If my life would end today, all would be done. I would be finished. All the things I still thought needed to be done - left undone - would stay. That day...my journey would stop...sealed forever. And I can not deceive myself, that day will come.

"It is Finished" for me will happen during my journey. Yes there will be milestones that I count as 'destinations", but they are not the destination. Not my destination. My destination will be accomplished only with my life's last breath.

So...I must...to remain 'sane'...grasp each day's task and enjoy each step. Today I should never give up. God is taking my through this journey with His purpose in mind one day at a time. I should never skip one breath's enjoyment. FULL POST

You don't need medication - nor do you need to go to a support group. You, as a Christian, have all the support group you need - inside you. THE HOLY SPIRIT. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Morning or night. Even on cloudy days. On the days you don't have enough gas to drive to the store. When confused - He is not. When you give up - He waits until you are ready to go again. And He waits patiently.

He is not hiding from you. He is not hiding the answer. It may not be easy to find, He wants you to seek, to ask, to knock on the door. In your search, He will teach you things you need to know. He does not promise a short cut, for He focuses on the journey. He knows the advisary. He knows that without the journey - the destination you seek will not be secure. FULL POST

It grieves me that thousands of people who struggle with alcohol brand themselves publicly by saying "I am an alcoholic." They may be stating the truth, but is it side-stepping a greater truth? Is a half-truth more dangerous than a lie?

When a person stands in a meeting and says "I am an alcoholic," they are not telling a lie, because there is in every man an inherited helpless tendency toward a life of sin. It is no different from a person who might confess his failings in a meeting called for the purpose of anger management or for the purpose of overcoming the use of pornography or illegal and prescription drugs. We are all born carrying the spiritual and genetic inheritance of Adam. But no amount of confessing that we are helpless will overcome the truth that our sinful flesh is actually energized to do wrong when we are faced with the standard of God's righteousness. "For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death" (Romans 7:11 NIV).

This is where a line is drawn between meetings of people who are born again and people who are unbelievers. Unbelievers who are able to put aside the mastery of alcohol or drugs will find that other outgrowths of sin will manifest in their behaviors. They are in fact, taken captive by the devil at his will. FULL POST

I had to start my morning with a confession that I let depression get the best of me - I'm like the old guy who sits down thirsty just beyond reach of a refreshing cool bottle of water and then feels sorry for himself because he's thirsty. "My God shall supply all your need" is coursing through my mind and the emphasis is on "God" - if I would just have sense enough to pick up HIS WORD!

Have you ever notice that reading God's Word is just like manna? It only lasts from sun up to sun down? This "evening and morning" rhythm of our lives is such a mystery to me - but it is absolute law in my spiritual needs. If I go 2 or 3 days without letting God "talk to me" through His Word, I'm toast!

The spiritual life is such a dichotomy - if I just run around and go to church and "fellowship" I am gutted like a fish inside and feel empty. Spending time ALONE with Jesus and HIS WORD is paramount to LIFE. FULL POST

"What were you thinking?" Who has not heard that question at some time in their life? The person being asked that question has done something or said something that has exposed the root of all our actions and all our speech - our thought life.

God created man unique in that he is able to articulate his thoughts in a written and spoken language. He is able to comprehend the universe around him, not just through his five senses, but also through the recorded history of those who have gone before. He is able to develop a world view that combines his own experiences with the wisdom and knowledge of the ages. He establishes selfless bonds with other human beings that endure all trials and defy the logic of self protection. He is capable of the highest acts of devotion and he can be the perpetrator of the vilest acts of cruelty. Man is the most complex creation in the universe and the powerhouse of that complexity is the human mind.

Our thoughts are powerful forces. We were designed to be that way and the Word of God gives us a glimpse of the force of thought. The word for "think" in the Bible (as it relates to our thoughts in Philippians 4:8) is linked closely with the Greek word "logos" - the Word. Although God dwells in the eternal Light that no man can approach to (1 Timothy 6:16), He chose to communicate His thoughts with us through the Word that was made flesh. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus said "He that has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Our thoughts and the consequent actions and words they produce are an infinitesimal imitation of the power of the One who created us, the one who is God from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). Any ability we have to think, reason or understand has come from Him "who endowed the heart with wisdom (and) gave understanding to the mind" (Job 38:36).

We need to be very aware of the power that thoughts generate in our lives. It is no wonder that Scripture is filled with admonitions and instructions about our thought life. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The New Century Version of the Bible translates this verse as follows: "Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life." This wellspring of thought has also been called our imagination. It is the place in our mind where we can create images of our God, others and ourselves. The Word of God calls this ability "desire" or "meditation." It is no wonder David cried "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

BY CONNIE HORN

The goal of breaking a habit (or addiction) is not "breaking the habit". The goal must go beyond that. It must be to gain the very thing you get in touch with by performing the unwanted behavior. Surely no one started smoking to be a smoker. Nor did anyone start gambling to gamble. This is true with almost every harmful behavior. The goal was beyond the habit, and in many ways, that goal must have been obtained, or the behavior would have stopped!

Let's use as an example the young boy who wanted to smoke. He did this to be ‘cool' and he believed that by smoking he would achieve his ‘dream'. It was difficult at first, in fact the first few times he smoked, he actually got sick! But the goal was set before him and finally he could light up without a thought. He finally achieved the ‘look' he wanted. Goal met!

In my book "The Biblical Mind", I discuss a divorced woman who began to overeat and gained weight. Her goal was not eating and of course she did not set out to gain those unwanted pounds. The goal was the pleasure and escape she gained by that bowl of ice cream. Goal met! FULL POST

Those who live with destructive behaviors and/or habits lead a double life. For the vast majority, the behavior does not appear to have been the result of genetic factors but a learned activity. It began with something small, possibly even harmless, and before long a fixed pattern developed. It became a habit and then a way of life. From this point forward the behavior has become so firmly established to some it appears to be a genetic problem.

For instance; a young boy sees his first pornographic picture. In today's world of the internet and television, this is inevitable. At first it doesn't seem like much but it is certainly on his mind. In a couple of days he goes back to the picture "just to take a second look" and before too long every chance he gets. He hides this from others. As his experience with pornography builds he begins to take extra secure measures to hide his trail. If printed pictures, they are hidden in a safe place somewhere. Over time he wants to see more and more. It becomes such a habit that it becomes a way of life. It is at this point he feels he must lead a double life. FULL POST

I have come to realize that many of the behaviors I have struggled with in my life are directly related to not properly dealing with past experiences. These past experiences held me prisoner in a life far from what God intended. I was already a young man with an appetite for life when I came to know Jesus Christ. At that time I dedicated my life to Him, earned a degree in Biblical Psychology and went into full time ministry. I believed (and still do) that God called me to reach Christians who have a sincere desire to live a victorious life, yet struggle deeply with past and present problems.

After fourteen years in the ministry, I reverted to my "past life." I turned my back on God and pursued a career in the financial industry. I sought contentment in things (money, houses, and cars) and made every human effort to gain them. I achieved monetarily what few ever do. However, at the pinnacle of my "success," I was ashamed to call myself a Christian. I knew my sin, I was constantly aware of my compromise, and my conscience was never clear. I was never able to hold my head high and a deep darkness of heart and soul consumed me.

Although I left God, He never forgot me and through several events He regained my heart. I set out on a journey to return. I read every book I could find and studied scripture daily. I even went so far as to isolate myself completely to figure out how to regain what I lost and what had gone wrong. It was during this time I developed what I called "PageTwo." It began with two sheets of paper. Page One was what I had become when I turned my back on God. Page One was what I wanted to put in the past. Page Two was what I wanted to be; the new man described by the apostle Paul. I used those two pages to reprogram myself to believe and live my PageTwo life in Christ. The results have changed my life forever. This journey has led to the program called 'BiblicalMind'.

The Bible teaches there is a new life for those who believe in Christ. The sad truth is there is little difference between many who find Jesus and those who do not. I do not believe you have to accept this! If Jesus is who He said He is, and if there is a reality to the so-called daily Christian walk, then Christians should be different. "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being LIKEMINDED." Part of the trouble is we have been led astray and forgotten to take responsibility for what we put into our own minds! Romans 12: 2 says "and be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND!" Paul was telling us a very important thing here - and it requires action on our part.

Thousands, maybe millions of Christians stand up in various meetings across this country, state their name, and say they are an alcoholic. They do so hoping it will help them overcome the struggle they face.

Now before you call me a blasphemer for saying this about Jesus, I know Jesus would never attend a meeting and make this statement. For several reasons: it is impossible for Jesus to be an alcoholic. First: Some making the statement are claiming they have a disease and Jesus had no diseases. Second: Jesus was free of any sin, the spotless lamb that died to pay for the things we have done and are doing. And the list could go on and on. Jesus was not an alcoholic.

But that leads me to the following thoughts to stimulate your mind: FULL POST

When Jesus left this earth he gave us something very important. He could have given us anything, and given the chance to choose our "GIFT" from the "creator of all things", I would assume we could come up with some cool stuff.

But Jesus said - "I am leaving you with a gift . . . Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you"
You've got to be kidding right? How about wealth, power, wisdom, or maybe even a cattle on a thousand hills...but peace?

Yes, he gave us peace. Now, if Jesus gave us peace, then why don't so many Christians have it?
I challenge you to grasp the truth that negative behaviors (habits, addictions, etc) you face today are holding you back from a life of peace and fulfillment. Additionally, realize that even as harmful as your behavior is, it is the pattern of failure in this area of your life that is even more devastating. I want to say that once more so that you understand how important it is. The failure becomes as much of an issue as the original behavior.

It may seem an impossible task to unravel the causes for your behavior. The human mind is the most complex organism in the universe. It was created by God when He created man in His image. And the human mind was created so that the incomprehensible God could be comprehended by His creation. Man had perfect understanding from the beginning. God gave him a beautiful place to live and work and plenty of good food to eat. FULL POST