Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct in this passage for those people who have His Spirit. He urges us to keep our minds filled with the concept of God’s control over everything, which means that a disciple must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, “My heavenly Father knows all about this!” This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those people who have His Spirit, and it works on the following principle: God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. “Ask, and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7).

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July 16 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for this reminder of your faithfulness. I asked myself the other night why I continue to worry about certain difficulties, when I have been schooled to read and believe the scriptures about Your faithfulness? When the storm clouds of life overtake me, I try to remember all the times You have swooped in to calm the seas and deliver me. And You have done this time after time after time. So then when new difficulties arise, why must I see and fear the storm instead of remembering Your promises and all the times You have rescued me? Why do I focus so much on the train barreling down the track instead of Your faithfulness and promises?

And God says…”Your senses and environment are constantly bombarded with information and images about how the world avoids pain and can increase your pleasure. And combined with your human desire to seek pleasure, and avoid uncertainly and pain, your natural inclination is to focus on the trial, difficulty and or pain or potential pain that accompanies troubles in your life. This is a natural response. But I have given you the Holy Spirit and He will lead you to a supernatural response. You can allow the Holy Spirit to lead you and provide the peace that passes all understanding by consciously surrendering your life and circumstances to Me and trusting Me to make certain that all things are worked out for your good. When you seek Me first, your natural responses of fear, anxiety and pain are overwhelmed by My reassurance and you simply “know” that I will work all things out for your good. Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else you require will be provided. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, do not rely on your own understanding….or senses and I will make your paths straight. Simply get in the habit of surrendering your fears, anxiety, hurt and pain to Me, be connected to Jesus, and watch with wonder and eager anticipation as I transform you and create the good that I promised.”