Unseen Forces Are Negatively Affecting Your Life

Unseen forces are negatively affecting your life and mine. Two powerful forces, the “spirit of this world” and our unconscious, deeply affect what we think, feel, want, and do.

Scripture says about the “spirit of this world” For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.(Ephesians 6: 12  (KJV) We’re in a battle for our life!

Regarding the unconscious, we are born hard-wired with a desire to survive, whatever the cost. The Bible describes this a being “born dead in trespasses and sin" (Ephesians 2:1). When we are in this state, we will, mindlessly and automatically, do whatever we believe necessary to AVOID or CONTROL/POSSESS whatever threatens our sense of safety and pleasure. 

But thanks be to God there is a third alternative. In contrast to domination by the spirit of this world or by our unconscious, we can stay conscious and aware and try to RESOLVE the issue “win-win” with honesty and compassion and the power of the Holy Spirit.

With this third alternative, we overcome our desire to AVOID or to CONTROL a troubling person, thing, action, or problem. We are willing, if not eager, to seek the whole truth with compassion for others and ourselves in our effort to RESOLVE the issue.

The Third Alternative is not second nature to us. It must be learned and practiced. Step by step we learn to confront the fears and lusts that would keep us stuck trying to AVOID or to CONTROL people, things, and problems. 

So what are these steps? Universal and eternal, they are always the same.

Confess -- Manage my body stress and my desire to AVOID and CONTROL

Repent -- Interrupt and release the emotions driving my desire to AVOID or to CONTROL                                                  so that I can do something different—move in a different direction.

See Garbage and God’s Grace -- I open my mind to the whole truth with compassion for others  and myself. Then I can choose to focus on resolving the issue win-win.

Take Action God’s Way in God’s Time -- Having seen the big picture and choosing to focus on doing God’s will, I line up my will with his and take action in line with his Word. 

 To help us take these steps, we have both spiritual weapons and weapons of the body and soul (thoughts, emotions, desires). The Choice-Cube offers weapons--tools and techniques--to manage our body, emotions, mind, and will--our soul so that we can stay aware, compassionate, and in touch with the Holy Spirit. Using these tools, we can take these steps anytime, anywhere.

2014 Choice-Cube Publications LLC. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License Reproduction. Copying or redistribution is encouraged provided the attribution Choice-Cube Publications is preserved. http:www.choicecube.com

Despairing? One Solution

These are difficult times. Do you sometimes wish for a power greater than yourself to help you through a bad spell? I do. I feel this strongly when I pray for:  the suffering in the Middle East, our wounded troops, the persecuted church, America, and President Obama. 

Angels to the rescue. Though I am Christian, you don't have to be Christian to believe in angels. Also, you may be interested in what Christianity teaches about them.

Let's take a look at what Scripture has to say about angels, starting with the fact that we can call upon innumerable numbers of them for innumerable tasks.  

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and  the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousand” Revelation 5:11  

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 18:10

Angels, commanded by God, are ready to do all manner of things for us, if we only ask. When we cannot see our way clear, we can call upon God’s angels for: 

 FOR SALVATION  

“He ascends the heights, leading many captives in his train… even those who once were rebels.”   Psalm 68:18 (TLB)  

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people”   Revelation 14:5 (NKJV)

FOR THE CARE OF “LITTLE ONES” WHO’S ANGELS ARE ALWAYS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”Matthew 18:10

“For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Luke 4:10, Psalm 119: 11

FOR PROTECTION SPECIFICALLY

“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Jesus is speaking here, but the same way he could protect Jesus, you can protect his other children)) Matthew 26:53

FOR MAKING THINGS KNOWN TO US 

“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” Luke 2:15

“When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.” Luke 24:23

“And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  And they said unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” John 20:12-14

“... You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” Acts 7:  52-54 (NLT)

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.”ARevelations 17: 1

Who’s In Charge: Flesh Or Spirit?

Does the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—live in you, giving life to your human body and preparing you for the transition from the “person of flesh” to the “person of spirit?”

If not, please consider that no matter how hard you try to be good, to do the right thing, to keep the law… without the Holy Spirit living in you to strengthen and empower you, you will never fully break free of your flesh and its demands.

The law can never create the “spirit person,” bringing you to immortality, because the law will keep you tied to your body and to the things of earth. (That is not to suggest that you ignore or disobey the law. No, simply realize that the law cannot bring you to the fullness of who God created you to be.) 

Our faith insists that the Holy Spirit live in you to help you put off of the “old” and put on the “new,” a process that ends with the resurrection of your body.

Think of it this way. As with all living things, the final life-product differs from the original seed of life. This is true whether focusing on a fully developed head of wheat that comes from a seed of wheat, a tadpole, or an adult who comes from the seeds of a man and woman. 

We all come to this earth in a “natural body” of flesh and blood and hopefully grow to adult hood. But we are not finished! The final goal is to receive our spiritual body—our glorified body. Born in a natural body of in fear and weakness, we are finally raised in a spiritual body of glory and power.  

The Bible promises, “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit… And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 9: 45-49). Hallelujah! 

Furthermore, when finally we drop off our flesh and are transform into spirit, that which is mortal and subject to death puts on immortality, “…death will be swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 9:54).

Here’s the joyful cry. “But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”   (1 Corinthians 15: 54-56).

Note however, the scripture continues, pointing out the problem with keeping the law. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”  (1 Corinthians 15: 57).

The law can never bring us to immortality. Again, try as we may to be good, do the right thing, keep the law… without the Holy Spirit living in us to strengthen and empower us, we can’t break free of our flesh and its demands. So, how’s your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

2014 Choice-Cube Publications LLC. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License Reproduction. Copying or redistribution is encouraged provided the attribution Choice-Cube  Publications is preserved.  http:www.choicecube.com

How To Use Your Two Feet In Your Walk With God

"What do my feet have to do with my spiritual walk?" you may ask. Well, a healthy spiritual walk keeps an ever-fresh balance between one footstep (focus on your sin and repentance) and the other footstep (focus on God’s grace and forgiveness). 

How important it is to keep your focus on sin balanced with your focus on Jesus’ grace and forgiveness

Think about it. When you walk with God, don’t just hop on one foot (focus on sin without genuine repentance) or linger too long, ignoring the other foot (God’s grace and forgiveness.)

A godly, spiritual walk is exactly that. A walk. Staying on the path to heaven, use both feet, one after the other.

You take one footstep (awareness of sin and repentance), then you take a step with the other foot (awareness of God's grace and forgiveness).  

And on and on, repentance and grace, repentance and grace. One foot after the other in an life-giving sequence of repentance and grace

Is Science Finally Catching Up To The Bible?

Mental rehearsal”… have you heard the term? According to neuroscientists, this is simply the repeated focus on a thought, feeling, desire, or behavior. 

The latest buzz among neuroscientists is that this processl can cause lasting changes to structures in your brain and body!

Fascinating! This finding seems so interesting for two major reasons. Firstly, the new and exciting news is that dwelling on a thought, emotion, or desire can change the structure of your brain and influence our body.

Secondly, is it not remarkable that God described the power of mental rehearsal all those years ago and that neuroscience is just now catching up with God’s Word?

This scripture for example:“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart (rehearsal).For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (the result of rehearsal).”Proverbs 4:20-22 (KJV)

According to this scripture, faithful mental rehearsal of God’s Word creates changes to the brain, nervous system, and body that lead to abundant life and better health. Or to say it another way, your choice to focus on God’s Word can make changes to your brain and body as neuroscientists suggest.

Or, what about this scripture? 

 “And the Lord said, Behold…  nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”Genesis 11:6 (KJV)

Does this scripture suggest that unrestrained imagining—mentally rehearsing something over and over—transforms it into reality?

It would seem so. 

The following scripture pushes the envelope but certainly provides food for thought.

“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with       her in his heart.”Matthew 5:28 (NKJV)

Do you agree that a man who has struggled with lust and overcome it would avoid lust-evoking situations? Instead, refusing to dwell on adulterous thoughts, he would have wholesome strategies to deal successfully with temptation and create a better life for himself and his family. 

Understanding the power of mental rehearsal is no little thing. It makes us potential co-creators with God and holds each of us responsible for what we think, feel, and want. 

It is even possible that the healthy thinking and mental rehearsal, first suggested in the Bible and now by neuroscientists, may become part of treatment for all kinds of physical and mental problems.

Reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, (including on the World Wide Web), in  whole or in part is encouraged provided the attribution Choice-Cube Publications is preserved.  2014 Choice-Cube Publications LLC. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.