Renew Your Mind Podcast

The patriarchs Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph demonstrated unwavering faith in the covenant and prophecies God gave to Abraham. Despite Jacob's imperfect circumstances, Isaac recognized the divine blessing upon him because He had blessed him. These men lived with conviction, anchored in God's promises. Do you live with the same confidence in God's Word, trusting His plans and promises for your life?

Likewise, Abraham's faith in offering Isaac was rooted in his understanding of God's character. He reasoned that if God is who He claims to be, then He can bring life from death. This profound understanding of God enabled Abraham to surrender his only son. Faith begins with a deep understanding of God's nature and His faithfulness.

Faith empowers us to accomplish the impossible by focusing on the One who makes the promise. Just as Sarah drew strength from remembering God's faithfulness, we too can tap into divine power by reflecting on His proven track record. When we fix our gaze on the One who has already demonstrated His willingness and ability to fulfill His promises, we'll discover the strength to achieve what once seemed impossible.

Faith causes us to move. Noah's confidences in God led him to obey an unlikely instruction, while Abraham's faith propelled him to an unknown land. Faith drives us to step out, even when the path seems absurd. It delivers us from the consequences of disobedience. Don't let familiarity with the ordinary and the little intimidate you from embracing what God has for you. Let your confidence in God inspire you to move as he prompts you to.

Everyone's life is guided by something: emotions, family expectations, personal beliefs, or other influences. However, as Christians, our lives are distinctly regulated by our faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. Abel's faith prompted him to offer a superior sacrifice to God. Similarly, our faith will dictate the quality of our sacrifices to God

Love should be the natural reponse of a Christian because we are a product of love. We love simply because we are indebted to love one another. Love should be sincer. For we know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. Owe no man nothing but love

Love is entirely about the other person. Any act of love motivated by self-interest or ulterior motives ceases to be love. God demonstrated the ultimate expression of love by doing the unimaginable, not for His own benefit, but for ours. This is how we know love: sacrificing personal interests, regardless of the cost, for the benefit of another. This is precisely what God, in Christ Jesus, did for us.

Familiarity can be more destructive than we realize. The Gospel accounts reveal that people with lifelong health conditions, who were familiar with Jesus, were unable to receive healing from Him. Similarly, just as the prodigal son took his blessings for granted, we often become complacent about the good things in our lives. Familiarity can lead to neglect, and neglect can result in loss.

The prodigal son's competing with pigs for food, served as a reminder of the blessings he had taken for granted in his father's house. Similarly, it often takes losing priceless things for us to appreciate the true value of the blessings we've grown accustomed to. Sadly, many of us become so fixated on what's lacking in our lives that we fail to recognize the goodness that's already present.

The Christian life is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, making a daily commitment to submit to the Holy Spirit is not optional for anyone who genuinely desires to live a Christ-centered life. To underestimate the vulnerability of our flesh would be naive.

One of the changes God wants us to make is the way we think. God instructs us not to dwell on past memories and not to consider old things when making decisions, but rather to focus on what God is doing. The Israelites who left Egypt were unable to enter the Promised Land because they constantly remembered and longed for their life in Egypt.

To contain the new wine, you must become a new wineskin. Our focus is on receiving God's new wine, but His focus is on transforming us into new wineskins. We obsess about what we want and God is interested in who we become. Dare to obey God in ways that stretch your faith. Challenge yourself to change.

Thanksgiving, though a little act, makes a huge difference. The one leper that came back to say thank you did not just receive healing but completeness; what he lost as a result of the leprosy was restored to him. Thanksgiving makes things good, and it multiplies little things. Thanksgiving causes God to act in your favor. Be a chronic thanksgiver!

Often, we overlook the small things, considering them insignificant. But God sees the little things as catalysts for monumental breakthroughs. The widow recognizing her small jar of oil sparked a miracle. Similarly, don't underestimate your own 'little' resources: your one talent, your 5 loaves and 2 fish, or your small jar of oil.

It often begins with something small but escalates into something immense. Unaddressed tiny issues can balloon into seemingly insurmountable problems. Similarly, minor actions, when left unchecked, can solidify into attitudes and character traits that bring even the greatest individuals down. Catch those 'little foxes' - before they ravage the vine of your life.

We often underestimate the effort required to achieve anything form of success in life. Moreover, we overlook the significant impact that even a little laziness can have. This is why many struggle to attain meaningful accomplishments or sustain long-term progress. Jesus said, "My father is always working, and so am I." Embracing a strong work ethic!

Words may seem insignificant, but their consequences can be far-reaching. Jesus emphasized that our words have the power to justify or condemn us. Ananias and Sapphira, and Jephthah demonstrate the deadly consequences of reckless words. Similarly, the entire nation of Israel was delayed from entering the Promised Land for 40 years due to the negative report of 10 spies. The tongue, a little member of the body, has the power of life and death.

Little things make a profound impact. Often, we overlook this truth and mistakenly believe that only grand, complicated efforts yield significant results. Naaman nearly missed his miraculous healing because he despised the simple instructions given to him. The book of Proverbs is filled with cautions to heed even to the "smallest" instructions.

Jesus endured immense suffering to make us His brothers and sisters, demonstrating God's value for relationships. Yet, we often relegate relationships to the bottom of our priority list, obsessing over possessions and status that only hold value because of the people we may not even respect. Adam in Eden, having a perfect relationship with God, still had a void. Value relationships!

God, unlike many politicians and bosses who only notice people during elections, has been constantly watching over us since creation. He jealously has his eyes on us. As stated in Ephesians, we are His prized inheritance, cherished and valued beyond measure. It's ironic that we often prioritize everything else over what God values most - humanity.

It's fascinating to note that the two women God chose to play a pivotal role in the birth of Jesus were both unlikely candidates. Elizabeth was well past childbearing age, while Mary was still a young, unmarried woman. What seemed like insurmountable limitations became the very qualities that qualified them for God's purposes. While we are responsible for our actions, God remains fully in charge, often using our perceived weaknesses to accomplish His greatest works.

It's very easy to feel insignificant in this busy and big world. It may feel as though nobody really cares. Your birthday might just seem like another ordinary day. But in this season, God is reminding us that even in the most obscure places, and even when our lives may seem negligible, He notices us! In the midst of the big events happening in Mary's time, God noticed her and chose her for a remarkable purpose

Comparison has robbed many of us of joy, peace, and fulfillment. It has made us irrational. How could the Israelites reject having God as their King for a man who would cheat them, make them pay taxes, take their sons as soldiers, and their daughters as wives? God, through the work of Christ, has made us royal, holy, and peculiar, but we fight with everything in us to become ordinary.

If you can desire it, you can have it. This is why Peter encourages us to desire the milk of the word; it will cause us to have the energy to go after the word, and hence, we will grow. Pursuit is the proof of genuine desire. Desire fuels action; this is why we need to be deliberate in setting our desires on things above.

Failures can be debilitating, leaving an indelible mark that can paralyze us forever. Peter and his colleagues, after toiling all night and catching nothing, were ready to give up. But Jesus instructed them to let down their nets again. In the same way, God's word to us today is: "Go again, try again, invest again."

God's ways often surprise us. We expect Him to mobilize armies because of the demanding nature of the work, but instead, He typically calls one person. Joseph, chosen to save Jacob's household of about 75 people. Jonah, sent to the great city, Nineveh. Jesus, sent to redeem humanity. God is always calling and mostly an army of one!

The Israelites saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the people who kept their city shut because they were rather afraid of the Israelites. Fear held the servant with one talent back. It cost Saul his kingdom and diminished Elijah's ministry. Time and again, fear has proven to be able to paralyze us from entering into our promised land. Nothing good comes out of fear

In the depths of despair, when life seems to have hit a dead end, remembering that God is love can be the spark that reignites our trust. Like Naomi, we may feel bitter and broken, but God's love whispers hope. The hymnist says, "His love, in time past, Forbids me to think, He'll leave me at last. In trouble to sink: Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review confirms His good pleasure. To help me quite through.

We relate to others based on our self-image and perception of them. Abraham trusted God to resurrect Isaac because of how he saw God. When we truly view God as love, our faith remains steadfast, even in waiting, knowing every circumstance is infused with His loving care. This engraves in our hearts a knowing, that we can never be disadvantaged in life.

The eye is the light of the body. It all began to go wrong when Eve noticed the forbidden fruit. Similarly for David when he saw Bathsheba and Israel when Achan saw the gold. This timeless principle remains: we become what we continually behold. When our focus shifts from Jesus to the storms of life, we begin to sink. Guard your eyes

God is our ever-present help in times of trouble.Yet, we often find ourselves in desperate seasons, feeling abandoned and without assistance. The story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda serves as a poignant reminder. Despite being surrounded by the miraculous, he struggled to access it for years because he had no help. Is there really no help? or are we denying ourselves the help surrounding us?

The devil is a musician, not a singer. He needs an instrument to create his destructive melody. He works by setting snares and gaining footholds through deception. Just as he deceived Eve, he seeks to manipulate us with lies. But when we choose to believe God's truth, thus submitting to him, we can now resist the devil's. There's only one response from him: he flees.

Understanding the nature of the Devil is crucial for a vibrant Christian life. Ignoring or misrepresenting his existence can significantly impact our faith. We must acknowledge his influence while avoiding superstition or obsession. A biblical awareness of the Devil's identity and tactics empowers us to live wisely and victoriously, avoiding superstition and fear.

Embracing freedom from the flesh requires prioritizing what's truly important in the midst of tempting moments. Through faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we receive the power to resist the flesh's demands, cultivate self-control, and fix our hearts on eternal things. By surrendering our desires daily, we can experience the transformative power of dying to ourselves and living for God. Daily surrender leads to daily transformation

The world often exploits our bodily desires to lead us astray. Since the fall, human desires have become corrupted, causing the flesh to crave things that contradict the spirit's intentions. The flesh has its own agenda, and its primary desire is to dominate and control; it seeks to be the master of our lives rather than submitting to God. If you invest into the flesh you will reap destruction.

As children of God, we are called to stand apart from the ways of the world. We should reject the wisdom and weapons of the world, instead embracing God's perspective and truth. Our goal is to continually replace the world's viewpoint with God's, that we may truly live out our faith as Christians. As ambassadors of Christ, we are sent into the world as salt and light, representing His kingdom, not conforming to the values of this world.

As Christians, we face multidimensional opposition from three primary sources: the world, the flesh, and the devil. These constantly seek to undermine our faith. The system this world operates in targets us with the pride of life, lust of the yes, and the lust of the flesh. Invest intensely in renewing your mind from the ways and wisdom of the world.

David did not just go through strange places but also met people who vehemently opposed his journey. He had to deal with a demon possessed king who was his father-in-law, Nabal, a selfish and ungrateful person, Doeg a wick and evil person, the people of Keilah who he protected with his life but later wanted to surrender him to Saul. Regardless, David maintained his composure because he knew His God.

The journey from the wilderness to the throne is a path we cannot script. David's life is a testament to this truth, as he navigated unimaginable places as part of God's preparation for his eventual reign as king. Ironically, one of the safest places for David turned out to be among the Philistines, his former enemies. This unexpected twist reminds us that God's ways are higher than ours, and His plans often unfold in ways we least expect.

Embracing the journey of life with God means we're always at an advantage. With this perspective, it becomes easier to generously share the harvest's spoil with those who couldn't complete the journey with you due to genuine exhaustion. Even if you feel defeated, lost, or disadvantaged, remember that you will fully recover and reclaim all that seemed lost. Nothing will be lost!

The journey is a very exhausting one, but you must remember it was God who told you to go on this journey. He will provide help on the way, but mostly not the kind we expect. This is where some miss it. What good will a black injured slave be to David? But he was the one who led David to the camp Amalekites. Don't miss your help on this long journey

Imagine the peace and contentment we'll experience when we recognize that the shoes of promotion and demotion belong solely to God. We often think we desire justice more than God does or that we want to give people their due rewards more than God does. But let's not forget that vengeance and self-promotion are not ours to wield - they belong to God alone. We should trust in God's perfect justice and timing.

Jonathan accepted God's will for his life, even if it meant a village boy ascends the throne in place of him, a prince. He was willing to be on the bad side of his father, the king, to be on the good side of God. Be content with where God places you. Whatever your lot, it is well with your soul. As for God his ways are always perfect

King Saul knew the same thing Jonathan knew about David, but he reacted differently. King Saul decided to hate David while Jonathan, who had more to lose, decided to be good friends with David. Whether a child of God or not, we go through the same experience,it's our responses that should be different, which will result in different outcomes. We have joy even in chaos!

Boldness is a mark of a righteous person. God can not use a cowardice because everything that God will require of us will require faith. God told Gideon to instruct 22,000 soldiers to return home because they were fearful. God told Joshua severerally at the beginning of his ministry to be bold and courageous. God is telling us to be bold and courageous!

Why fight Goliath? Because there is a cause to. Our lives are bigger than ourselves and are more than us. Mordecai had to remind Queen Esther that despite the comfort and luxury she enjoyed, there was more to her queenship than that. This is one of the filters our decisions should go through before they are made.

Goliath seemed impossible, and David, a caretaker of a few animals. But a critical observance of both will reveal weakness for Goliath and strengths for David. It is amazing how we can see ourselves as grasshoppers in the face of Goliath and forget that we are on the side of the captain of the Lord's host

The same words of Goliath that paralyzed the Israelites were the same words that encouraged David to face him. Fighting the lion and the bear in the wilderness would have been a waste if David was not bold enough to face Goliath. Boldness not just to say yes to fight Goliath but to say No to the King's amoury.

Encouraging yourself in the Lord not only strengthens your faith but also heightens your sensitivity to hear from God. In challenging times, we need two critical things to endure: strength to persevere and divine guidance for the right strategy. Being able to discern God's presence and direction during adversity is essential for overcoming the trials of the evil day.

There is an evil day in everyone's life; a season that makes us feel like God does not exist, and even if he does, He is a liar. We must know how to encourage ourselves in the lord, we must know how to speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts to God. This is the strategy David found.

If the invited guests truly valued being invited to the banquet, they won't have made up such excuses, especially after accepting the invitation. We hardly truly appreciate God and His call the way we say we do, and it just takes one excuse for us to shove Him out of the driving seat of our lives. Consider God's call.