The Laws And Powers Of The Mind Part [11] 11/26/2023 Evening thought)

Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

This is what all of the disciples of Christ, who were already in the preaching ministry and who’d been baptized, were yet to experience. Tit for tat laws still governed their behavior, and a strict sense of justice guided their interactions with others initially. This could be observed, when they were refused entry into a certain Samaritan town, upon which they resorted to their default setting at that time, which was the tit for tat mode of thought and action.

Luke 9:52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

That’s tit for tat law. But over a period of time their minds were trained in righteousness by beholding Christ, in so much that forgiving others eventually became automatic, with them not having to think long, and hard with fasting and prayers, before they forgave others.

Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of spirit you are of. 6 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night’ and God bless!

The Laws And Powers Of The Mind Part [10] 11/25/2023 (Morning thought)

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

[2] The mind can be trained to the point where it can become second nature to do good or evil. This point right here is so critically important to the study, that we must spend some time unpacking it. When persons initially decide to give their lives to Christ, conscientious decisions, have to be made, in favor of righteousness, for it takes awhile before a person does right without thinking about it.

In harmony, and in conjunction with the presence, and power of the Holy Ghost human minds could be trained to forgive and over a period of time, keeping our eyes on Christ our great Exemplar, it can and will become second nature since practice makes perfect. It takes awhile before forgiveness becomes a default setting in the mind, for initially, most would have to think long and hard before letting things slide.

But after some time, some more, some less, it becomes more, and more natural to forgive, and conversely, to hold onto old grudges and beefs becomes more unpalatable. Then, after beholding Christ for some time, you do not have to think about it anymore, for it becomes the natural default setting in the character. If folks have to spend sleepless days and nights, or in some instances many months and years, trying to forgive someone, that tells us that there is work to be done in the heart.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!