Scriptures: Romans 12:2, Proverbs 23:7, Mark 4:24

Welcome to the Challenge! 

30 Days That Can Change Your Life Forever

Do not be conformed to this world…but be transformed (changed)

by the [entire] renewal of your mind….

Romans 12:2 (AMPC) 

Welcome to the Battlefield of the Mind 3030 Challenge! This is a study based on the principles I share in my book, Battlefield of the Mind—a resource that has continued to do well for more than 30 years because it’s a message we all need to hear. 

I am so excited for you to begin this journey because I know what it will mean for your life. This is a challenge to study God’s Word on this subject for 30 minutes a day for the next 30 days, and I can think of no greater topic to focus on. 

For years I did all the “right things”—I went to church, read my Bible, served on the church board, and even went door-to-door telling people about Jesus because I really wanted to serve God. These are all good things! But I had a problem—I was still miserable most of the time.

Then, out of His great mercy, the Lord began teaching me about Romans 12:2, which says, Do not be conformed to this world…but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind…(AMPC). 

At the time, I was one of the most negative, critical, judgmental, and suspicious people I knew. I was definitely a “glass-half-empty” type of person! But what I didn’t know was that my negative thoughts were poisoning every area of my life and stealing the peace, joy, fulfillment, and great life God wanted to give me. 

You see, it all begins with our thoughts. We can only truly change and become more like Christ as we renew our minds with God’s Word. Our thoughts are the forerunners for our words, our attitudes, and our decisions—they even affect our relationships and how we see ourselves and other people. 

You will see this Scripture several times in the next 30 days. Proverbs 23:7 says, As he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he (AMPC). In other words, you become what you think! 

Each day for the next 30 days, I will share a unique devotion with you, along with some encouraging Scriptures and study tips. You can use these as a jumping off point to dive deeper in the Bible and explore for yourself what God has to say. The goal is to spend 30 minutes, but you can certainly do more as you desire. 

Before we begin, I want to encourage you with this wonderful Scripture. Jesus says, …The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear (Mark 4:24 AMPC). 

In other words, whatever time and study you put into this will determine what you get out of it. My hope is that you will have gotten so much out of this challenge that when it’s over, you will want to continue studying God’s Word for the rest of your life. 

So, are you ready? Because we’re getting to study one of my favorite topics…and I have so much to share!

Prayer: “God, as I begin this journey in your Word, I ask You to open my eyes to what You want me to see. Open my heart to understand Your principles, and please show me ways to truly apply them to my life. I dedicate these next 30 days to You, and I ask they would forever change my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Study Tip: Using a concordance—whether it’s the one in the back of your Bible or an online search—find five scriptures that refer to the mind or our thoughts. What messages do they teach? What promises do they include?

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, John 8:44, Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 3:1-6, Ephesians 6:11-18

Who Will You Believe?

How to Recognize the Truth from the Lies

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) 

What I’m teaching today can very well change your life. It’s a lesson that changed mine years ago, and I’m not sure where I would be today if I hadn’t learned it. It’s this: Not every thought you have is your own.

You see, John 8:44 teaches us that Satan …is a liar and the father of lies. The enemy attempts over and over to get us to believe things that aren’t true. He comes against us by bombarding our minds with cleverly devised patterns of nagging thoughts that lead to suspicion, doubt, fear, and reasoning that refute the truth of God’s Word. 

Even though they are lies, the enemy knows that if we believe they are true, then they become a reality for us and negatively affect us in so many ways. 

Second Corinthians 10:4-5 says, The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (NKJV). 

What is a stronghold? A stronghold is an area where the enemy entrenches himself and takes control. You have probably heard this term used when referring to soldiers fighting battles. Well, the Bible talks about strongholds in our mind. These are areas of our thinking dominated by the enemy—areas where we are deceived. 

For years, I believed so many things that weren’t true, and they created a mess in my life. For instance, I remember thinking things like: Nobody cares about me or loves me…Nothing good is going to happen in my life, so I might as well not expect anything good…I’m always going to have a second-class life because I was abused by my father and I’m damaged goods.

I didn’t know I had an enemy, Satan, who wants to bring all kinds of negative thoughts to my mind. I didn’t know I have a choice to reject wrong thinking! The truth is, so many of God’s children are struggling because they are believing lies. Do any of these sound familiar? 

“I’m really not that important—no one would even miss me if I wasn’t around.” 

“This is too hard! I don’t think I can do this anymore. I should just give up.” 

“My past is such a mess—no one is ever going to love me.” 

When the enemy brings these thoughts, we don’t have to sit by passively and let him fill our minds with destructive thoughts. Instead, we can learn to recognize them, and with God’s help, think about something better. 

I like to say that God’s Word is our “litmus test” for knowing what is true and false—a way to know the truth and expose the lies. That’s why it is so important to make His Word a priority in our lives—to take time each day to read the Word and even look up Scriptures that specifically apply to our situations. The more we know what the Bible says, the more we will enjoy freedom in every area.

Prayer: “God, thank You for the truth of Your Word. Help me to recognize the lies of the enemy and replace those wrong thoughts with Your Truth. Please renew the areas of my mind where I have gotten stuck into believing the wrong things. Help me to see You, myself, and my life in a whole new way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Study Tip: Read the following Scriptures. What do they say about our enemy? What does God teach us about how to respond to Satan’s lies? 

John 8:44; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Peter 5:8; Genesis 3:1-6; Ephesians 6:11-18

Scriptures: Philippians 4:8, Psalms 139:1-24, Romans 8:38, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11

Think About What You’re Thinking About 

How to Replace the Bad with the Good

…If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 (AMP) 

Yesterday, we discussed the importance of what we think and believe. Even if something is not true, if we choose to dwell on it and believe it, then it affects our lives in a negative way. 

So, let’s take this one step further. Let me ask you: Do you think about what you’re thinking about? This may sound funny; however, learning to regularly take inventory of our thoughts is essential to having a good life. Instead of being “unthinking” people, we can train ourselves to think about what’s going on in our mind. 

It was a glorious revelation for me when I realized I don’t have to think about just anything that comes into my mind. I can choose my thoughts and do my own thinking—on purpose. 

There was a time in my life when I would continually dwell on the negative, thinking about everything I didn’t have, the way I was mistreated by a friend, or something my husband did to offend me. This kind of thinking not only made me upset and bitter, but it also prevented God from bringing healing to those areas. 

But now it’s exciting to me to realize I don’t have to sit by passively and let the enemy fill my mind with poisonous and destructive thoughts. Instead, I can learn to recognize them, and with God’s help, I can think about something else that will be beneficial. 

What you think about has everything to do with your joy, happiness, and the overall quality of your life. But it’s not just good enough to stop thinking about the wrongthings—we also need to replace them with good, healthy, positive thoughts from God’s Word. 

Philippians 4:8 (AMP) says, Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

The Bible presents a lot of detailed instruction on what kinds of things we are to think about. We are instructed to think on good things—things that will build us up and not tear us down. Why? Because our thoughts affect our attitudes, moods, and what we believe about ourselves. Everything the Lord tells us is for our own good—He knows what will make us happy and what will make us miserable. 

God’s Word is the answer to combatting the lies of the enemy. And the more we know His Word and get it deep down on the inside of us, the more we will enjoy freedom in every area of our lives.

Walk It Out: It may take some time to develop the habit of “thinking about what you’re thinking about.” So, I recommend you try this exercise. Use a sticky note, an alarm on your phone, or even a card you place on your refrigerator or desk to daily remind yourself to take inventory of your thoughts. Are you thinking positive, hope-filled thoughts that agree with God’s Word? If it helps, keep a journal to document your thought life as you cooperate with God to change in this area.

Study Tip: For the remainder of your study time today, I want you to try this: Write down at least one or two negative thought patterns that you have struggled with. Then research God’s Word to find what He says about it. Jot down the positive, godly thoughts so you can think about them often. 

For instance, if you struggle with thoughts of feeling insignificant or unlovable, you may write down: “I am a child of God and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me and cares about every single detail of my life. Before I was ever born, He approved of me. He has a great plan for my life!” (Psalm 139; Romans 8:38; Jeremiah 1:5, 29:11.)

Scriptures: Matthew 6:27, Galatians 5:22, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:25-34, Isaiah 26:3

What Does Worry Accomplish?

Choosing Thoughts That Promote Peace

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:27 (NIV) 

I wasted many years of my life worrying about things that I could do nothing about. I would like to have those years back and be able to approach them in a different way. 

My husband, on the other hand, never worried. There was a time when I would get angry at him because he would not worry with me—and join me in talking about all the gloomy possibilities if God did not come through and meet our needs. Needless to say, I was always miserable, and he was always happy. 

Webster defines the word worry as “to afflict with mental distress or agitation: make anxious.”1 I have also heard it defined as to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts. 

When I saw the part about tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts, I decided right then that I am smarter than that! I believe every Christian is. Worry certainly never makes anything better, so why not give it up? 

You see, it is absolutely impossible to worry and live in peace at the same time. Peace is not something that can be put on a person—it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Peace is present within us, but it must be chosen over what our mind thinks. We can choose to be peaceful by choosing to think on things that promote peace rather than things that open a door for worry and anxiety. 

When you’re tempted to worry—when your mind wants to keep thinking about all of the “what ifs” and the worst that can happen, decide to change the subject and think about what God says. 

For instance, maybe you are concerned about finances or meeting your needs. You’ve done all you know to do, and you are being responsible, but you just can’t seem to “turn off” your mind. It’s at these times when you need to read and ponder Scriptures like Hebrews 13:5 (AMPC): 

…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Take a moment right now to let that sink in. Don’t you feel better already? And the more you fill your mind with what God says, the more His Word will pop up in your thoughts when you’re tempted to worry. 

So, what does worry accomplish? Nothing good, that’s for certain! But choosing to trust God and fill your mind with His Word will bring peace to your mind and heart. 

1. merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worry

Study Tip: Read the following Scriptures: Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6. Write down in your own words what each of these passages teach us about worry. 

Walk It Out: Isaiah 26:3 (AMPC) promises this: You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

I want you to try this. The next time you are tempted to worry, take a few moments to sit and focus your mind on God. Tell Him that You trust Him, and ask for His peace in the midst of what you’re dealing with.

Scriptures: Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:1-3, Psalms 91:1

Food for Thought 

The Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word 

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day

and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written

in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8 (NIV) 

I’m excited about today’s lesson. I love God’s Word, and what I’m about to share has helped me to get more out of the Bible than I ever imagined. 

The word meditate means, “to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over.”1 In today’s world, this word is associated with many things, and a lot of them have nothing to do with God. However, the Bible instructs us over and over to meditate on the Word. 

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) says, Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

What a promise! Now, we live in a fast-paced society, so meditating on the Word will need to be a conscious effort. We don’t want to just hurry through a verse and rush on to the next. Meditation involves pausing to reflect on a word, a phrase, or a concept. We compare that Scripture with others that come to mind. We feel in no hurry to dash to the end of the chapter. The words are there for us to savor and enjoy. 

When we meditate on Scripture, we are more concerned about quality than quantity. It is more important to get a deep understanding of one verse of Scripture than it is to read five chapters and understand nothing. 

My husband Dave is great at meditating on God’s Word. I still vividly remember years ago, when God had him studying and meditating on only one chapter in the Bible—Psalm 91—for weeks at a time. Dave read it over and over. He thought about it. He studied different words that were included in the Psalm. He looked up related passages. 

To this day, Dave has such a special understanding of what it means “to dwell in the shelter of the Most High” (Psalm 91:1). But he would have never received such a gift without taking the time to study and meditate on it. 

When Psalm 1 instructs us to meditate on God’s Word “by day and by night,” it’s a way of say­ing that thinking about the Word of God should be a regular part of daily activity. This will require us rejecting wrong thoughts when they come and choosing to think on things that will benefit us. 

Too often people focus on their problems instead of meditating on God’s promises. As they do, their problems seem to get bigger, and God’s power diminishes. But when we meditate on God’s Word—when we fill our minds with what He says—we remind ourselves of just how big God is and that we have nothing to fear. 

1. merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meditate 

Prayer: “Father, You have told me to meditate on Your Word, and I ask You to help me do that. I want Your Word to be the focus of my life. When problems come, help me turn to Your Word immediately. When Satan attacks my mind, remind me to counterattack with Your Word. As I meditate on Your Word regularly, I believe I will see good progress in my life. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: Meditating on God’s Word includes taking time to read and just ponder the Word. Today, pick one verse from the Bible on a topic of your choice. Then choose to simply meditate on what it means. Who is the verse directed at? What is the context? How does it affect you, personally?

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ezekiel 36:26, Philippians 1:6, Luke 15:5

How to Think About Those You Love 

Learning How to Be a Person That Others Want to Be Around

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify

(strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMPC)

I can tell you from experience that the easiest way to damage a friendship or relationship is to look at a person and think, You’re never going to change. Thank God that He believes we can change and chooses to continue working with us to improve. 

In the early years of my marriage to Dave, my behavior was at its worst. I really had no idea how to behave in a healthy relationship. My thoughts about what to expect out of marriage were all messed up and unrealistic. 

Looking back, when I ask Dave what enabled him to stick with me, he says, “I knew that God could change you.” Wow! 

Dave’s belief that God could change me was a key factor in my healing. I only felt love from him. Sadly, most of the time I couldn’t receive it, but that didn’t stop him from being who he was. He kept offering love, and he remained joyful. 

Similarly, God keeps giving even if we have not yet learned how to receive, and we can learn to do the same thing in our relationships with other people. Even if you see no change at all yet, you can continue believing that God is working. 

If you’re struggling with someone who you think will never change, begin to fill your mind with thoughts like, I believe God is working and all things are possible with Him. You will feel better, and your attitude toward the person will be much better. 

I have learned that I am not responsible for the changes in others—God is. I am only responsible to fulfill the law of Christ, which is love! Sometimes, I think we focus too much on the results instead of just being fulfilled in knowing we are doing what God is asking of us. 

We have all heard amazing stories of how people have been changed by God. Many of them involve God using someone who was willing to believe and not give up on them. 

Your thoughts, attitudes, and actions can play an important role in someone’s transformation. Let God use you. Start believing that anybody can change.

Prayer: “Father, help me to see the people in my life the way You see them. Let me always be an encouragement and support—looking for the good and believing the best. I ask You to continue working in the lives of my loved ones, just as Your Word says You will. We can’t change ourselves, but You can change us and make us more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: Read the following Scriptures: Ezekiel 36:26; Philippians 1:6; John 15:5; Luke 1:37. Now, using these verses as your basis, take a few moments to pray for those who are close to you.

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 1:6, Mark 10:27, Hebrews 11:3, Philippians 3:13, Haggai 2:9, Jeremiah 32:27, Isaiah 43:19

Do You Have a Wilderness Mentality? 

It’s Time to Move into the Promised Land

“The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying,

‘You have stayed long enough on this mountain.’” 

Deuteronomy 1:6 (AMP)

I’m sure most of you are familiar with the story of Moses and how God used him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. After 300 years of slavery, they were finally free and on their way to the “Promised Land”—the land of Canaan that the Lord had given to them. 

Upon leaving Egypt, the Israelites entered the wilderness for what should have been an 11-day journey. However, as you probably know, they wandered in the desert for 40 years!

So, what prevented them from entering the Promised Land? Was it their enemies, their circumstances, the trials along the way, or something entirely different that kept them from arriving at their destination? 

Several years ago, God spoke to my heart and said, “The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness because they had a wilderness mentality.” I define a “wilderness mentality” as a wrong mindset. Right mindsets naturally benefit us, while wrong ones hurt us. 

I absolutely love Deuteronomy 1:6. It was a message for the Israelites over 3,000 years ago, and I believe it’s a message for so many of us today: “The Lord our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough on this mountain.’” 

God was telling them, “It’s time to move on—you have been here long enough!” 

Similarly, our wrong mindsets can keep us stuck in the same place, never truly making any progress. Like the Israelites, we can keep going around and around the same mountain (dealing with the same problems)! 

Throughout this 3030 Challenge, I will share several “wilderness mentalities” that can hold us back from God’s best for our lives, beginning with this one: 

“My future is determined by my past and my present.” 

The Israelites had no positive vision for their lives—no dreams. They knew where they came from, but they didn’t know where they were going. Everything was based on what they had seen and could see. They did not know how to have faith for their future. 

Similarly, I came from a background of abuse. My childhood was filled with fear and torment, and my personality was a mess. I thought, How could anyone who has the kind of past I do ever really be all right? It’s impossible! However, Jesus said that He came to heal those who are sick, brokenhearted, wounded and bruised—those broken down by calamity. 

You may have had a miserable past. You may even be in negative circumstances right now or facing situations that are so bad that it seems you have no real reason to hope. But regardless of where you’ve been or where you are in life right now, please know that your past or your present does not determine your future! 

Make a decision to get a new mindset. No matter what has happened in your life, choose to believe that …with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27 NKJV). With man, some things may be impossible, but we serve a God Who created everything we see out of nothing (Hebrews 11:3)! 

Promises from God’s Word: Read the following Scriptures: Philippians 3:13; Haggai 2:9; Jeremiah 32:27; Isaiah 43:19. What promise or lesson does each of these verses teach us? 

Is there something painful from your past that threatens your hope for the future? Take a few moments right now to pray: 

Prayer: “Father, I can’t change my past, but I believe that You can give me a wonderful future. By faith, I give you the weight I have been carrying around—all the cares that have held me back from moving forward. Beginning right now, I decide to believe that my future is bright and filled with good things…because You say it is! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scriptures: Numbers 14:1-2, Philippians 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalms 100:4

The Pit of Self-Pity 

How to Turn Your Focus from Inward to Outward

And all the congregation cried and with a loud voice, and [they] wept that night.

All the Israelites grumbled and deplored their situation….

Numbers 14:1-2 (AMPC)

Today, I’m diving into another “wilderness mentality,” and this was a big one for me. It’s the mindset that says: 

“My life is so miserable—I feel sorry for myself!”

When bad things happen to us or when we feel like life isn’t “fair,” it’s so easy to want to turn inward and feel sorry for ourselves. However, self-pity is not productive—it actually prevents us from growing and moving forward. 

There is a true gift of compassion, which is having godly pity toward others who are hurting…and spending our lives relieving their suffering. But when we indulge in self-pity, we take something that is supposed to be given to others and we turn it in on ourselves. 

Unfortunately, I can tell you firsthand how exhausting it is to give in to self-pity and try to gain others’ sympathy. There were so many times—especially in the early days when my kids were younger—when I felt like I was the only one who ever did anything around the house. 

I can remember one Saturday in particular when I really felt sorry for myself. As I attempted to clean the house from top to bottom, the kids were outside playing and my husband, Dave, was sitting in the family room watching sports. 

My thoughts of self-pity were in full swing: I’m the only one who ever does anything around here. It’s the same thing over and over—do the laundry, clean the house, cook our meals, do the dishes. You think someone would at least show me some appreciation once in a while!

Sound familiar? The tragic part is that I would stomp around the house all day in a huff and ignore my husband, hoping he would see just how hard I was working and how pitiful I was. But he never noticed! 

One day, during one of my “pity parties,” the Lord clearly spoke to my heart and said, “Joyce, you can be pitiful or powerful, but you cannot be both.” 

I’ll admit, pity was a hard thing for me to give up. I had used it for years to comfort myself when I was hurting. However, self-pity is a major trap, and it’s one of Satan’s favorite tools to keep us in the wilderness. I couldn’t truly be free until I made the decision to let it go. 

When you feel those emotions rising within you, check your thinking. Then go to God and ask for help. Simply pray, “Oh God, give me the strength to change my thinking and let go of these thoughts of self-pity. I have so much to be thankful for, and I know that You are on my side through everything.” 

Walk It Out: Take a few moments to answer the following questions. How do you respond to disappointments? How much time do you spend in self-pity? What are the effects of self-pity—mentally and emotionally? What affect does it have on your relationships? 

Read the following scriptures: Philippians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 100:4 

Try this: The next time you feel yourself sinking into a pit of self-pity, take a few moments to thank God for the good things in your life. Then make a point to go encourage someone else—whether it’s a kind word, a text message, or in some other way. 

Prayer: “Father, You know me inside out. You know my past, my personality, and any pain I’ve been through. When I’m tempted to feel sorry for myself, I pray that You will help me to recognize it and change my thoughts and perspective. Help me to focus on Your goodness and all of the many blessings You give me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scriptures: Romans 8:39, Romans 8:35, John 3:16, Ephesians 3:18, Psalms 139:16-18, Romans 8:38-39

God Is Thinking About You 

Becoming Aware of His Amazing Love

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to

separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Roman 8:39 (NIV)

Do you know how much God loves you? I mean, really know? God’s love for each of us is immense, yet if we never think about and meditate on His love for us, we will not experience it in its fullness. 

I remember when I began this ministry. The first week I was to conduct a meeting, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to teach. He spoke to my heart and responded, “Tell My people that I love them.” 

“They know that,” I said. “I want to teach them something really powerful, not a Sunday school lesson out of John 3:16.” The Lord replied, “Very few of my people really know how much I love them. If they did, they would act differently.” 

As I began to study the subject of receiving God’s love, I realized that I was in desperate need myself. The Lord led me in my study to 1 John 4:16 which states that we should be conscious of God’s love. That means it should be something we are actively aware of. 

I had an unconscious, vague sort of understanding that God loved me, but the love of God is meant to be a powerful force in our lives, one that will take us through even the most difficult trials. 

In Romans 8:35 (AMPC) the Apostle Paul exhorts us, Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Then in verse 37 he goes on to say, Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

I studied in this area for a long time, and I became conscious and aware of God’s love for me through thinking about His love and by speaking it out loud. I learned Scriptures about the love of God, and I meditated on them and spoke them out of my mouth. I did this over and over for months, and the understanding of His unconditional love for me became more and more real to me. 

God loves you tremendously…and He’s thinking about you right now (Psalm 139). And the more you read about His love and think about Him and His love, the more real it will become to you in your daily life. 

Prayer: “Father, I want a new understanding of Your love. I don’t just want to read about it, but I want to experience it fully in my life. Open my eyes to the height, depth, width, and breadth of Your love for me (Ephesians 3:18). Help me to purposely think about You and Your love until it becomes real to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: Read the following Scriptures: Romans 8:38-39; John 3:16; Psalm 139:16-18; Jeremiah 1:5. Now, read each of these out loud and personalize them if you can. For instance, say, “Nothing can separate me from the love of God!”

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 55:22, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:6-7

How to Think When Life Gets Difficult 

A New Season Is Right Around the Corner 

…God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature],

and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed

beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure….

1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMPC) 

The truth is that getting upset about our problems never changes them. However, choosing to adopt a positive attitude can. No doubt, when bad things happen, it’s even tougher to think and say things that are positive. But it’s helpful to remember that things will change…a new season is always right around the corner. 

In our family, when difficult things are happening, we like to say, “This too shall pass.” Maybe you’re having a financial difficulty, relationship problems, or a tough time battling an illness. It’s important to remind yourself that it won’t last forever. 

I love 2 Corinthians 12:9. Here, the Lord tells us that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. This means we can go through difficult times—God wants to show Himself strong through us. 

Sometimes we don’t think we can make it through a tough season, but God thinks we can. In fact, He promises us in His Word that He will never allow more to come on us than we can bear as we rely on Him (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

When life isn’t going well, we can choose to think thoughts that make us happy. When I am in the midst of a difficult time, I often turn to Romans 8:35-39. I remind myself that God loves me no matter how difficult life is at the moment. 

During tough times, it’s easy to think, I can’t do this—it’s just too hard. Watch for that type of thinking and when you recognize it, remember that it’s a lie. Then replace it with a God-inspired thought like: I can do whatever I need to do because God is with me. This too shall pass.

Prayer: “Dear God, help me to rely on You no matter what is happening in my life. I know that I can trust You to take care of every situation—no matter how difficult. You have never given me anything that I can’t face with Your help, so please be with me through [insert your prayer requests here]. Thank You for always being with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Study Tip: One of the best ways to get your thoughts in order when spending time with God is by journaling. So, take some time now and write down all the problems and difficulties that are on your heart today. Don’t think too hard about them. Just list them simply, then pray over each one, giving them to God in turn. Once you’re finished, go through the Bible and look up verses about trusting God to care for you. Some good places to start are: Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 55:22, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:6-7.

Scriptures: Proverbs 14:30, Luke 22:24-26, Galatians 5:26, John 21:21-22

The Big Green Monster

How to Be Happy for Others and Trust God with Yourself

A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (AMPC)

I’m sure you’ve heard jealousy referred to as “the green monster.” I actually think it’s so common that we don’t realize how often we compare ourselves to other people.

However, having our minds set on other people’s business is one sure way to be miserable! Jealousy, envy, and comparing ourselves with others will never lead us in a positive direction. It’s the “wilderness mentality” that says:

“Why shouldn’t I be jealous and envious when everybody else is better off than I am?”

Years ago I struggled badly with comparisons because I was so insecure. If we are not secure in our own worth and value as individuals, we will find ourselves competing with anyone who appears to be successful and doing well.

I constantly compared myself to my pastor’s wife, who was so gentle, sweet, and nice to everyone. Why couldn’t I be more like her?

I also compared myself to my neighbor, an amazing homemaker who grew her own vegetables in her backyard and sewed all of her family’s clothes. I thought I should be doing that too.

Dave and I still laugh about the pair of shorts I made for him—the pockets were longer than the shorts themselves! Needless to say, he never wore them. The bottom line is the more I focused on comparing myself to other people, the more miserable I got!

Learning that I am an individual—that God has a unique, personal plan for my life—has indeed been one of the most valuable and precious freedoms the Lord has granted me.

God has made you to be unique and special, and there is no one on this earth who can be a better you. So, set your mind to be happy for others and decide to trust God with yourself.

It will take some time and persistence, but when this negative mindset has been torn down and replaced by the Word of God, you will be on your way out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land.

Study Tips: Read Luke 22:24-26; Galatians 5:26; John 21:21-22. What do each of these teach us about jealousy?

Walk It Out: Identify one area where you have struggled with envy or comparisons. What role do your thoughts play in the situation?

Try This: When jealousy strikes or you’re tempted to compare, make a decision to change your mindset and change the subject. Take a moment to thank God for who He made you to be…and ask for His help to leave the negative thoughts behind.

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:7, Proverbs 18:21

How Thoughts Affect Relationships 

Learning How to Be a Person That Others Want to Be Around

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify

(strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (AMPC)

Whether you realize it or not, your thoughts, words, and attitudes have a tremendousimpact on your relationships. A positive attitude will attract friends and make you so much more enjoyable to be around. Likewise, someone with a negative attitude is fighting an uphill battle if they hope to make and maintain quality relationships. 

I don’t think negative people even realize how their attitude affects their relationships. I sure didn’t. But the truth is anyone who is happy and positive quickly discovers that being with a negative person doesn’t bring them joy. 

So, I ask you: Are you a good friend? Are you the kind of person other people want to be around? I’ve reached a place where I really want to be a good friend. If someone runs into me at the coffee shop, I want them to be glad to see me and take a few minutes to talk. I want my attitude to add to their joy! 

Most of us are familiar with the law of sowing and reaping. The Bible clearly tells us that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). If you want more friends, then sow a seed and choose to be a good friend to someone else. 

I once heard something that really got my attention. Someone said that even if people don’t remember what you say to them, they do remember how you made them feel. For example, I once had an exercise coach who is extremely positive. He encouraged me throughout the routine, so I always looked forward to seeing him. His attitude made the entire experience! 

However, on the other hand, a few years ago I was going to a trainer who wasn’t very encouraging. He often came across as negative and condescending. I know he thought he was helping me, but he was really discouraging me! 

Really, it’s pretty simple: If you want friends, be a good friend. Be the kind of person that other people want to be around. Be positive, encouraging, and uplifting. Encouraging people has not always come easy to me, but years ago I made a commitment to God to start doing it on purpose. Every day I ask the Holy Spirit to show me who I can encourage. 

Encouragement is powerful. It can actually make a person feel better. I remember one time when I got a text message from my youngest son. All it said was, “I love you, Mommy!” At that moment, I literally felt refreshed by his words. They gave me the extra dose of courage I needed that day. 

First Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to encourage one another and build each other up. Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue….Your words are powerful, and a word of encouragement at the right time can literally transform someone’s entire day. 

Maybe you are where I was years ago. If you realize you are negative, the greatest thing you can do is ask the Lord to begin changing you. Begin renewing your mind with God’s Word and allow Him to help you become positive in your thoughts, your words, and your attitude. 

As you do, you will become a person others want to hang around. You will become someone they want to call “friend.” 

Prayer: “Dear God, help me to be a good friend. I want to be the kind of person that people feel safe with and want to spend time talking to. Please show me how to encourage those around me so that they feel uplifted when I’m around. Help me to love them in all the ways You would want me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: What are some things that attract you to a new friend? Is it their mannerisms? General friendly attitude? If they’re talkative? Whatever it is that you find yourself drawn to, try today to be that for someone. If you love people who are encouraging, try to spread some positivity today! Or if you find yourself attracted to outgoing people, approach someone new today and strike up a conversation. You never know who you might meet!

Scriptures: Psalms 100:4, Hebrews 13:15

Count Your Blessings

God’s Secret Weapon for a Life of Joy

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

I sometimes refer to today’s lesson as the secret weapon for staying full of joy. I think it often gets overlooked, but it’s tremendously important. Maintaining a thankful mindset is a major way to transform any bad day.

Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC) says, Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

When do we offer thanksgiving? At all times and in every situation! It may feel like a sacrifice at first. But when we do, we enter into a place where the enemy can’t control us. How can he control us if we are going to be joyful and thankful no matter what our circumstances are?

Be a grateful person—one who is filled with gratitude not only toward God, but also toward people. When someone does something nice for you, let him know that you appreciate it.

I appreciate my husband; we have been married a long time, but I still tell him that I appreciate him. He is a very patient man in many ways and has a lot of other really good qualities. I know that it helps build and maintain good relationships to let people know that we appreciate them and even mentioning certain things specifically that we are thankful for.

Expressing appreciation is not only good for the other person, but it is good for us, because it releases joy in us. I encourage you to meditate daily on all the things you have to be thankful for. Rehearse them to the Lord in prayer, and as you do you will find your heart filling up with life and light.

Walk It Out: Today, we’re going to count our blessings! Take 5-10 minutes and jot down things you are grateful for—as many as you can think of. Then, talk to the Lord and give thanks for the things you wrote down. Finally, reach out to at least one person to share your gratitude for something they have done.

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:23, Ephesians 4:22-24

Right Action Follows Right Thinking 

Where the Mind Goes, the Man Follows

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind

[having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].

Ephesians 4:23 (AMPC)

There is a life-changing principle shown throughout God’s Word, and no person will ever truly make progress unless they understand it: Right action follows right thinking.

In other words, you will not change your behavior until you change your thoughts. 

Let’s look at Ephesians 4:22-24 (AMPC). Verse 22 says, Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion. 

Then verse 24 continues the thought by saying, And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

We see that verse 22 basically tells us to stop acting improperly, and verse 24 tells us to begin acting properly. But verse 23 is what I call “the bridge scripture.” It tells us how to get from verse 22 (acting improperly) to verse 24 (acting properly): 

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].

It is impossible to get from wrong behavior to right behavior without first changing our thoughts. A passive person may want to do the right thing, but he never will do so unless he purposely activates his mind and lines it up with God’s Word and will. 

I’ll never forget one man who came to us for prayer years ago. He was struggling with lust. He really loved his wife and did not want their marriage to be destroyed, but his problem needed to be solved or things weren’t going to work out well. 

That day, the Lord spoke to my heart and had me share this very principle. I told the man, “Yes, I will pray for you, but you must be accountable for what you are allowing to show on the picture screen of your mind. You cannot look at pornography or visualize it in your mind if you ever want to enjoy freedom.” 

I’m using a serious example because this is where the enemy begins his attacks. The mind is often an area where people first indulge in sin. The way for sinful action is paved through sinful thinking. 

This principle also applies to every area of our lives—big and small. For instance, if I constantly think mean, hateful thoughts about a co-worker, it will be very difficult for me to truly be nice to them when I’m with them. 

Or maybe I’m attempting to get in shape and not eat as many sweets. But if I daydream about eating chocolate cupcakes all day, there’s a good chance I will eventually eat one! 

Where the mind goes, the man follows. That’s why it’s so important to fill our minds with God’s Word and choose to think in ways that will honor Him and help us walk out His good plan for our lives. 

Prayer: “Father, please continue to help me ‘think about what I’m thinking about.’ Show me areas where my thoughts are leading me in the wrong direction. And when the negative thoughts come, help me to make a habit of replacing them with something positive and good from your Word. I can only do it with Your help! In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: Take a few moments to reflect. How do your thoughts affect your moods and your behavior—what you say and how you act? Identify at least one area of your life where you would like to see growth. What types of thoughts will help you to get there?

Scriptures: Psalms 77:12, John 1:3, Isaiah 45:12, Colossians 1:16, Matthew 6:25-32

Are You Looking at the Big Picture?

Take Time to Take in the Greatness of God

I will consider all your worksand meditate on all your mighty deeds.

Psalm 77:12 (NIV)

The psalmist David spoke frequently about meditating on God, His goodness, and His works and ways. It is tremendously uplifting to think on the goodness of God and all the marvelous works of His hands.

I enjoy watching television shows about nature, animals, and ocean life, because they depict the greatness and awesomeness of God, His infinite creativity, and how He is upholding all things. Meditating on God’s greatness builds our faith and puts everything into perspective.

I think we all have days when we think, Am I strong enough to do this? God, are you really going to take care of this? During these times, I sometimes ponder Hebrews 1:3 and remind myself Who’s holding everything up:

The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God…upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]…(AMP).

Wow, I love this! God upholds and maintains and propels all things. Just think: What keeps the sun and the stars in the sky? What keeps the earth rotating on its axis? What keeps the ocean from going further than the sand? It’s Almighty God, and we can trust Him to hold us up!

If you have a problem right now, and you feel like you’re about to cave in, begin thinking and saying, “God, I trust You to hold me up.” Then remind yourself that you don’t have to make it on your own…you have the God of the universe to support you.

The next time you have the opportunity, take a few moments to walk outside and look up at the evening sky. Stare at the stars and just imagine what kind of power and ability it takes to keep everything in our massive, almost inexhaustible universe working perfectly.

Then ponder this: If God, through His Word, can do all of this, He can also hold you up and orchestrate and direct every single detail of your life.

Walk It Out: For your study time today, begin by reading John 1:3, Isaiah 45:12, and Colossians 1:16. Then, using a concordance or online study tool, spend some more time looking up and meditating on scriptures about God’s creation.

Finish with this: Earlier in this challenge, we looked at Matthew 6:25-33. Take a few moments to read it again. The God of the universe has created everything you can see and imagine. Yet, you are His prize possession!

Scriptures: Matthew 5:3, James 4:6, John 15:5, 1 Peter 5:6

Good Help Isn’t Hard to Find 

The Secret to an Unlimited Supply of God’s Grace

Blessed…are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves

insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Matthew 5:3 (AMPC)

As we begin this lesson, I confess that I sort of tricked you. I didn’t mention the topic until now because I was afraid you wouldn’t read it otherwise! 

Let’s face it: Humility isn’t a very popular word. Yet, all throughout the Bible, the Lord instructs us about the benefits of being “humble-minded.” I love James 4:6. It says, …God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (ESV). In other words, the humble get the help! 

I believe humility is often misunderstood and even viewed as a weakness. But it’s the exact opposite. Humility places us in a position to receive God’s grace and become everything He’s called us to be. A humble person is also a happy person. They can take joy in their life and what God has called them to do, regardless of what the world thinks about it. 

My husband, Dave, is a perfect example. Years ago, the Lord instructed him to leave his job in the engineering field to help establish Joyce Meyer Ministries. At that time, God spoke to his heart and said, “If you do what I am calling you to do…and allow Joyce to do what I’ve called her to do, then you will have a lot of peace and happiness.” 

Dave is the vice president of Joyce Meyer Ministries, and God has used his wisdom and stewardship in finance and administration to lay such a foundation of integrity and excellence at Joyce Meyer Ministries. It impacts everything we do, and God continues to build on that foundation. However, it takes a truly humble man—a man who is secure and knows that God approves of him—to be okay with his wife being the one “out front.” I can honestly say that Dave is one of the happiest people I know. He knows what God has asked him to do, and he is doing it with joy. 

First Peter 5:6 (AMPC) says, Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of humility. In John 15:5 (AMPC), Jesus says, …Apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. I often pray things like, “Lord, I can do absolutely nothing without You today. Please help me—I need Your grace in every situation.” 

I encourage you to pray and ask for God’s help. By His grace, you can begin to develop an attitude of humility…and discover the life you really want. 

Walk It Out: Below, I have listed 10 traits of a humble person. Take some time to read through them. Which ones describe you? Which ones represent areas where you can grow? 

1.The humble can always ask for help, and they don’t insist on everything being done their way. 

2.They are quick to forgive others, difficult to offend, and content to wait on God for vindication when they have been wronged. 

3.They are patient and don’t get frustrated with the weaknesses of others. 

4. The humble person is a peacemaker. 

5. They know when to be quiet. It’s certainly not wrong to talk, but a humble person is comfortable allowing others to have center stage. 

6. A humble person sees their own weaknesses and can readily admit them. 

7. They happily serve other people, and they don’t do it to impress others. 

8. They are very thankful. This is one reason they’re usually so happy. 

9. A humble person has a tender conscience and is quick to repent. 

10.A humble person treats everyone with respect. 

Prayer: “Lord, create a humble heart within me. Let me be so confident in Your love and who You made me to be that I am not threatened by anyone else. Help me to be a cheerleader for others, knowing that You will always take care of me. Please help me to be truly humble-minded, because this is the attitude that pleases You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scripture: Matthew 8:13

Be Positive

How to Live a Life Filled with Hope

“…as you have believed, so let it be done for you….”

Matthew 8:13 (NKJV)

Many years ago, I was extremely negative. I always say that if I thought two positive thoughts in a row, my mind would get in a cramp. My whole philosophy was this: “If you don’t expect anything good to happen, then you won’t be disappointed when it doesn’t.”

I had encountered so many disappointments in life—so many devastating things had happened to me—that I was afraid to believe that anything good might happen. I had a terribly negative out­look on everything. Since my thoughts were all negative, so was my mouth; therefore, so was my life.

When I really began to study the Word and to trust God to restore me, one of the first things I realized was that the negativism had to go.

Positive minds produce positive lives. Negative minds produce negative lives. Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt.

Some people are afraid to hope because they have been hurt so much in life. They have had so many disappointments, they don’t think they can face the pain of another one. Therefore, they refuse to hope so they won’t be disappointed.

This avoidance of hope is a type of protection against being hurt. Disappointment hurts! So rather than be hurt again, many people simply refuse to hope or to believe that anything good will ever happen to them. This type of behavior sets up a negative lifestyle. Everything becomes negative because the thoughts are negative. Remember Proverbs 23:7: For as he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he….

In Matthew 8:13 Jesus tells us that it will be done for us as we have believed. The King James Version says, …as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee…. Everything I believed was negative, so naturally many negative things happened to me.

This doesn’t mean that you and I can get anything we want by just thinking about it. God has a perfect plan for each of us, and we can’t control Him with our thoughts and words. But we must think and speak in agreement with His will and plan for us.

If you don’t have any idea what God’s will is for you at this point, at least begin by thinking, Well, I don’t know God’s plan, but I know He loves me. Whatever He does will be good, and I’ll be blessed.

Begin to think positively about your life. Practice being positive in each situation that arises. Even if whatever is taking place in your life at the moment is not so good, expect God to bring good out of it, as He has promised in His Word.

Study Tip: Years ago, I began studying the Bible and looking for every place it says, “believe.” Believing is closely associated with our thoughts and plays a crucial role in building our faith. Today, I challenge you to take the rest of your study time to look up scriptures that include the word believe. What types of things is God asking us to believe? How do you think your life would change if you decided today to wholeheartedly believe God in all of these areas?

Walk It Out: Regardless of what is going on in our lives, God wants us to believe that He is working and good things are on the way. So, here is your homework: Each day, I encourage you to speak the following words as a reminder that God is always good:

“God is good! He loves me, and today is going to be filled with His blessings!”

Scriptures: Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 13:5, John 16:7, Psalms 34:3

Don’t Ever Give Up! 

What to Do When Life Gets Difficult

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Today, we’re going to discuss a “wilderness mentality” that can be pretty sneaky. It’s the mindset that says: 

“I can’t take it—it’s too hard!”

The enemy loves to try and fill our minds with “give up” thoughts. However, God’s Word says He’ll always give us the strength and ability we need to do His will. I love Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), which says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Maybe you’re dealing with something right now that seems too big to handle. If so, I have good news for you—God wants to be your strength.

I love John 16:7 in the Amplified Bible. In this verse, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be “in close fellowship” with us. He uses several different words to describe the incredible work of the Holy Spirit, including “Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby.” 

So, what does this mean? It means when we need help—when life gets difficult and we need more strength—we literally have the Strengthener living on the inside of us, and He will give us all the strength we need! 

Just think about it: The Holy Spirit is always with you, and He’s ready, willing, and able to help at any moment. Anytime you’re tempted to give up—whenever you begin to think, I can’t do this. I can’t take this anymore—that’s when it’s time to pray, “Holy Spirit, strengthen me!” 

Our minds play such an important role. When all we do is focus on the problem, we make it bigger than it really is! But I love what it says in the Book of Psalms—it says we should “magnify the Lord” (Psalm 34:3). 

To magnify the Lord means to focus on Him and make Him “bigger” in our eyes. As we do, our faith begins to grow because we’re focused on how mighty and able God is to solve our problems. As a result, our negative circumstances don’t seem so overwhelming—they are no match for Almighty God! 

Whatever you’re dealing with today, I encourage you to look at it with a fresh perspective. Instead of saying, “This is too hard,” choose to say what God’s Word says about your situation. Say things like, “God is taking care of my problem” and 

“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” 

Remember, a situation may be too big for you to handle, but it’s not too big for God! 

Prayer: “Father, I believe Your Word, and I know that You want to fill me with Your strength. Right now, I commit to you the difficult areas of my life. I ask for a fresh wave of Your strength and ability so I can keep moving forward with a good attitude and a positive mindset. Holy Spirit, please strengthen my mind, body, and emotions. Please remind me often that You are with me in the midst of it all, and that You’ll never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:8, John 13:34, 1 Samuel 16:7

How to Think When People Get on Your Nerves 

The Key to Loving People Even When You Don’t Feel Like It 

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

1 Peter 4:8 (AMPC) 

There are lots of reasons why we decide that we don’t like someone. Perhaps they have a personality type that we don’t enjoy, or maybe it’s the way they look or act. But one thing’s for certain—the way we choose to think about a person not only affects their life, but it also affects our own personal joy and happiness. 

In John 13:34, Jesus instructs us to …love one another…and this includes the people we don’t necessarily like! It is very important to see people the way God sees them. I love 1 Samuel 16:7 (AMPC). It says, …For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

If we are willing, we can learn to think about people the way God thinks about them. We can recognize each person as a valuable possibility instead of a potential problem. Walking in love begins in our mind. Our thoughts, good or bad, have a tremendous impact on those around us. They show on our face, in our body language, and in our behavior toward people. 

Thoughts also prepare us for action. Again, where the mind goes, the man follows! It is impossible for me to think evil thoughts about someone when I am not with them and then be kind and friendly when I see them. I might fake it, but any smart person would realize something wasn’t right. 

We’re never going to like everyone we encounter, but we are called to love others to the best of our ability. And the truth is, the person whom you avoid all the time at work could be hurting and in need of your friendship or a listening ear. 

I encourage you to focus on the positive. Go out of your way to believe the best and focus on the good things about people. When you do, you are loving them like Christ…and filling your own life with His peace and joy.

Prayer: “Dear God, please help me to love those in my life whom I find unlovable. Remind me that You love each and every person and help me to see those people through Your eyes. On the hardest days, when the people around me seem the most annoying or dislikable, help me to remember to pray for them, and approach them in love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Study Tip: Grab a concordance or do a simple search on the internet to find how many times in the Bible God tells us to love others. Then, take the time to write some of them down and reflect on each one. In what situations did the command occur? Who was told to love? Was it difficult for that person? Often, pondering specific examples in the Bible can help us to apply the same principles for ourselves. Once you’re done with that, decide how you can better love someone in your own life.

Scriptures: Psalms 119:11, Colossians 3:2, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 26:41

What to Do When You’re Tempted

How to Stay Strong in Every Situation

Your word I have treasured and stored in my

heart, that I may not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11 (AMP)

I believe temptation is a topic that we should probably talk more about. The Bible gives us some very practical instruction on what to do, and we can prepare ourselves ahead of time. The truth is, we are all tempted at times. But it’s how we respond that makes all of the difference.

Colossians 3:2 (AMP) says, Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things….

This is the key to resisting temptation. See, when we make up our mind ahead of time what we will and won’t do, then when temptation comes, we have laid a foundation to make right choices and are more likely to successfully overcome the temptation.

For example, before you get into social situations, decide: “I am not going to gossip. I’m not going to ruin someone’s reputation and offend the Holy Spirit.”

Other temptations may require you to decide things like, “I’m not going to eat four candy bars today,” or “I am not going to look at pornography on the internet,” or “I am not going to hang out with people who are bad influences.” My point here is, we don’t want to wait until the temptation comes and then react based on how we feel about it.

God’s Word is the key to staying strong. Psalm 119:11 (AMP) says, Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

Did you know God’s Word will help you to want to do the right thing? Before we know the Word, we can sin and really not feel too bad about it. But once we begin studying the Word, doing the wrong thing makes us very uncomfortable! The Word begins changing us on the inside, helping us to want to do what’s right.

The Lord also gives us the strength to fight temptation and do what His Word says. I love Isaiah 41:10. God tells us, “…Do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties…” (AMPC).

When we spend time in the Word, it strengthens our spirit man, and the Lord “hardens” us so we can stand up to the difficulties and temptations that come our way. He literally gives us the power to say no to things that aren’t good for us.

Again, the Bible says that temptation will come—we’ll never fully get away from it until we get to heaven. But God wants to strengthen us to handle it when it comes.

Walk It Out: In Matthew 26:41 (AMP), Jesus says, “Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation….”

I believe if we pray beforehand, we will be strong enough to resist it. In fact, I’ve recently been aggressively praying about my weak areas more than ever before. I’ll pray, “God, strengthen me in these areas before I’m even tempted.”

I encourage you to take a few moments right now. Can you think of a weak area right now that’s a temptation for you? If so, take a minute to pray and ask the Lord to strengthen you in that area.

Scriptures: Psalms 3:3, Isaiah 61:3, Psalms 27:13, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 16:11

Thoughts & Emotions 

What to Do When You’re Discouraged

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory,

the One who lifts my head high.

Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

Everyone experiences times of frustration and distress over unfulfilled hopes and dreams. When things don’t go according to our plans, it is normal to feel disappointment. 

But we must be careful how we deal with that feeling, because disappointment is the beginning stage of depression. If we remain in a state of disappointment for too long, it can turn into discouragement, despair, and finally depression. 

Now, I want to say that depression can be the result of many things. It sometimes includes a chemical imbalance or other factors, and these are important issues to address. But depression is also a very real spiritual issue, and we can combat it with these spiritual weapons. 

It’s normal to feel sad temporarily when we face hard times, but we must not stay sad. Just as we cannot afford to stay mad very long, neither can we stay sad very long. If we do, Satan takes advantage of the open door and pushes his way further into our lives, bringing more serious problems with him. 

Many times, our number one enemy is emotions. We tend to be led by how we feel, but we must realize that feelings are fickle; they change from day to day. And because feelings influence our thoughts, we shouldn’t follow every thought that comes to our mind, because our thoughts and feelings don’t dictate truth to us. 

For many years of my life, I experienced depression on a frequent basis. I would awaken many mornings with a little voice in my head saying, “I feel depressed.” I believed this was my own thought, not realizing that the enemy was influencing my mind. But when I began seriously studying God’s Word and getting closer to Him, I learned that I didn’t have to follow every feeling and thought that I had. So, I began to resist the thoughts and feelings of depression and say, “I will not be depressed.” 

During those times, I would begin thinking and speaking positive things from God’s Word. I would also stop and begin worshiping God in the midst of the pain. When we worship, it invites God’s presence into the midst of our situation (Psalm 22:3). Even though I didn’t always feel like praising God, I could still set my mind to take the thoughts of depression captive by thanking Him for Who He is and all He’s done for me. 

It was a wonderful day when I realized that I didn’t have to be controlled by my feelings. We will always have feelings, but when we do the right thing and don’t give up, our feelings will eventually catch up with our decisions. 

Study Tips: Read the following scriptures: Psalm 3:3; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 27:13; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 16:11. What do each of these verses promise us? What part do our thoughts play? 

Prayer: If you’re dealing with difficult circumstances or something that threatens to overwhelm you, I encourage you to take a few moments and pray right now: 

“Father, I need you now. You say You love me and see exactly where I am…and in spite of how I feel, I choose to believe Your Word. In the face of all I am going through, I look to You for help. I need Your strength to deal with everything that feels too big for me right now. Help me to keep my eyes on You. Please make Yourself real to me…and encourage me for the road ahead. Help me experience Your love and presence in a tangible way. I give all that I am to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scriptures: James 1:6, Ephesians 6:16, Psalms 32:8, Proverbs 16:9, Romans 10:17, Matthew 14:22-23, Joshua 1:9, Mark 9:21-24, Matthew 21:21

Doubt Your Doubts

The Key to Strengthening Your Faith

…For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out

at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 (AMPC)

Doubt and unbelief can be big problems for Christians. They are negative and discouraging, and they cause us to make poor choices, which also make life difficult.

Doubt causes us to think things like, Does God really love me? or, Did God really say that? If we’re full of doubt, we’ll catch ourselves saying things like, “I wish I had a better life,” or, “I wish things would turn around someday for my kids.”

James 1:6 (AMPC) paints such an accurate picture of doubt. It says, …For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

When we struggle with doubt and indecision, it feels like we’re trying to go in two different directions at the same time. And it’s tormenting to be torn between two places, not able to decide what we really believe.

It’s in those moments we have to choose whether we are going to believe God or the enemy…God or our feelings…God or what people tell us…God or our circumstances.

When doubt comes against us, we have to lift up our shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16 (AMP) says, Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Fear and doubt are just some of the ways Satan attempts to throw us off our game and keep us from walking in God’s good plan. So, when the enemy begins to throw his flaming arrows of doubt at us, we need to lift up our shield!

One major way to stay in faith is to open our mouth and say what God’s Word says, rather than speaking words of doubt or complaining about the problem. When we’re indecisive, it’s so easy to walk around saying, “Man, I just don’t know what to do. I wish I knew what to do.”

Instead, speak words of faith! Say things like: “God speaks to my heart and shows me the right way to go” (Psalm 32:8). “I am bold and decisive—I acknowledge the Lord, and He directs my steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Always remember, the opposite of doubt is faith. How do we believe God and live by faith? Romans 10:17 (NKJV) tells us how: Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. God’s Word is medicine for our soul and the food we need to keep our spirit strong. It has inherent power to change our lives when it is mixed with faith.

So, doubt your doubts! You can respond to the thoughts the enemy brings to your mind with the truth of God’s Word. You can feed your faith with the Word, rather than feeding doubt with lies. And when you spend time with people who feed your faith, it will encourage your faith in God.

Study Tip: Read the following scriptures: Matthew 14:22-33; Joshua 1:9; Mark 9:21-24; Matthew 21:21. What do each of these passages teach us about doubt? How does Jesus respond to doubt?

Walk It Out: Doubt is a form of fear, and the enemy uses doubt to prevent us from enjoying the life God has for us. It’s okay to express our doubts, fears, and unbelief to God—He knows what they are already! Take a few moments to talk with God about some of your doubts. Ask Him to strengthen your faith and help you to trust Him in a greater way.

Scriptures: Matthew 7:1, Matthew 7:5, Matthew 7:1-5, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, James 2:13

Who Are You to Judge?

The Art of Thinking Kind Thoughts About Other People

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Matthew 7:1 (NIV)

I have witnessed so much torment come into people’s lives because of judgmental and critical attitudes. Marriages and relationships have been destroyed by these enemies. Once again, the mind is the battlefield.

I can personally relate. Years ago, I was truly one of the most critical and judgmental people I knew. It was my “default” setting. If I was at the mall or even at church, I could look at someone and immediately make three or four judgments about their clothes, hair, behavior, or family. Or if I walked into someone’s home, everything could be absolutely perfect, but somehow I would notice that one corner of wallpaper that was ripped slightly.

I’ll admit, judging and criticizing others was something I rather enjoyed doing before God began to change me. However, little by little, He used His Word to begin showing me truth about myself.

I’ll never forget one day in particular. I had just finished judging someone and nitpicking them about something in my thoughts, when the Holy Spirit so clearly spoke to my heart and said, “Joyce, you look at everyone else with a magnifying glass, but you look at yourself through rose-colored glasses.”

I got the point! The truth is, we can be pretty quick to recognize what’s wrong with other people and see all of their issues. However, even though we may have some of the same problems ourselves, we usually have good excuses to justify them.

Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 7:5: You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (NIV).

Jesus is basically saying, “You love to point out everyone else’s faults, but you should really begin with yourself. Until you get yourself straightened out, you can’t really even help anyone else!”

We need to forget about what everyone else is or isn’t doing, present ourselves before God, and let Him do a work in us. The truth is, the more we allow God to change us, the less we are bothered by the faults of others.

Our circumstances may never be perfect, and the things we don’t like about our family, friends, or coworkers may not change, but God can do something even better: He can change us.

Study Tip: Read the following scriptures: Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; James 2:13. What do these verses tell us about judging others? Instead of judging, what does God instruct us to do?

Walk It Out: It’s easy to view others with a critical eye yet excuse our own behavior. I challenge you to put this lesson into practice this week. When you are tempted to judge or think about someone in a critical manner, stop and choose to think loving and merciful thoughts about them instead. Choose to believe the best. No one else may know you’re doing this, but that’s okay. You are taking a giant step forward spiritually!

Scriptures: Proverbs 3:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Habakkuk 3:19, Isaiah 40:30-31, Isaiah 41:10, Psalms 18:29, Psalms 27:13-14

Trust More & Stress Less 

How to Avoid Mental and Emotional Overload 

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart

and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 (AMP) 

Several years ago, I took some time to study the connection between our thoughts and our emotional and physical health. What I discovered simply amazed me… 

Research shows that many mental, physical, and behavioral illnesses come from our thought life.1 There is no doubt that the mind and body are definitely connected! 

For instance, we can actually stress ourselves out just by the way we think. So often, we believe our circumstances are to blame for our unhappiness; however, it’s the way we think about our circumstances that usually causes worry and stress. 

Stress is truly a modern-day epidemic. It’s been proven to cause issues like muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, insomnia, gastro-intestinal problems, constipation, and diarrhea.2 And that’s only a few of the symptoms! 

The good news is God has given us the answer for stress. What’s His prescription? Trust. Proverbs 3:5 (AMP) says, Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understandings.

Trusting God is the greatest stress reliever in the world, and our minds play an important role in the process. We have a choice. We can “rely on our own insight and understanding”—endlessly thinking about our problems, trying to figure everything out ourselves. 

Or we can choose to adopt a trusting attitude that says, “God, I don’t know what to do about this situation, but I can’t fix it on my own. If You want me to do something, I ask You to show me. Meanwhile, I’m going to trust You and enjoy my life while You work on my problems.” 

When life throws you a curve and you’re tempted to get stressed-out, I encourage you to choose positive, faith-filled thoughts from God’s Word. You can think, The Lord is going to take care of this. It doesn’t matter what it looks like—I believe God is working!

The truth is, God knew about your problem before you ever got it, and He already has a plan for your solution. In the meantime, you can choose to enjoy your life while you wait. He has equipped you with the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), and with His help, you can trust more and stress less. 

1www.cdc.gov.2www.mayoclinic.org 

Walk It Out: This lesson goes hand in hand with what we discussed about worry on Day 4. God never meant for us to be anxious, worn out, or stressed out about life. He desires for us to trust Him with everything. 

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. Is there a situation in your life right now that is stressing you out? If so, take a moment to pray, give it to God, and let Him know that You are trusting Him to take care of it all. 

Study Tip: Today, let’s look at what God’s Word says about His strength for your life. Read Habakkuk 3:19; Isaiah 40:30-31, 41:10; Psalm 18:29, 27:13-14.

Scriptures: Psalms 139:14, Amos 3:3, Romans 12:3, Romans 8:39, Romans 12:6, Jeremiah 1:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13, 1 Corinthians 6:19

How to Think About Yourself 

The Way to Believe Every Good Thing God Says About You

I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

Psalm 139:14 (AMPC)

This is really an important issue. I want to begin by telling you this: God thinks you are wonderful. And it’s important for you to learn to think about yourself the same way He does! 

Amos 3:3 (AMPC) says, Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed? This verse says that two people can’t truly “walk together” unless they are in agreement. In the same way, we cannot walk with God unless we learn how to agree with Him. 

People generally tend to think about all their faults more than they do their strengths, but we need to consider both. We don’t want to ignore our weaknesses and pretend that they don’t exist, but we can become easily discouraged, and perhaps even depressed, if we don’t also consider the good things about us. 

The apostle Paul warned us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should (Romans 12:3), but he didn’t say we are to think “lowly” of ourselves. 

I encourage you to think like this: I have talents, gifts, and abilities that God has given me, and I am thankful for them. I intend to use them for His glory. I also have weaknesses, but I trust God to show His strength through them. Jesus came for weak people, for those who need Him, and I definitely need Him. I am nothing without Christ, and I can do nothing without Him, but I can also do all things through Him. (Psalm 139:14; Romans 8:39,12:6; Jeremiah 1:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21,12:9; Philippians 4:13) 

Life can get really difficult when all we see are our weaknesses, failures, and mistakes. Don’t spend too much time thinking about your faults, and don’t compare yourself with other people, thinking you need to be like them. Instead, begin focusing on what God thinks about you, and you’ll be a much happier person! We may not love everything we do, because we all sin and make mistakes, but we can love the person God has created us to be.

Prayer: “Dear God, help me to see myself in the way You see me. You made me to be Your child, having a plan for my life before I was even born. Show me how You think of me, and help me not to be proud, but to find new ways to worship You and thank You for all of the wonderful things You created me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

A Promise from God’s Word: The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19, Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God?…(AMPC). Because we are God’s temple, He is in each one of His children. We belong to Him! Isn’t that amazing? Even on days when you find it hard to think positively about yourself, you can remember that you are chosen by God to be His child, and that He resides in you! What an awesome blessing!

Scriptures: Luke 6:36, Lamentations 3:22-23, Isaiah 43:25, Luke 6:36-37

Are You Keeping Score? 

What to Remember and What to Forget

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36 (NIV)

Webster’s Dictionary defines mercy as “kindness in excess of what might be expected or demanded of fairness.”1 

This sounds good, doesn’t? I think we all enjoy receiving “kindness in excess.” However, God also asks us to show mercy to others. He wants us to purposely be good to people who don’t “deserve” it—even people who haven’t been good to us. 

When someone hurts or offends us, it’s easy to make a list and keep count of everything they’ve ever done wrong. But God is asking us to be like Him. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. In Isaiah 43:25, He says, I…am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more (NIV).

What we choose to remember and what we chose to forget (both actions of the mind) play a big role in our life and relationships. 

For instance, when my husband, Dave, and I were newly married, I was pretty good at keeping score. Every time we had an argument, I would bring up every single thing he ever did to me since the day I met him. I’ll never forget one day, after I recited my list, when Dave looked at me and said, “Where in the world do you keep all that stuff?” 

I’ve learned the best thing we can do for ourselves is to let go of the hurt, lose count of how others have wronged us, and leave the past in the past.

I always say that mercy understands the why behind the what. It cares about the person, not just what they’ve done to us. For instance, what if you walk into a grocery store and the checkout clerk is grouchy with you and has a sour look? You have a choice. You can say, “I don’t appreciate your attitude. I am a customer here and I don’t like the way you’re acting. I’m going to tell your manager.” 

Or you can be merciful and say, “You look like you’re having a hard day. I just want to say that God loves you and really cares about you.” You can believe the best about that person and realize they are upset for a reason. 

Luke 6:36-37 says, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged…Forgive, and you will be forgiven (NIV). 

We reap what we sow, and whatever we give away to others is what we’ll receive in return. If you want mercy, then sow mercy. If you need a friend, then sow friendliness. If you have financial needs, then look for ways to meet someone else’s needs. 

The truth is, when we sow mercy, we reap a harvest of peace, joy, and healthy relationships. We also take a giant step forward spiritually. Because choosing to do what’s right—even when it hurts—causes us to grow and mature in an amazing way. 

Prayer: “God, I am so grateful for Your love, mercy, and forgiveness in my life. I want to be like You and sow mercy everywhere I go. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me—to dwell on the good and not the bad. Show me ways, each and every day, that I can be merciful to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: Take a few moments to reflect. Is there anyone you can extend mercy to today? Is there someone you can forgive? Are you holding a grudge, and it’s time to let go? Take a step today to sow mercy!

Scriptures: Psalms 118:24, Isaiah 40:28-31, Luke 2:52, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalms 31:15, Psalms 37:7, Psalms 46:1, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 30:19, Joshua 1:8, 1 Timothy 6:18

How to Be One of the “Happy People” 

How to Jump-Start Your Day with God’s Word 

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 (ESV) 

Over the last couple weeks, we have discussed many aspects of how our thoughts affect our lives. I’m so proud that you have stuck with this challenge because it’s truly going to change your life for the better. 

So, today I want to approach the subject from a slightly different perspective. If someone told you there was a way to be in a good mood every day, I’m sure you would love to hear the secret, wouldn’t you? 

I spent years being controlled by a wide range of moods, believing I had no choice in how I felt. I was jealous of all the “happy people.” I used to wonder, How do they do it?Then I finally learned that our mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes are all intricately connected. 

First you think, and then your thoughts turn into words that you speak, and the two of them together affect you emotionally and turn into moods and attitudes. The truth is this: Although we don’t always have the power to change every unpleasant circumstance in our lives, we do have the power to change our outlook. 

Simply put, enjoying life begins with the thoughts you choose to think. Yes, it is that simple! No matter what is going on in your life today, if you will choose happy, hope-filled thoughts based on God’s Word, you will feel happier. Our thoughts are intricately connected to our feelings, so if we want to feel better, we need to think better. 

I like to use the illustration of putting gas in a car. If we put the correct fuel in our automobile, it will run well. But if we use the wrong fuel, it may not run at all. In the same way, when we choose our thoughts carefully, our quality of life will improve in amazing ways! 

Take a moment to reflect. What types of things have you been mentally focusing on? How do these thoughts connect to the way you feel emotionally and even physically? You see, nothing good comes from thinking critical, negative thoughts, but something good always comes when we think according to God’s plan for our life. 

Walk It Out: Over the course of this 30-day challenge, I’ve given you plenty of things to write down…to remember…to say out loud. And today, I’d like to add a few more to your list. 

What we think and say have such a powerful impact on our day. Write down or copy the list below. Each morning, meditate and speak out these promises from God’s Word to help jump-start your day. Remember, when you set your mind in an upliftingdirection—full of godly, faith-filled thoughts—it will have a good effect on your entire day. 

“This is the day God has made, and I am going to enjoy it!” (Psalm 118:24) 

“Today, I am strong and energetic.” (Isaiah 40:28-31) 

“I have favor with God and man everywhere I go.” (Luke 2:52) 

“I am thankful for all that God has done for me.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) 

“God is working on my problems, and I can wait patiently because His timing is perfect.” (Psalm 31:15, 37:7, 46:1) 

“I can handle whatever comes my way today through Christ Who is my strength.” (Philippians 4:13) 

“Everything I lay my hand to prospers and succeeds.” (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 1:8) 

“I enjoy being a blessing to others.” (1 Timothy 6:18)

Scriptures: Romans 8:1, John 1:9, Galatians 4:7, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 1:3, Psalms 139:1-24, Numbers 13:33, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 4:14-15, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:12-13

You Can’t Earn It

It’s Time for You to Be in Awe of God’s Goodness

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty

of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus….

Romans 8:1 (AMPC)

In the world we live in, it’s common for us to “earn” things. We earn a living by working. We can strive to earn people’s approval or goodwill. And the list goes on. However, when it comes to God, there’s nothing we can do to earn His love, forgiveness, and acceptance.

Today, I’m talking about another “wilderness mentality”:

“I don’t deserve God’s blessings, because I am not worthy.”

Because of the sexual abuse I suffered growing up at the hands of my father, I had a shame-based nature. I blamed myself for what had happened to me, although there was nothing I could have done to stop it.

The enemy constantly told me that I was no good—that I was unworthy of God’s love or help. I wasn’t just ashamed of what was done to me, I was ashamed of myself.

I felt like I wandered around in the wilderness for years, trying to be good enough to deserve what God wanted to give me freely by His grace. I had a wilderness mentality! But whether it’s God’s love, salvation, forgiveness, or the many promises in His Word, there’s nothing we can do to “earn” them.

For years, I dealt with such guilt and condemnation after I would do something wrong. I repented and asked the Lord to forgive me, but I couldn’t let it go. I felt like I needed to pay for what I had done by feeling bad about myself.

First John 1:9 (NIV) says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

It took a change in my thinking to simply receive what God wanted to give me—His forgiveness. In the process, the Lord also helped me to see the importance of having a positive self-image. We shouldn’t always focus on everything we do wrong and how far we have to go, but we should look at how far we have come!

We must realize that we can never deserve God’s blessings—we can never be worthy of them. We can only humbly accept and appreciate them…and be in awe of how good He is and how much He loves us.

Study Tips: Today, I want you to see for yourself what God says about you. Read the following scriptures and take some time to really digest what they mean.

Galatians 4:7

Romans 8:38-39

2 Corinthians 5:21

Ephesians 1:3

Psalm 139

Read Numbers 13:33. How does the way we think of ourselves affect the way others see us?

Prayer: Remember, God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance is available to everyone. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, I invite you to open your heart to Him and pray right now:

“Jesus, I know that I have made mistakes and I need You to save my life—I need You as my Savior. I have tried to do things on my own for too long, and I know it doesn’t work. So, today I give my life to You. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose from the dead. Help me to live my life for You and You alone. Thank You for Your unending love, forgiveness, and grace in my life. Thank You for a fresh start! Today, I start out my new life as a part of Your family.”

If you just prayed this prayer, I want welcome you to God’s family! I also want to share some encouraging scripture verses about your new life in Christ: John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Ephesians 1:4, 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9, 4:14-15, 5:1, 5:12-13.

Scriptures: Isaiah 40:31, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:35-39, Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 30:18, Isaiah 53:5, Ephesians 1:3, Jeremiah 29:11

How to Think When You’re Sick 

The Power of God’s Word to Strengthen You Spirit, Soul, and Body

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change

and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up

[close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 40:31 (AMPC)

I think we’d all agree that dealing with sickness is one of the most difficult things in life. It’s something that not only affects our bodies, but it takes a toll on us mentally and emotionally. 

When we’re sick, the enemy likes to bombard our minds with negative thoughts like, This is never going to work out. You’re never going to get well…it’s just going to keep getting worse.

However, one of the ways I’ve learned to stop the wrong thoughts is to fill my mind with the right thoughts from God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, …the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power…(AMPC).Thinking and speaking His Word literally breathes life into our situation! 

Years ago when I was battling cancer, God put it on my heart to fill my mind with the following things, then speak them out loud as often as I could. I would think and say: 

“God, I know that You love me. I believe that all things work out for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. I put my trust in You, and I will not fear.” (Romans 8:28, 35-39; Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 3:5) 

The truth is that all of our thoughts—good or bad—have an effect on our physical body. Our bodies are like an automobile that God provides for us to drive around on earth. If we want them to perform to their maximum ability and be around for a long time, then we need to choose to think in ways that will help them. 

I encourage you to focus on things that are positive and full of hope from God’s Word, especially if you are battling sickness in any way. Choose to think things like: I am blessed, and I’m getting stronger every day—the Lord renews my strength. I receive healing because Jesus died to take away sickness and disease. God has a great plan for my life, and I am expecting great things for my future. Something good is going to happen to me today!(Isaiah 30:18, 40:31, 53:5; Ephesians 1:3; Jeremiah 29:11) 

Prayer: “Dear God, please comfort me when I am sick. Remind me of Your love and help me to speak Your words of encouragement over my life. You are the Great Physician, and You have the power to heal all of my diseases—just like the Bible says. Be with me in these times and help me to rely on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

Walk It Out: What’s your first instinct when you’ve become ill in the past? Is it to become fearful, worried, or hopeless? Or is it to turn to God’s Word or to pray? Maybe you feel better after talking with a trusted friend, who was able to provide some sort of support—whether emotional, physical, or spiritual? Today, try to think of who you can support like that. Is there someone in your life who is sick? Or maybe just going through a difficult time? Reach out to that person today and give them a word of comfort, share a Bible verse, or maybe even deliver some soup! You never know how much your kindness will mean.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

My Final Thoughts! 

Here’s the Most Important Lesson 

The word of God is living and active and full of power….

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP) 

Congratulations! You have reached the final day of the Battlefield of the Mind 3030 Challenge! It has been like a college class exploring God’s Word, and I am so proud that you have persevered to the end. 

We have covered so much ground about the mind. Honestly, you could go through this challenge several more times and keep getting new things out of it. So, I invite you to come back and take this challenge again…and as many times as you like. 

So, on this final day, this leads me to a reminder of the most important lesson: God’s Word is the key to renewing your mind and every positive change in your life.

Today, I can honestly say that I’m a very positive person. And it all began with reading and meditating on God’s Word…with replacing my thoughts with His thoughts. 

Take a moment to read and digest what Hebrews 4:12 (AMP) has to say: The word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Wow! The Bible isn’t just another “good book”—it contains the power of God to change the way we think, the way we act, and how we live our lives. My life is living proof, and I know God will do the same for you. 

During these 30 days, you have set aside time to learn from God’s Word. I encourage you to ride this wave of momentum and continue this wonderful habit. Take time each day to read and study God’s Word. If you’re struggling in a particular area, then look up scriptures that specifically address that issue. 

Again, wherever you are today—regardless of how negative you may be or how far you have to go—I have great news for you: God’s Word can change you. It won’t happen overnight, but as you take time to read, study, meditate, and even speak His Word, it will slowly but surely get deep down inside of you…and begin to transform every single area of your life. 

God bless you! 

Joyce 

Prayer: “Father, thank You for the wonderful gift of Your Word! I ask that You would cause the lessons in this challenge to stay with me. Let it be the beginning of a new journey…or a catalyst to help me grow in what I’m already doing to read and study Your Word every single day. In Jesus’ name, Amen!” 

Walk It Out: I can only imagine the notes you may have taken throughout this challenge. If you’re like me, I’m sure God has spoken some specific things to your heart. As we finish these weeks together, take a few moments to reflect on what you’ve learned. What are a couple of your greatest takeaways? How are you different now than you were 30 days ago? Do you think differently? Do you act differently? How has this challenge strengthened your relationship with God and His Word?