Transformed from the inside out

Paul writes in Philippians 4, [6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

"How do you deal with situations in life where you're overwhelmed? Work, health, finances, family. That verse is so powerful," says Preacher David Reid. "What it says there is in any situation you find yourself in, you can pray about it. You can let your request be known unto God.

"God hears your problem, 'I can't handle it; I don't know what to do with it,' and you let your request be known with thanksgiving. The reason you do it with thanksgiving is this--let me paint you a scenario:

"Let's say that today you lose your job, you go bankrupt, you're diagnosed with an incurable disease and you're imprisoned for your faith. Guess what? No one wants that; no one's happy about that.

"In the scheme of eternity does it make any difference? It really doesn't. I mean, after the first 10,000 years in heaven are you going to be bent out of shape about the flat tire you have? You're not going to care.

"The reason why we can pray with thanksgiving is Ephesians 1:3: [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

"In other words, you're complete in Christ. You have the forgiveness of sins. You're accepted in the Beloved. You're loved with an everlasting love. 

"If you read Romans through Philemon and just make a list of the things God's done for you in Jesus Christ, then what are you upset about? There's lots of earthly things that could bother you but they just don't mean anything! You know the end of the story! You WIN!

"Philippians 4:7: [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"When it says it 'passeth all understanding,' that means it's beyond my ability to comprehend. It surpasses all understanding. It's greater than anything you can reason out.

"Prayer is the pressure-relief valve of my life: 'Here's the problem, Father, I'm giving it to you; I pray that you would resolve this. Even if you don't, it doesn't change who I am in Christ. It doesn't change any of the eternal truths you've stated about the Body of Christ in your Word. It will be okay either way.'

"What happens when, as a child, you have a problem that's too big for you? You go to Dad. 'Dad, I need help with this.' Well, in this situation you have a Dad who is perfect, who has all knowledge. He may not handle it the way we would like, but listen, we're not always right about what we want anyway!

"Verse 8: [8] Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

"You know what that reminds me to be focused on? God's stance right there.

*****

"What if you decided the real deficit in your life was you didn't watch enough TV news? You think, "What all that good information is going to do is enrich my soul and bring me peace and contentment.' Is that true?

"The earth is cursed by sin. It's inhabited by sinful people. So the more time you spend learning about the earth, guess what you're going to find? Not joy and peace. You're just going to learn about more sinful activity.

"Instead, if you reflect upon the positive things of God's Word; if we instead spent the time learning about God's Word we might learn something that's eternal. So the way to get your thoughts right is that way. There's no substitute; there's nothing else that works the same way.

"II Corinthians 10: [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

"What we need to do is take every thought and bring it into captivity to Christ.

"Romans 12: [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

"Notice it does not say, 'Polish the outside and make it look nice.' What it says is you're transformed from the inside out. What we need to do on a daily basis is renew our mind in God's Word and it will work from the inside out.

"Proverbs 16:3 is a fascinating principle. It says, [3] Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

"One way to get your thoughts right is to just get busy doing things for the Lord. God has made every one of us an ambassador in Jesus Christ and we have a ministry because there are things He would have us to do.

"The best way to quit feeling sorry for yourself is to go serve someone else. That's contrary to our flesh because our flesh is arrogant and prideful, but the secret to happiness is about being others-focused. It's about finding the work God would have you to do."

(new article tomorrow)