?
- Are your thoughts worrying about failures?
- Are you thinking truth? Or being consumed by distractions or lies?
- Just like the words that come out of our mouths from the overflow of our hearts, the thoughts going through minds also reveal what is going on in our hearts!
- So let’s consider the parable of the farmer who sows and how it may apply to our thoughts and what we allow into our hearts…
- ‘On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”’ — Matthew 13:1-9
- What is it that we have as seeds being planted into our hearts?
- What is it that we have as the soil of our hearts for the seeds to land on or grow in?
- What is it that we have to help the seeds grow, do we have the right fertilizer available?
- How is what is in our heart impacting our attitudes and our actions?
- What is captivating your thoughts? What is it that you spend your time thinking about?
- When a thought comes in, how do you handle it? How do you process it? How do you respond to it?
- Are we even able to focus long enough to process what is coming into our minds?
- Are we distracted with other thoughts that are causing us to miss out on the gift of today? The Present?
- Are you worried about something but not willing to cast it upon the Lord?
- Are you so worried about life that you try to escape with daydreams of vacations, getaways, and fun?
- So why not use God’s Word as a filter for your thoughts?
- Why not try to filter your thoughts through love? What comes out the other side?
- Why not try to filter your thoughts through hope? What comes out the other side?
- Why not try to filter your thoughts through faith? What comes out the other side?
- Now using the analogy of a filter, what gets caught in the filter that shouldn’t be coming out the other side? That might be helpful too in considering the thoughts we allow in or through our minds!
- Instead of worrying, let’s turn it into excitement by turning our focus to God’s goodness and greatness!
- Instead of worrying, let’s decide to trust God for wisdom in that situation!
- Instead of getting stuck in the midst of boredom or trying to escape it with daydreams, let’s choose to focus on God’s purpose for us!
- Let’s fill our hearts and minds with what we are thankful for! When it is filled to overflowing, from the overflow of the heart we will speak of our thankfulness! When it is filled to overflowing, we will live out our today thankful, expressing gratitude and praise God!
- Today’s devotional closed with an interesting quote from Martin Luther: “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
Analyze your thoughts for the past twenty-four hours and put them into categories of worry, escape, determination to succeed, faith, hope, and love.
- …
What can you do today to make better choices about what you think and how you think?
- Make a plan
- Be determined
- Focus on what I allow in
- Focus on when it is taking place and how it compares to God’s Word
QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
“A man is what he thinks about all day long”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
— Zig Ziglar
Today’s reading from Tanakh:
- Exodus 7
- What if you might be the only representation of God that someone will ever experience in their lives?
- What if they would never enter into a church or temple but they will talk to you?
- Will you receive God’s call to be His ambassador?
- Will you receive God’s call to be Jesus with skin on to the world around you?
- Persevere through the rejection because it isn’t you being rejected but God and so as you persevere it will lift God higher so that He will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory!
- How many miracles and wonders or signs and marvels will it take before God gets their attention?
- Let my people go!
- Exodus 8
- How many times will you break a promise, harden your heart, and refuse to let God’s people go?
- Is it that there was relief that you changed your mind?
- How bad does it have to get before you will take it seriously?
- What will you allow to rule your thoughts and your decisions? Fear? Stubbornness? …
So what goes through your mind all day long? What type of talk do you allow to take place in there? Are you able to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ? Is what you think about yourself true when you compare it to who God says you are?
Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together.
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day’s of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen
Did you pray with me?
Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision?
Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
Did you pray with me?
Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision?
Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity... 