by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 23, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
For 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. (1 Corinthians 10:4–5 (NKJV))
There aren’t many things we can control. You can’t control
- other people,
- the decisions your kids make,
- how someone will react to something you say, or
- if traffic will be busy during your morning commute.
If we could, our children would always choose to do the right thing, people would always respond with kind words, and our commutes would always be easy.
But one thing you can control is your thoughts.
Now, I can almost hear some of your thinking, No, you can’t. Random thoughts come into my head all the time.
I agree. We are bombarded every minute of every day with seemingly random thoughts. Thoughts like:
- You’re so stupid. Why did you say that?
- You’re ugly.
- You can’t do it. You’ll never amount to anything.
- No one really likes you.
The thoughts will come. Yet, you can decide what you’ll do with them when they do. You can let them roll around in your head. You can agree with them (e.g., Yeah, I am stupid.). Or you can handle them Biblically.
As we saw in our verse, the Bible instructs us to take every thought captive. Arrest that thought. Stop it. Don’t give it free rein.
Pay attention to your thoughts. When you think something like, You’re done for. No one cares about you. Pause. Pay attention to the thought. Then ask yourself, Is it true?
And remember the standard of truth. The truth is what the Bible says about something. It’s not necessarily what the world says about it or how you feel.
Jesus is truth (John 14:6). That’s why the Bible says you need to make your thoughts obedient to Him. If your thought doesn’t line up with what Jesus says is true, then it’s false; it’s a lie. And if it’s a lie, you need to discard it and replace it with what Jesus says is true.
So, is it true that no one cares about you? You may feel like it’s true. But is it? What does the Bible say?
The Bible says that Jesus loves you.
- He loves you so much that He died on the cross for your sins (Romans 5:8).
- He loves you so much that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).
- He loves you so much that you will then get to spend eternity with Him (John 3:16).
- He loves you so much that He’s preparing a place for you so you can be with Him (John 14:2–3).
- He loves you so much that He wants you to cast all your care on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
These are just a few of the verses that show how much Jesus loves you. So, the thought that no one cares about you is false. It’s not true no matter how you feel.
Because that thought is false, discard it. Replace the lie with the truth that God’s revealed to you (that Jesus loves you). Pray and ask God to help you believe His truth. Then meditate on the truth as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Sep 9, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV))
What an amazing promise for the believer: God’s presence. God will not leave you, dear sister. He is always there.
There is nothing you can do to make God leave. He is faithful, even when you are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Why? Because He can’t deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). That means God cannot contradict who He is.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)). And He is faithful. Isn’t that awesome?
There’s power in remembering that God is with you. The One who created the universe just by speaking is near.
The enemy wants you to forget this promise. When you think you’re alone, you’re vulnerable. If your eyes aren’t on your Savior, you’re distracted. And when you’re trusting in yourself instead of God, you’re ineffective. Worse, if he can make you fearful, you’ll be immobilized.
We need to remember the promise of God’s presence. God is with you. You don’t have to be afraid.
If you want to try to do it yourself, He’ll let you. But when you rely on and trust in God, He will
- help you and uphold you (Isaiah 41:10);
- be your refuge, a safe place (Psalm 46:11); and
- be your strength and your shield (Psalm 28:7).
So, remind yourself daily of the promise of God’s presence. Keep your eyes fixed on the One who will never leave you or forsake you. His grace is sufficient for you, and His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Write Hebrews 13:5 on a sticky note. Put it on your mirror so you’ll see it in the morning. Memorize the verse. Hold on to this promise. And then walk by faith with the One who will always be by your side.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 4, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 (NKJV))
The Source of Peace
Where can you find peace? The source is God. As Isaiah said, “You [referring to God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)). And like we saw in the verse above, Jesus told His disciples that He would give them peace (John 14:27). So, peace comes from God.
But how exactly do you get it?
Go to the Source
If you want peace, you need to go to God. He is the source of peace. You won’t find that peace in the world because the peace from God is a “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)) that “surpasses all understanding “(Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)).
How do you go to God for peace? Philippians 4:6–8 (NKJV) gives us the answer. It tells us,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Based on these verses in Philippians, here are three steps you can take to get peace:
-
Pray
Talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Ask Him for help with whatever situation you’re going through or for wisdom about a decision you need to make. And ask for his peace to quiet your mind.
-
Thank God
Come to God with a heart of gratitude. Thank God for who He is and all He has done for you. Be specific. For example, you could thank Him for
- saving you,
- forgiving all your sins,
- His ability to help you – no matter how big your problem is,
- His promise to always be with you,
- walking with you through your trial,
- the ways He has provided for you in the past, and
- anything else you can think of.
Being thankful to God will prepare your heart for the third step.
-
Meditate
Focus your mind on God. Don’t try to stop thinking about what’s making you anxious. Instead, replace those thoughts by thinking about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. God’s character and nature and the ways He has blessed you fall into these categories.
Meditate on how God has been faithful to you – on all the things you thanked Him for. Learn about God’s nature by reading His Word, the Bible. To name just a few, God is good, holy, powerful, and loving. Training your mind to think about God’s character and faithfulness will build up your trust in God.
As we saw in Isaiah, the person whose mind is “stayed” on God will be in “perfect peace.” Why? Because that person trusts in our awesome, amazing God.
While your mind is fixed on God, that peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind. So, follow these three steps: pray, thank God, and meditate on your beautiful Savior. Then, you’ll have peace as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 13, 2023 | Christian Living, Thoughts
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 106:1 (NKJV))
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching – a time for family gatherings and expressions of gratitude. (And a time to wonder, Where did 2023 go?) It can be hard to give thanks if you’re going through a difficult season. Yet, God wants us to give thanks “in everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)).
It’s challenging to have a thankful heart when we’re focused on the bad stuff or the hard things. Although our feelings are very real, they can keep us from seeing the bigger picture. Instead of showing us the truth, those feelings give us tunnel vision.
But as a born-again believer, you have a lot to be thankful for. You are God’s child, and your heavenly Father is amazing!
If you’re having trouble finding reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving, here are 20 reasons you can give thanks no matter what you’re going through. Take a moment to look up the verse for each one. Then meditate on how awesome that truth is!
- God is good (Psalm 100:5).
- God loves you (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16).
- God is always with you (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20).
- God will never leave you or drop you (Hebrews 13:5).
- God will strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will help you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will uphold you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8).
- You are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28–29).
- God thinks about you more than the number of grains of sand (Psalm 139:17–18).
- God’s thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (Jeremiah 29:11).
- God hears your prayers (1 John 5:14–15).
- Jesus is praying for you (Romans 8:34), and so is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).
- God understands your thoughts (Psalm 139:2).
- God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
- God is conforming you into the image of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29).
- God will complete the work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6).
- Jesus is preparing a place for you so you can be with Him (John 14:2–3).
- Jesus will come again (John 14:3).
- One day, God will make everything new (Revelation 21:5).
So, “[e]nter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)). Focus on who God is and all He has done and continues to do for you. Choose to be filled with gratitude as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 7, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13–14)
There was a time when I felt like I would never be able to live in the present. Like everyone else, I have a past. And like many others, I spent a lot of time looking back – thinking about things that had happened to me and regretting the choices I had made.
I was stuck. And I didn’t know how to change my thinking. I had been doing the same thing for years. It was like I thought I could solve a puzzle by replaying an event over and over in my head for the umpteenth time. But there was no puzzle to solve.
Then one day, I found the Biblical tools to help me. I was browsing in my church’s bookstore and saw a sermon series on CDs. (Remember when we still played CDs in our cars?) The series was called Free From Our Past. I bought it, thinking, Well, it couldn’t hurt.
And it turned out to be one of the best investments of my life. In the sermons, Pastor Ed Taylor teaches Biblical tools that can help you to walk in freedom. God used that sermon series to teach me how to let go of the past hurts and live in the present.
By living in the present, my relationship with God grew stronger. I could walk more closely with God because my mind wasn’t focused on what once was. Praise God for that!
And now, Pastor Ed has released a book based on that sermon series called Free From Your Past: learning to live the life you’ve always wanted. If you struggle with ruminating on your past or know someone who does, I encourage you to get a copy of his book (from Calvary Church’s bookstore or on Amazon) or listen to the sermon series on the church’s website for free.
So yes, you can live in the present. You can learn Biblical principles that you can apply to yourself. By applying God’s Word to your life, you can enjoy the time God’s given you today. You can stop wasting time and making new regrets.
In the Bible, Paul gives us a great example of letting go of the past. Before Paul started following Jesus, he persecuted the church. Innocent blood was on his hands (Acts 7:54–8:1). I’m sure he had many regrets. Yet, he was able to accept God’s forgiveness and live a life committed to doing what God had for him in the present. Paul purposefully forgot his past (the things that were behind him) and reached forward to what God had in store for him (Philippians 3:13).
Let’s commit to being like Paul – forgetting those things that are behind us (the past hurts and regrets) – and reaching forward to whatever God has for us now. God has fashioned days just for you (Psalm 139:16) and has prepared good works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Stay in the present, living in the days God has made for you and doing the work He’s prepared for you as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 10, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13–14 (NKJV))
We like to place a value on things, don’t we? And that value can be affected by many factors. A huge factor in determining value is the item’s maker.
For example, a painting by me would be worth next to nothing. Whereas, a painting by Claude Monet sold last year for over $3 million. A pair of jeans sold at a department store may cost about $50. Yet, if you buy a pair with the designer label Khaite, it’ll set you back $440. And while a small Hermes handbag can cost over $22,000, you can buy one (and a well-made one at that) from other sources for less than $200.
So, how much are you worth? When it comes to people, our culture values them mainly by their looks, accomplishments, and possessions. Those who are homeless are often treated like they’re not worth as much. In contrast, an actor, a politician, or a savvy businessman will likely be placed on a pedestal.
Given our cultural standards, it’s common to compare ourselves to others. And when we do, we can end up devaluing what we think we’re worth. In a few moments, we may look at another woman and determine that we’re not as
- pretty,
- smart,
- well-dressed, or
- well-spoken.
Or we might watch someone’s highlight reel on social media. Her life seems perfect with flawless pictures of family, travel, and selfies. And after the comparison, we may decide we’re worth less or even worthless.
But your worth is not determined by how well you’re able to entertain, dress, or put on your makeup. It’s not dependent on whether you’ve been successful in your career. Instead, it’s based on your Maker.
You are valuable because you were made by God. He made you in His image (Genesis 1:27) and formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). You are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). And you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
Because you were made by God, you matter. He made you uniquely you for His glory. He even fashioned days for you (Psalm 139:16) and prepared works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Praise God!
So stop comparing yourself to others. Because, really, there’s no comparison. God only made one of you. Instead, ask Him to show you the days He has made for you and the works He has prepared just for you. Then walk in those days, praising your Maker as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 26, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34 (NLT))
Are you worried about your future? Are you anxious about whether . . .
- your company is going to lay people off;
- gas prices will continue to rise;
- you’ll be single your entire life;
- your kids will turn out well; or
- you’ll even be able to have children?
Do you fret about what next month or next year will bring?
It’s easy to worry about your future. All you have to do is look at a newsfeed and stories about crime, the economy, and the way people treat each other can quickly raise your anxiety levels. And circumstances in your own life can overwhelm your thoughts in an instant.
But God doesn’t want you to be worried about your future. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). And He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)). In other words, focus on what you need day by day.
Even in the Old Testament, God oriented His people’s focus on the day at hand. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, God provided them with their daily food – that heavenly bread called manna – one day at a time (Exodus 16:15-16, 19). If they gathered more and left it for the following day (unless it was the day before the Sabbath day), the manna “bred worms and stank” (Exodus 16:20 (NKJV)).
God doesn’t want you to worry about your future. He wants you to trust Him with tomorrow. He already knows what your future holds, and He will help you through it all if you’ll let Him.
Instead of worrying about your future, Jesus invites you to abide in Him (John 15:4). The word abide means to be present or remain. We need to live one day at a time and be present with Jesus. If you’re worrying about something in your future, you’re no longer present with Jesus today.
You are safe in Jesus’ hands (John 10:28). But you can’t enjoy being in that safety if you’re somewhere else in your mind. So when you catch yourself worrying about your future, stop it! Choose to focus your mind on today.
And yes, it’s a choice. We can meditate on the unknown. Or we can focus our minds on what we know – the things God tells us to think about. The Bible tells us to fix our thoughts on things that are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable”; it exhorts us to “[t]hink about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 (NLT)).
You can purposefully shift your thoughts by choosing to think about
- how God has provided for you in the past;
- the promises God has made to you in the Bible;
- the way God saved you and how He gave you eternal life when you surrendered to Him;
- the blessings God has given you; and
- the things you are thankful for.
Put on some worship music and sing praises to God. Read His Word and seek out the promises He has made to you. Make a list of the ways God has been faithful to you in the past. Take a walk and count the different varieties of flowers you see along the way.
So don’t worry about the future. Don’t be anxious about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Instead, choose to live one day at a time while abiding in Jesus. Be present with Jesus and walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 6, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
And take the helmet of salvation . . . . (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV))
Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit? As you look up, the small point of light is so far away that getting out seems impossible. In those times, the only thing I can pray is “Abba, please help me,” over and over again.
Of course, God always rescues me when I finally turn to Him. He pulls me out of the pit. But how did I get there in the first place?
The day usually starts off just fine. No sign of a storm. Not a cloud in the sky.
But at some point, a barrage of negative thoughts pour into my head when I’m not paying attention. Before I know it, my mind is consumed by a situation, circumstance, or event.
Those thoughts are uninvited. Unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop them. And the descent into the pit begins.
So, what happened? When the thoughts came, I didn’t even consider that it was a tactic of the enemy. Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan can’t possess a born-again believer who is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). But one way he fulfills his mission is by messing with our minds.
Paul warned us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)). There’s a spiritual battle going on right now that we cannot see.
But God didn’t leave us defenseless. He gave us spiritual armor that we need to put on every day (Ephesians 6:13-18). One piece of that armor is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).
You can protect your mind with that helmet. You can keep the enemy from using your thoughts against you.
Surrounding your mind with the helmet of salvation reminds you of the truth. As a born‑again believer, all of God’s promises are yours in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). The truth about your salvation is that
- your soul is secure because you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13);
- you are God’s child (1 John 3:1);
- you’re victorious because of what Jesus has done for you (1 John 5:4-5);
- you are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28);
- nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39); and
- this life is not all there is – one day you will live with Jesus (John 14:3).
All of these promises – and many more – belong to you. God loves you, and He will be faithful to fulfill His promises. As my pastor likes to say, “The best is yet to come.” Amen!
Remind yourself of these truths. They remain true no matter how you feel. Although feelings are real and we all experience them, they lie. They’ll pull you down into the pit if you don’t remember the truth.
So, be proactive. Protect your mind by putting on the helmet of salvation. Pray and ask God to protect your mind at the start of each day. Say something like this in your own words:
Abba Father, please protect my mind from spiritual warfare today. Help me to remember that I belong to You. Please remind me throughout the day that I am safe in Your hand. Prompt me to meditate on the fact that I have an amazing future in store for me with You. I praise You because You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Another beautiful promise is that, when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Draw close to Him today.
And remember – even though you can’t see what your future holds in this life, you can trust that God will fulfill His promises. Remember your status as God’s child and all He has promised as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Feb 6, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1 (NKJV))
Are you looking for the Father’s love? Many of our fathers were absent. Some rejected us. Others left us. And some just weren’t around while we were growing up.
God designed us to love and be loved by our fathers. So, we crave the love that we should have received from them. And, we go to great lengths to try to substitute it with something, anything, that feels like love.
I’ve had three fathers in my life. Two were earthly; One is heavenly. One was biological, another willingly supported me, and the third adopted me as His daughter. One was absent for most of my childhood, one came into my life when I was a teenager, and One patiently waited for years for me to turn to Him.
My biological father wasn’t around after my parents divorced when I was young. But I always craved his love. And, although a benevolent man stepped into my life to be a father figure to me, I still wanted love from my own father.
After I was grown, I reconnected with my dad. One day when we were spending time together, I suddenly realized, This is what I had been looking for all those years. It was an epiphany of sorts. God created us to be loved by a father.
Years later, I finally surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. At that moment, I was adopted as one of God’s children. He had chosen me!
And then I had a true epiphany. As I felt the Father’s love wash over me, I knew that this was what I had been searching for all those years. I was home. I was loved. And it was better than I could have ever imagined. As our heavenly Father, God designed us to receive His love.
Are you still looking for the Father’s love? Your heavenly Father is right there waiting for you to come to Him. He loves you so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins (John 3:16).
Come to Him. Accept His love. Become His daughter.
Only then will you be able to enjoy the love of your Father as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 28, 2022 | Christian Living, Spiritual Growth, Thoughts
You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. (Nehemiah 9:6 (NKJV))
When someone introduces a speaker, he’ll tell you a little about the person. You’ll learn who he is, where he’s from, and why he’s qualified to tell you about the topic he’s speaking on. But God needs no introduction. He just is. He always was. And He always will be.
So, the Bible doesn’t start by giving us God’s credentials. Instead, it simply says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)). God is God, and we are not.
Yet, we try to put God into a box sometimes, don’t we? We try to define Him. Or we try to bring God down to our level by making Him smaller and quantifiable. Like Natalie Grant lamented in her song, King of the World:
I try to fit You in the walls inside my mind
I try to keep You safely in between the lines
I try to put You in the box that I’ve designed
I try to pull You down so we are eye-to-eye
When did I forget that You’ve always been the King of the world?
I try to take life back right out of the hands of the King of the world
How could I make You so small when You’re the One who holds it all?
It’s the old story of us wanting to be God. Before Eve sinned, Satan tempted her by appealing to her pride. He told Eve that her eyes would be opened if she ate the forbidden fruit. He promised that she would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5 (NKJV)). He insinuated that God was trying to hold her back and keep her from being all that she could be.
I think we all make the mistake of trying to put God in a box sometimes. Our pride rises up, and we think we know best. We try to make ourselves equal to God. Yet, when we do, we’re making an idol.
Countless people before us have tried to minimize God by making idols of wood, clay, stone, silver, and gold. They gave those idols human characteristics that they could understand. But those idols were not God. As the Bible tells us:
Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat. (Psalm 115:4-7 (NKJV))
Idols cannot help us. They cannot see, hear, or do anything. They are lifeless.
You can’t make any image that would even come close to representing God. And you can’t fit God into a box. The almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God cannot be contained or recreated by His creation. Our Creator exceeds our understanding.
And that’s a good thing. Anything you could hold in your hand or fully grasp with your mind would not be able to help you. Anything you make is limited by your own resources.
But our God is limitless. He is the One who made the heavens and the earth. He is the One who made you and me. Our God is bigger and more amazing than we could imagine. Praise Him!
So, don’t put God in a box. Don’t try to diminish who He is. You can’t hold Him in your hand. But God’s holding you in His as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 20, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth, Thoughts
For 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 (NKVJ))
War is real. Countries invade other countries. Lives are lost and devastation follows. It’s no surprise. Jesus told us in the last days we would “hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6 (NKJV)).
But did you know that there is a spiritual war going on around you? A battle is being fought at this very moment in the spiritual realm. As the Bible explains, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)).
We’re at war. And many don’t even know it. That war is being fought over people’s souls and Christians’ lives. Although we can’t see it, it doesn’t make it any less real.
We get a peek into this spiritual realm through God’s prophet, Elisha. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a great army with horses and chariots, the servant was afraid (2 Kings 6:15). Wouldn’t you be afraid too? I would. But Elisha told his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 (NKJV)).
I’ll bet at first the servant thought Elisha had lost his mind. Maybe he looked at himself and then at Elisha. Yep, there were only two of them. Two. . . versus a great army. What was Elisha talking about?
Elisha then prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so he could see (2 Kings 6:17). “Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17 (NKJV)).
That must have been an amazing sight. Elisha’s servant was able to put on spiritual glasses (so to speak) to see what was really going on. He had the privilege of seeing what most are unable to witness.
We get more insight into the spiritual realm from another one of God’s prophets. Daniel had prayed for God to give him understanding about a vision. But his prayer wasn’t answered for three weeks.
When an angel came to answer his prayer, he told Daniel that his words had been heard “from the first day” he had “set [his] heart to understand” (Daniel 10:12 (NKJV)). Yet, the angel had been delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” – a fallen angel or demon – until Michael the Archangel had come to help him (Daniel 10:13 (NKJV)).
In the spiritual realm, God’s angels are battling against fallen angels. And the stakes are high. People’s souls rest in the balance. As Jesus warned us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 (NKJV)).
If you’re a believer in Jesus, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). You belong to God; your soul is secure. Still, the battle rages on around you.
Satan tries to keep you from drawing closer to God and from being effective at doing God’s work. He knows that God uses people to reach other people. So, he tries to render believers ineffective.
His tactics have been the same for generations. In the garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to sin by appealing to
- the lust of the flesh (she “saw that the tree was good for food”);
- the lust of the eyes (“it was pleasant to the eyes”); and
- the pride of life (it was “desirable to make one wise”) (Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)).
When Eve got her eyes off God and on herself, “she took of its fruit and ate” even though she knew she wasn’t supposed to eat it (Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)).
And Satan continues to use these three things to tempt us. He tries to get us to satisfy
- our flesh (It’s okay if I flirt a little; my husband never pays attention to me like he does.);
- our eyes (I know I can’t afford it but that outfit would look great on me.); and
- our pride (She deserved what I said to her. Doesn’t she know who she’s talking to?).
Out of these temptations arise distractions, irritations, addictions, and misplaced desire. And those things take our focus off God and places it on ourselves.
So, what do we do? We need to use the spiritual weapons God gave us to fight the war. As we see from our verse above, those weapons are “not carnal,” which means they are not of this world. Instead, they are “mighty in God.”
If we look in Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul tells us about the spiritual armor God gave us to use in this fight. He directs us to “put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)).
Paul then tells us more about this armor. Let’s look at one piece – “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)). Did you know that you can use the Bible to protect yourself? You can.
The Bible is a powerful weapon that you can always rely on. That weapon is “alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)).
Jesus used the word of God to counteract Satan’s temptations. Each time Satan tempted Him with something, Jesus quoted from the Bible (Matthew 4:3-10). As He did, Jesus withstood every temptation that came His way.
That’s why it’s so important to memorize Bible verses. When you’re in the middle of a spiritual battle, God will assist you by bringing those verses to mind. You can then speak God’s word out loud to resist temptation.
When we use the spiritual weapons that are mighty in God, we are able to fight the battle. “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)). Let’s arm ourselves with the spiritual weapons God has provided so we can live a life pleasing to Him. When we keep ourselves pure, God will be able to do His work through us to reach the lost as we walk by faith with Him.
* Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 27, 2022 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Thoughts
God is amazing. Each time I take a few minutes to contemplate the fact that He created the universe, I marvel at how powerful He is. The Bible teaches us that God made the heavens just by speaking.
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6 (NKJV)).
That’s incredible. God spoke, and it was. Look up at the night sky. Our omnipotent God formed all that you see by His word.
Now think about the vastness of space. Scientists still don’t know how big the universe is. But the distance to the sun – the nearest star – is 93 million miles away. Let that sink in – 93 million miles. Can we actually grasp how far that is? And they estimate that it would take 100,000 years to travel across our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Scientists also don’t know how many stars are in the universe. They estimate that there are 100-400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy alone. That’s not a typo. Billion. It would take about 11,574 days just to count to one billion (assuming you could go without sleep for that long).
Not only that but there are more than 200 billion galaxies (each with another 100-400 billion stars) and maybe even 10 times that many.
Those numbers are astounding. It’s really hard to wrap your head around them. I can’t actually quantify how many stars are up there. I’m guessing that you can’t either.
But God knows exactly how many stars He created. The Bible tells us that God “counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4 (NKJV)). The extent of God’s knowledge is astonishing. I have trouble even remembering the names of a few people I meet, let alone trillions upon trillions of them. Our God is bigger than we could ever fathom. Praise God!
Have you ever had a chance to get out of the city and gaze up at the night sky? The number of stars that you see is extraordinary. It’s a beautiful sight. If you have that opportunity, take time to meditate on the fact that our awesome God is the One who created each star and knows each one by name.
Better yet, God knows each one of us. He knows, and understands, our thoughts (Psalm 139:2). I don’t know about you, but I don’t even understand my own thoughts part of the time. And “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30 (NKJV)). Have you ever tried to count how many hairs you have? If not, don’t bother. Seriously, it’s an insurmountable task that will just leave you frustrated.
God knows everything about us – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yet, He still loves us. God loves us so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).
So, remember God’s power. Meditate on His might. When you have a problem, don’t evaluate it based on your own strength and resources. Instead, look at whatever you are going through in comparison to our all-powerful, remarkable God. If God could speak the universe into existence (and He did), He can handle anything that comes your way.
And God wants you to cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV)). Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Ask Him for help. Then trust Him to handle whatever it is. He will give you direction. God will guide you. He will go before you and help you.
Then look up. Take in the beauty of the stars God created. Remind yourself of His power and might. Stand still in awe of God. “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9 (NKJV)).
* Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 16, 2021 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Thoughts
I have been asked, “How do I meditate on God’s word? How does Biblical meditation work?” So I thought it would be valuable to take some time to reflect on the subject.
Before we begin, it’s important to recognize that Biblical meditation is different from the meditation practiced in yoga and other disciplines, in which you seek to empty your mind. The basic tenant of Biblical meditation is to fill your mind with the word of God.
The Greek word for meditate means to reason or think on. We see that word used in Philippians where Paul tells us to “meditate” on certain things.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 (NKJV))
Instead of using the English word meditate in that verse, the New Living Translation tells us to “[f]ix your thoughts on.” The idea is to ruminate on or contemplate what the Bible is telling you. It’s an intentional act of purposefully thinking about God’s word. Following five basic steps will help you to do so.
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Choose a Bible verse
Decide which Bible verse you want to think about. Is there a situation that’s been troubling you? Do you need direction for something in your life? Are you curious about what the Bible says on a particular subject? Or do you have a favorite verse that you want to reflect on?
Some Bibles have a concordance at the back that can help you find a verse. If you don’t have a concordance, many Bible apps have a search feature. Or you can ask a pastor or leader at your church for Bible verses on the topic you want to meditate on.
Don’t get overwhelmed by choosing a verse. If you have a list of verses that someone has suggested, start with just one. After you have spent time meditating on that verse, you can move on to another one.
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Memorize or write out the Bible verse
After you decide which verse you want to meditate on, memorize the verse or write it down on a 3×5 index card. Memorizing the verse or writing it down makes it convenient to think about or look at. Otherwise, you will need to have your Bible open to the verse. Making the verse more accessible will help you to meditate on it more frequently.
I have found it easiest to meditate on verses when I have memorized them. By committing the verse to memory, you can literally think about it any time of the day or night, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. For example, if you are driving your car, you can go over the verse in your mind. Or if you wake up in the middle of the night, you can direct your mind to the verse and go over it word by word.
If you’re not good at memorization, use a 3×5 index card. The card is a good size to slip into your pocket, your purse, or to put by your bedside so it’s convenient to read. And, the act of writing the verse and looking at it often will help you to memorize it.
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Pray
Before you being meditating on the verse, pray and ask God to help you understand it. Ask God what He wants to reveal to you. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things (John 14:26). He is the One who helps us to understand and internalize God’s word. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we are not able to learn what God wants to show us.
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Meditate
Recall the verse in your mind or read the verse slowly. Think about each word. Ask yourself the basic who, what, where, why, and how questions. What is the verse’s context – where is it in the Bible and what are the verses around it? Who is talking in the verse? Who was it written to? What does it say? What does it mean? Think about what the verse tells you about God. Ask yourself how the verse applies to your life.
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Apply the verse
While you are meditating on the verse, God will show you what it means and how it applies to you. When He does, the final step is to apply it to your life. The Bible instructs us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 (NKJV)).
Live out what God has revealed to you. If you have learned that God doesn’t want you to do something that you’ve been doing, stop doing it. Conversely, if you realize that God wants you to do something that you haven’t been doing, start doing it. Once we discover God’s will, we should align ourselves with what He wants us to do.
Choosing to meditate on God’s word will bless your life. As the psalmist taught us, the blessed man is the one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). Let’s be like the blessed man and take time to meditate on the Bible each day as we walk by faith with God.
by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 2, 2021 | Bible Study, Life, Thoughts
Have you read about Jacob, Leah, and Rachel in the Bible? Each time I read about them, I tend to look at it from Jacob’s perspective – a love story with obstacles placed in the path of the hero. But the other day, God showed me Leah’s point of view. Before we turn to Leah, let’s remind ourselves what happened to Jacob.
In obedience to his parent’s request, Jacob traveled to their relatives’ country to find a wife (Genesis 28:1-2, 5; 29:1, 4-5). When Jacob saw Rachel, he fell in love (Genesis 29:9-11, 18). Jacob agreed to work for Rachel’s father, Laban, for seven years so he could marry Rachel (Genesis 29:18). The years seemed only a few days because of his love for her (Genesis 29:20).
At the end of the seven years, it was time for the wedding (Genesis 29:21). The day had finally come for Jacob to marry the woman he loved. But on the wedding night, Laban had Leah (Rachel’s older sister) go into the wedding tent (Genesis 29:23). The following morning, Jacob realized that he had actually married Leah (Genesis 29:25).
How could Jacob have married Leah, thinking she was Rachel? Commentaries explain that the traditional wedding attire included a veil that would have entirely concealed Leah’s features. The veil, along with the alcohol that would have been consumed during the wedding feast, would make it possible for Jacob to unknowingly marry Leah.
Jacob was upset. And rightfully so. Laban had tricked him into marrying Leah because it was customary for the elder daughter to be married first (Genesis 29:26). Yet, Laban also agreed that Jacob could marry Rachel if Jacob worked for him another seven years (Genesis 29:27). Eventually, Jacob also married Rachel (Genesis 29:28-30).
So that’s Jacob’s point of view – he received the short end of the stick from Laban. He ended up marrying a woman he never intended to marry, a woman he didn’t love.
But now let’s look at it from Leah’s viewpoint.
First, we know that Leah was not beautiful like her younger sister. The Bible tells us that her eyes were “delicate” (Genesis 29:17 (NKJV)). That either means she couldn’t see well or she had blue eyes instead of the more accepted brown eyes of her culture. Although that may not seem like a big thing, the contrasting description of Rachel as “beautiful of form and appearance” shows us that Leah was not attractive like her sister (Genesis 29:17 (NKJV)).
Second, we know that she watched Jacob pursue her sister. Jacob was attracted to Rachel, not Leah.
Third, her father had her sneak into the marriage tent to deceive Jacob into marrying her. How do you think she felt knowing her father thought the only way a man would marry her was to be tricked into doing so?
Finally, the Bible tells us that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (Genesis 29:30). Leah was married to a man who didn’t love her. That, in and of itself, would be difficult. But the situation was compounded by the fact that her husband was also married to another woman that he did love. And that other woman was her sister.
But God saw that Leah was unloved. (Genesis 29:31). So, God “opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31 (NKJV)).
Given Rachel’s barrenness, it appears that Leah tried to get Jacob to love her by bearing him children.
- When Leah had Jacob’s first son, she named him Reuben, which means, “Look a son” (Genesis 29:32). And Leah said, “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32 (NKJV)).
- Then Leah bore Jacob a second son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also” (Genesis 29:33 (NKJV)). So she named him Simeon, which means heard (Genesis 29:33).
- Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a third son (Genesis 29:34). Leah said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons” (Genesis 29:34 (NKJV)). She called him Levi, which means “joined to.”
For several years, Leah tried to earn Jacob’s love by bearing him children. You can feel her pain – always feeling second rate to her sister, married to a man who didn’t love her, trying to win her husband’s love, and wanting to feel loved.
Then something changed. Maybe Leah finally realized she was looking to the wrong one for love. We don’t know what caused Leah’s heart change. But she stopped focusing on what she didn’t have and started looking at what God had already given her.
So when Leah had her fourth son, she said, “Now I will praise the LORD” and named him Judah, which means praise (Genesis 29:35 (NKJV)). She learned to praise God – not for her circumstances but in her circumstances.
Maybe you feel like Leah – plain, overlooked, and unloved. No matter what your circumstances are or how invisible you feel, the truth is that God sees you. And God loves you. God loves you so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for your sins so you can have a relationship with Him (John 3:16).
God has not overlooked you. Just as God saw Leah, God sees you. And when you come to Him, like Leah did, praise will flow out of your heart.
by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 1, 2021 | Ministry, Thoughts
As I was reading through Genesis the other day, I came to the part where Abraham’s servant goes to get a bride for Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham asked his servant to swear that he would not take a bride for Isaac from one of the women in the land where they were living but that he would go back to his family for a bride (Genesis 24:2-4). The servant did so and traveled to the place where Abraham had once lived (Genesis 24:9-10).
After the servant came to that place, he went to the well in the evening when the women would go to draw water (Genesis 24:11). Then he prayed.
O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, “Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,” and she says, “Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink” – let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. (Genesis 24:12-14 (NKJV))
While he was still praying, Rebekah came to the well to draw water (Genesis 24:15). When he asked Rebekah for a drink, she agreed (Genesis 24:17-18). Then Rebekah offered – on her own – to draw water for his camels (Genesis 24:19).
This was no small task. A camel is a desert animal that can go a long time without drinking water. But when it does, a camel will drink about 30 gallons. And the servant had brought ten camels with him (Genesis 24:10). That’s about 300 gallons of water that Rebekah had to draw from the well!
God had answered the servant’s prayer while he was still speaking it. Amazing. Then it struck me. This is not the only woman we meet at a well in the Bible. And the two women were so very different.
We meet the other woman in the book of John. Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Jerusalem to the Galilee, and Jesus “needed” to go through Samaria (John 4:3-4 (NKJV)). Going through Samaria would break the Jewish practice of going around Samaria. The reason it was a big deal for the Jewish people to travel through that area is another blog post in itself. For our purposes here, let’s just say that it was not a common thing to do.
When Jesus and His disciples reached a certain well, the disciples went into the city to buy food (John 4:6, 8). But Jesus sat by the well on the edge of the city (John 4:6). As we read further, we see that Jesus had a plan for a woman who He would meet there.
What a stark difference there was between the woman Jesus ministered to and Rebekah:
- Rebekah was a young, beautiful woman, while the other woman was older (Genesis 24:16; John 4:18).
- Rebekah was a virgin; the other woman had been married five times and was living with a man who was not her husband (Genesis 24:16; John 4:18).
- Rebekah went to the well in the evening, which was the usual time women would go to draw water because it was cooler; the other woman went at noon in the heat of the day, probably to avoid the other women (Genesis 24:11; John 4:6).
In short, Rebekah was vibrant and ready to begin a new life; the other woman was broken and likely felt worthless.
You may be more like Rebekah: younger, raised in a good family, eager to serve the Lord. Or you may be more like the other woman: feeling run down, regretful about wasting portions of your life by living in sin. Whatever your story, whatever your past, it’s not too late. God can still work through your life. The amazing thing we see from these two women is not what they did but what God can do.
Regardless of where you are in your life, God can do His work through you if you are willing and available. The important things the two women had in common was their availability and their willingness to be used by God for His purposes.
When asked if she was willing to go with Abraham’s servant to become Isaac’s bride, Rebekah answered, “I will go” (Genesis 24:58 (NKJV)). Rebekah didn’t hesitate. She was willing to go to a different land and become a wife to a man she had never met because it was God’s plan. The night before, the servant had recounted the oath he had sworn to Abraham, his journey to find a wife for Isaac from Abraham’s family, his prayer at the well when he arrived, and God’s answer to His prayer “before [he] had finished speaking in [his] heart” (Genesis 24:34-47 (NKJV)). She witnessed the servant’s praise that he gave to God when the prayer had been answered (Genesis 24:48, 52).
Rebekah went even though it must have been scary, going to the unknown, which would change her circumstances for the rest of her life. Yet, she went. And God blessed Rebekah with being the mother of Jacob (whose name was later changed to Israel). Rebekah’s grandchildren became the 12 tribes of Israel from whom the Messiah Jesus would eventually be born.
The other woman also chose to make herself available to do God’s work. After meeting the Messiah Jesus, she left her waterpot to go into the city to tell everyone about Jesus (John 4:28-29). She brought the men of her city to meet Jesus (John 4:30). As a result of her testimony, many of them believed (John 4:39-42).
Whatever your story, God has a purpose for your life too. He has fashioned days for you (Psalm 139:16). Will you choose to make yourself available to walk in the days God has made for you?
by Catherine McDaugale | May 1, 2021 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
This past year has been difficult for everyone. COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives in varying ways. Some have lost family members or friends. Others have lost jobs or their businesses. Although not everyone has lost loved ones or their livelihood, we have all been impacted in some way.
It seems the world changed overnight. If you had told me a few years ago that there would be a time when I’d be working from home for over a year and would be required to wear a mask every time I went to the grocery store or to church, I would have thought you were crazy.
Along with the difficulties, people have experienced feelings of anxiety, depression, hopelessness, sadness, isolation, and loneliness. What should we do with these feelings? The Bible gives us the answer. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Talk to God about how you are feeling, about the things that have been happening in your life. Tell Him what you need and how you feel. Nothing will surprise Him. He already knows all your thoughts (Psalm 139:2). Telling God about your feelings isn’t for God’s benefit, it’s for your benefit. God wants us to come to Him with everything that we’re thinking about because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
When you come to God, thank Him for what He has already done in your life. Spend time in fellowship with Him. In exchange, God has promised to give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s not natural to feel a sense of peace during times of difficulty. It’s a supernatural peace that can only come from trusting God.
After you have prayed through the verses in Philippians 4:6-7, don’t stop there. Look at the next verse,
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)).
You see, trying not to think about something doesn’t work. When you tell yourself, “I will not think about it,” inevitably you do think about whatever “it” is. Instead, we need to replace those thoughts by meditating on the things that God tells us to focus on.
Biblical meditation is different from the meditation that is practiced in yoga or other disciplines, in which you seek to empty your mind. The Greek word for meditate in Philippians means to reason or think on. The New Living Translation tells us to “[f]ix your thoughts on.” The idea is to ruminate or chew on those things. For example, you can take a Bible verse, memorize it, and then think about it word by word. Ask yourself about the verse’s context – where is it in the Bible, what are the verses around it, what does the verse mean? Think about what the verse tells you about God. Ask yourself how the verse applies to your life.
We can choose what we think about. If I want to think about an elephant, suddenly I have a picture of an elephant in my mind. I can picture what it looks like. If I meditate on that elephant, I can see its color, its shape, and the lines in its hide. Maybe the elephant starts to eat something by picking it up with its trunk. You get the idea. You can decide to do that with anything.
But as we saw, the Bible gives us a list of things we should think about. The first thing that we are told to meditate on in Philippians 4:8 is “whatever things are true.” There is a difference between what is true and what is false. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines the word “true” as something that is “in accordance with the actual state of affairs,” and truth means “reality” or “the quality or state of being accurate.” Conversely, things are false if they are not true.
Absolute truth is something that is true and does not change no matter what your circumstances are. Some people deny that there can be absolute truth. Instead, they believe that truth is relative. Relativism is a belief that truth is based on a person’s own experiences, that truth changes from person to person.
But the Bible teaches us that there is absolute truth. We know that Jesus is truth (John 14:6). Meditate on the things that Jesus has done for you. Jesus died for your sins on the cross so your sins could be forgiven. If you decide to follow Jesus, your sins will be forgiven, and you will have eternal life (John 3:16).
We also know that God’s Word, the Bible, is true. The Bible tells us that God “made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and [He] preserve[s] them all” (Nehemiah 9:6 (NKJV)). God is the Creator. Meditate on that. When you see a beautiful sunset, remember that it was made by God. The majestic mountains – God. The vast oceans – also made by God.
Thinking about even one aspect of God’s creation is amazing. God created flowers. He didn’t make just one flower in a single color. No, He created many, many types of flowers in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Flowers come in just about every conceivable color that you could imagine. They are various shades of purple, pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. There are lilies, tulips, roses, bougainvillea, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, dahlias, carnations, peonies, daffodils, irises, sunflowers, buttercups, orchids, marigolds, petunias, daisies, and many more. And did you know that an artichoke is actually a flower? And capers are pickled flower buds. Even more astonishing is that a fig is technically not a fruit but an inverted flower. It is truly awesome when you think about it. God is awesome!
If something pops into your mind while you’re thinking about the things that God told you to meditate on, take that thought captive. The Bible instructs us to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV)). Don’t allow yourself to continue to think about that thought. It will derail you and you will start to think about your problems and feel anxious again. Instead of letting that thought take your mind off the things of God, recognize that it’s there, capture it, and ask God to take it out of your mind. Ask God to help you keep your mind focused on Him. He will help you if you ask. Train your mind to meditate on the things God has told you to think about. When you do, you will experience the peace that God has promised.
