DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father, I thank for this new day and a new beginning in my life may everything I do and say bring glory to you. Thank you for the way over the years you have changed my life. As I read your most holy word, please speak to me, encourage me, and help me to live out your words through Jesus Christ my Lord, through Him and in Him in the unity-ty of the Holy spirit all Honour and Glory be yours today and always and Father God, I come before your throne of grace and mercy, I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, today I ask to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 18:1-2

"I love you, LORD, my strength.” The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” 

Worship Song Sung or Said: Be Thou My Vision (Dallán Forgaill)

https://youtu.be/DORM8ttY1ws

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

God’s Word for Today: Romans 12:1-2

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Devotional/Study: (Part 3)

Ever since I became a follower of Jesus one of my Prayers has been for God to transform me. Paul the apostle life was transformed and called the Christians in Rome to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” I recognise the mind is one of the keys to living the way Christ wants us to live. Before I became a follower of Christ my mind was controlled and influenced by my past and worldly values and principles. Once I gave my life to Jesus my thinking changed. 

However, it’s a real battle to keep on having godly thoughts. It’s a daily battle to renew our mind and to have the mind of Christ. What I do know is when my thinking is godly my lifestyle will be godly. I know I can’t change my thinking in the flesh, it must be through the power of the holy Spirit and allowing the word of God to speak to me and change me inwardly through Prayer, confession, and repentance. 

In my early Christian life, I thought that if I just read the Bible, it would change my life and my mind would change. However, over the years I have realised that it’s not just about reading God’s word it’s also about reflecting mediating and allowing Gods to go deep down in my most inner being to challenge me, heal and cleanse me and asking the Holy Spirit to teach me and giving him permission to work in my heart and mind. 

Paul when he was writing to the Christians in Corinth said in 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For, who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” The difficulty I find is sometimes I depend on my own thinking and allow it to control me which in turns dictates my behaviour. 

I need to do what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” In my journey I need to aware of what’s going on in my mind because my thoughts stir up emotions, which bring about desires and these desires produce actions. I know if I live according to the mind of Christ than it will be God who will guide and control my life. If I want to be transformed my mind has to change otherwise, I will not change.  In my daily walk with God, we need to be aware where our thoughts are coming from, if they are not of God, I need to bring them into captivity and seek to get them in line with the mind of Christ. 

The amazing thing is knowing and living out a renewed mind will help me to know "what God what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Do I know what’s Gods purpose and will is and if so, am I fulfilling His purpose? What do I need to do to be transformed by the by the renewing of my mind? (reflect)

1. When we wake up sing out praises to God and read out scripture aloud and ask myself what God would have me today and asking God for protection over you mind and heart.
2. If any wrong thoughts come, take them captive and rebuke them in Jesus’ name. 
3. Pray always for the Holy Spirit to keep renewing you mind.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 

“May the mind of Christ, my saviour. May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, Live in me from day to day, By his love and power controlling All I do and say. May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph Only through his power. May the Word of God dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour, So that all may see I triumph Only through His power.” (Katie Wilkinson) 

Personal Prayers: