I just had to smile when I read this. Brittany (age 4) had an ear ache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her mom explained it was a child-proof cap and she’d have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked, “How does it know it’s me?”
God is like that bottle cap and mom. He tells us in His word the best and most fulfilling way to live each day, which also protects us from harm. He knows just the right dosage of encouragement and rebuke to hand out to keep us on track.
It’s not when life is going our way that we find out what we really believe, but when we hurt. As children of God will we trust Jesus and His Word or force the cap open and take what we want to feel good? Jesus is our child-proof cap, a trusted protection, if only we will act in faith on the truths, the right dose of medication, He gives when life wants to force us to life our way.
S“E”t Free Nowww

“I don’t receive that!” I would often hear Christians give that line whenever they heard something they didn’t want to hear. I used to think they were simply ignoring reality by hoping for something better, a kind of “name it and claim it” unbiblical form of Christianity.
Yet the more I’ve thought it through, I now believe this phrase reflects rock solid truth. We live in a fallen world intent on destroying our peace and freedom in Christ. We have people in our lives who can and will say very hurtful things to us that are simply not true. We face situations that seem insurmountable from a human perspective. It’s true that we can’t control what people say or what life brings our way, but it’s also true that we can control how we filter what comes our way.
We don’t have to receive lies into our heads! Remember, we become what we dwell on. Therefore, don’t let those hurtful words or situations bounce off the walls of your mind. Shut ‘em down by keeping your truth filter working 24/7, not just when you’re at church or at a Bible study.
As you put specific lie fighting truths into your brain, you’ll have an operational shield of faith that’s ready to shut down the lies before they get into your brain. You can then dwell on the truths (Phil. 4:8) that will set and keep you free from the sinful habits/behaviors that you’d run to if you let them in. It’s okay to not receive lies! Go ahead, make your day by shutting ‘em down in the Spirit’s power.
S“E”t Free Nowww

There’s an old adage that says, “What goes in must go out.” The other day I heard this said a bit differently, “You will become tomorrow what you dwell on today.” Scripture tells us the same thing when it says we are to focus on our thinking, rather than on our behavior when it comes to life change (Rom. 12:2). If we want to see our unChristlike character replaced with His, we must start with our thinking. What are the less then stellar thoughts we dwell on throughout our day?
Philippians 4:8 states, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on such things.” Changed thinking doesn’t mean we’re done simply by memorizing this verse.
No, this verse only gives us the starting point. The hard or uncomfortable part is to allow the Spirit to shine into our minds and expose the lies that need to be replaced with specific point at the lie true and noble thoughts that we not only need to input into our brain, but we need to dwell on throughout our day as well.
What is the excellent or praiseworthy thought that needs to go into your brain? What is the pure thought that you need to dwell on today? Your input determines your output. What you dwell on today is crucial to your freedom tomorrow.
Se“T” Free Nowww

Well another funny thing happened on a prayer walk. I was having a great time with Jesus. He was both correcting and encouraging me at the same time. As I’m enjoying my time with Him, out of now where comes a teeth-bared, hair raised, barking dog.
There was no way I was going to let this animal ruin my walk with Jesus. I was just having too a great time with my Savior to stop. Showing no fear, I kept walking while keeping my eye on the mutt. Eventually it wandered back home without attacking.
We can walk with and enjoy our Savior throughout our day. We do this by using our biblical tools to stay in His presence. Our enemy, however, will try intimidating us through his bark. He hopes we’ll run to our drug of choice through fear.
He’s only a little mutt! Stand firm in the faith, not a faith, but the faith, which are the truths we’ve put into our head to stare him down (1 Pet. 5:6-9). You can’t stop the barking. You can, however, choose to stand your ground while enjoying the presence of your awesome Savior.
Set “FREE” Nowww

Each day I take a prayer walk of about 3.5 to 4.5 miles to talk with and listen to my Jesus. I’m usually at home when I take these walks; but today, I’m in a city where I’m not too familiar with the streets. So I pulled out my walking app that uses a GPS to track my walk. Praise God for technology! Using this app allowed me to walk on streets lined with beautifully green landscaped yards instead of heavily traveled roads while getting me safely back to where I was staying in time to prepare for my next appointment.
A funny thing happened on my walk though. The GPS was wrong on one particular street. Instead of being able to keep walking, I was starring at a “grove” of trees in the middle of the street! What in the world? I soon discovered the pavement began again just on the other side of them. Whew, saved from a time wasting detour!
The Word of God is a great GPS for our daily walks. It can save us from time wasting detours (aka our drugs of choice – behaviors that draw us away from Jesus) as well as speak to us as we walk! Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.
Hopefully you’re keeping your GPS updated daily through being in the Word and listening for the truths the Spirit wants you to upload into your filter. I have to tell you from recent experience (read yesterday’s entry) I would have been lost in the time wasters of doubt and worry if I hadn’t!
As we continue to learn to trust Jesus and His Word, we’ll stay out of life’s dead end streets to stay living where the good stuff is found – His presence.
S“E”t Free Nowww