Total Mind Makeover Day One

Today is Day 1 of the 12 Day Transformation, a journey to transformation!
Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
The word of God has no barriers. No power is comparable to it. When released, the word is able to break any chain, heal any disease, and solve any problem! Why should it be any other way seeing that Jesus Christ Himself is the Word of God (John 1:1, 14).
So why is it that so many today are not experiencing the optimal power of the Holy Spirit operating in their lives? Jesus cried out,  “But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:64).
Unbelief will prevent the power of the word of God from being activated in our life. The antithesis of unbelief is faith. In the Bible, faith means much more than giving mental assent to some claim of fact. At its’ very core is trust and dependance. It speaks of total reliance. Therefore, our faith, of necessity, must be in that which alone is unchanging – God and His word – and not in humanistic philosophies and vain traditions. “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude]…” (Romans 12:2, Amplified Bible).

MAKING THE WORD OF NONE EFFECT

There are two paradigms [patterns of thinking] when adopted that disconnect us from the Spirit and life of the Word. The first is the religious mindset. Jesus said of the Pharisees that they were guilty of “…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down” (Mark 7:13). Religious traditions and the teachings of men can actually render void the power of the word of God in our lives.
The second pattern of thinking that is detrimental to faith is the “carnal mind.” This is the belief system of the fallen world that is rooted in sin and humanism. Paul said, “…because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him” (Romans 8:7-8).
Regardless of what it may be, if our faith is not based on the word of God  alone we will never experience the power of the Spirit in operation. Revelation precedes demonstration. Often believers think that the solution is found in our ability to generate more faith. On the contrary, we are called to fill our hearts and minds with the word and it will produce the necessary faith in our lives. Listen to Andrew Murray:

“Do not think that you must bring this mighty faith to get the Word fulfilled. Instead, the Word comes and brings you this faith which you must have. ‘The word is living and powerful.’ The Word works faith in you. The Scripture says, ‘Faith is by the word.’ Be resolved never to say, I cannot believe. You can believe. You have the Spirit of God in you. Even the natural man can say, “This Word of God is certainly true or certainly not true.” If, with desire in your soul, you say, “It is true. I will believe it,” the living Spirit-through whom the Word is living and powerful will work this living faith. Besides, the Spirit is not only in the Word, but is also in you. Although you do not feel as if you were believing, know for certain that you can believe.3 Begin to actually receive the Word. It will work a mighty faith in you. Depend on God’s Word, it can surely be trusted to work faith in you as you receive it.”

As we begin this 21 day journey to transformation, the word of God must become the foundation of our lives. We must commit ourselves to reading, studying, meditating upon, and confessing the word of God.

• “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
• “Receive with meekness the implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
• “We also thank God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it ‘is in truth, the word of God, which effectively worketh also in you that believe” (I Thessalonians 2:13).
• “For the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).

PRAYER FOR POWER
Lord God, I begin to conceive how You are in Your Word with Your life and power, and how that Word itself works faith and obedience in the heart that receives and keeps it. Lord, teach me to carry Your every Word as a living seed in my heart, in the assurance that it will work in me all Your good pleasure. Amen.
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DAY 1 CHALLENGE:
READ  THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, CHAPTERS ONE & TWO