What are you thinking of daily that isn’t aligning with your wildest imagination? Because guest what, God can do far more beyond your wildest dreams. The mind is the arena of your faith.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds 5 we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The biggest weapon the enemy will use is your mind, because he will constantly remind you of who you were. He Is trying to remove you form the intimacy of God because in Christ is everything you need. That is why you need to take every thought captive
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will
Romans 12:2
The pattern of the Kingdom is generosity. We cannot be a victim and an overcomer at the same time. Your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts. Do you like where its headed?
Reframing – Cognitive Bias
Meaning = Mistake in reason based on personal preferences or beliefs
We may make a mistake with reasoning because we have a pattern with that context. This is the result of what is called a ‘Mental filter or a mental framework’. It is a filter that shapes the way we think and perceive the world around us and the things that happen to us. How you see the world determines you’re response to experiences.
“It’s Not The Thing, It’s How You Look At The Thing”
27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.
Numbers 13:27-28
30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”
Numbers 13:30-31
We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
Numbers 13:33
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
Numbers 14: 24
It’s not the facts that are different, it’s the frame that is different. How you frame it will determine how you see it.
So, what is reframing? It is creating a different way of looking at a situation, person or relationship by changing its meaning. You’ve got to have an understanding of the Word so that you can respond to situations correctly. Paul knew how to Re-Frame a situation. He dreamt of going to Rome to Preach but ends up in Prison. Look what he says;
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me really sucks. As a result of the hell I’ve been through, I’m quitting Destiny Group and never going back to church.
Philippians 1: 12-13
A bit of humour there. He didn’t really say that, but the reality is that’s exactly what some of us would say. Paul actually said;
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains are much more bold to speak the Word without fear
Philippians 1: 12-14
Experiencing the fullness of God in our lives starts with what we are thinking on.
How to Reframe Any situation:
- Thank God for what didn’t happen
- Practice re-framing
- Look for the good
Talk It Over
We get discouraged when we focus on what God is not doing instead of what He is doing. We find what we look for. Focus on God’s goodness and you will find it everywhere.
Key Scriptures
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish
strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served
Philippians 1:12-14 NIV
to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and
to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers
and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel
without fear.
Start talking.
Do you use filters on your photos on social media? If so, which one is your favorite? If not, why
not?
Start thinking.
• Which part of this message was most impactful for you and why?
• Would you say you tend to have a more positive mindset or a negative one? Why do say so? How could you start training your mind to look for God in every situation?
• Read Philippians 1:12-14. What are some ways you could start reframing your
circumstances?
Start sharing.
• Share about a time when you saw Jesus bring meaning and purpose to your pain.
• Everyone has a personal struggle they’re facing. What’s yours? How can you look for God in
it?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
Father, give me eyes to see Your faithfulness, goodness, and grace at work, even when I face
difficult situations. Draw me close to You. Thank You for always being with me. Help me
reframe my perspective and look for You in all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
• Spend time praying over the struggles everyone’s facing. Ask God not only for comfort but
also for eyes to see His goodness, even in the middle of pain.
