The Roaring Lion

Many of us easily forget just how sly and cunning Satan can be. Now, I don't want to be misunderstood to think that I am somehow making Satan out to be more powerful than God. On the contrary! I want us to remember today what the Bible says about Satan and how we ought to never allow ourselves to provide an easy entry for him to get in and reek havoc on our lives.

Looking at the scriptures we can read an easy comprehensible illustration of one way that he looks to attack.  

1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Now just for a second let's think about a lion. Lion's are beautiful, large, intimidating ferocious creatures. They are REALLY huge! If you've ever had the opportunity to visit your local zoo and have one fall asleep next to the observation glass, you realize how massive these animals are. Especially the male lions! 

So in contrast, the Bible says that Satan is like a roaring lion that prowls around looking for someone to devour. Next, let's look at two words here prowl and devour. According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary,  the words prowl means, to move about or wander stealthily. Devour - to eat up greedily or ravenously. to seize upon and destroy, or appropriate greedily or wantonly; to waste; to annihilate. to prey upon; as, to be devoured by fear. to take in eagerly by the senses or the mind. 

Now understanding some of the words in the verse let us read it once again. 

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5:8

Imagine now that you are getting ready to head out the door to the store and you are all in a rush grabbing bags, kids, keys etc and as you swing open the front door there standing in your yard looking at you with eyes that could pierce through steel is a lion just waiting. I don't know about you but, I would move so fast to close the door and get back inside that the wind would have been shocked at my speed!

This is how we ought to view Satan. He sits there at the doors of our hearts waiting for the moment when the shields come down and the protection is turned off. He wants nothing more than to destroy every aspect of our being and he will do it any way that he can. We would be naive to think that the devil is not clever. He is not all-powerful by any means, but, that doesn't mean he isn't smart. It's sad to say but, Satan probably knows scripture better than some of us! That's why he is able to twist it in so many different directions. 

My hope would be that this would encourage you all to guard your hearts and your minds at all times. Be aware of what Peter tells us, he is prowling and waiting for any signs of a weak un-attentive person to come along so that he can destroy them. He hates us with everything he is, and with a hate that strong, its alarming to think of the damage that could be done by carelessness on our part of not guarding ourselves.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God." - Ephesians 6:12-17

 

The Lone Soldier

After a day completely dedicated to giving thanks and spending time with those that you love, I awoke today with a heavy heart...

When we read throughout the NT we find several instances where Paul talks about suffering and how it is something that if we are TRUE believers we will face at some point or another in our lives. Several examples of these verses are:

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." - Romans 8:18

"But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings for which we also suffer." - 2 Corinthians 1:6

"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." - Philippians 4:12

"This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering." - 2 Thessalonians 1:5

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God," - 2 Timothy 1:8

These are just a few examples in scripture where suffering is referenced. I find it fascinating that the Bible over and over again encourages we as believers to endure, rejoice, hold steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord. We look at the examples of Paul and Silas in prison. These men where unjustly bound in prison and through their circumstances were able to lift their voices in praise to God thanking Him for His goodness and rejoiced.

I believe that when I say my heart is weary its not because I wish myself out of my own sufferings. My heart is weary for those that I see are running or choosing to ignore the promptings of God. We can look in our culture, really right out our front door and see the believers who have become "robots" to their society emulating the things of this world and not joyfully enduring the sufferings of living a Christ centered, abundant Christian life.

These last few weeks the Lord has been teaching me how important the duty of being His lone soldier is. It is a duty that requires prayer, faith, endurance, strength, dignity, meekness, boldness, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
In the world's eyes its a demeaning and somewhat embarrassing duty and position to uphold. But when I look at His Word, and read how important it is to fight for Him and on His side and fulfilling it can be to endure for and with the sufferings of Christ, I am humbled that He would choose me to be a soldier in His army. Fighting on His side, allowing me to be a noble woman for His Kingdom and righteousness.

I would encourage you who come across this post, to look at our examples in scripture and those throughout Christian history that have faithfully endured and walked the life of a lone soldier knowing and understanding what it truly means to be a child of THE KING!

"For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. Nor height, nor depths nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:37-39

Who shall I say sent me? I Am that I Am...

My children have fallen in love with one of the most known stories in the Bible, that of Moses. Often times I hear them debating back and forth who will be Moses and who will be Pharaoh!
Having become a mommy almost 4 years ago, I've developed a greater understanding of what Jesus meant when He talked about coming to believe with a faith like that of a little child. When you're child is standing on a table or something of that nature and you tell them to jump off, that you will catch them, in most cases they will not even hesitate for a second. They believe you when you say that you are going to catch them. And why shouldn't they? You are their parent, right? You do look out for their best interests, right? So why is it that when we read throughout the scriptures where promises are made like, "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory." we still second guess Him?
What difference would it make if we trusted INSTANTLY when our heavenly Father leads in one direction or another. When it becomes so blatantly obvious that He is directing this way and/or that. What impact would be seen in our spiritual lives if we came to Him with the faith of a child at all times?

In parenting, you learn so much about yourself that you never in all your life realized! You develop a greater understanding of what mercy, grace, love etc really are. You begin to experience true sacrifice and what it means to become totally self-less. In the same way that one would spurn their child in the right direction, our Father God does the same through the Holy Spirit. Maybe its time that we stop debating or attempting to manipulate our way out of a situation, like Moses tried to do, and trust that the Lord is all knowing in what He's wanting from us. Resting assured that every promise and word given in the Bible will ring true. Remember what God told Moses when he asked, "Whom shall I say sent me?"
"I Am that I Am"

Celebrating this Valentines? A new twist perhaps???

Valentines Day in America, can any and all businesses say, "CHA-CHING!!!"

We are a culture that is soo caught up in this love affair with, well, LOVE! It's all about how many dozens of roses, how big the "gamble chocolate" case is, how mushy gushy the cards can be. But you know what I find completely mind blowing, for most out there, the One who is Love (1 John 4:8) usually is not even recognized...

After talking with my husband we decided that Valentines Day for our family was going to be an extra special day for Jesus. We are going to spend the entire day talking about the things He's done for us. His death on the cross, how He takes care of us, for all of His creation, His favor, His mercy and on and on and on! Isn't it important that we as Christians put the recognition and emphasis where it is due? That it is because of Him you have your spouse and children, home, job etc. Because He loved us is why________(fill in the blank).

So another challenge I give is to make this Valentine's Day one that is special and meant to show the utmost of your love to and for Him. Let God be your Valentine and remind yourself in His word just how special He thinks you are!!!

PSALM 139:12-14
"Even the darkness is not dark to You,
and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
wonderful are Your works,
and my soul knows it very well."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NASB)



This evening we had our family devotions and this was the leading passage. Upon reading it I was reminded of how quickly we get caught up in life and how sometimes our efforts in our relationship with God begin to become routine and mundane.
Have you ever caught yourself while praying, suddenly realizing that you're mouthing the right words and praying the right way but, it is simply that, your heart is not in it. There's just no depth in what your talking to the Savior about.
We need to always make sure that we are running this race with the end in sight. That our reward is not what we receive on earth, it is the ultimate prize of the opportunity of spending eternity in heaven with the One that truly matters. Run with the desire of knowing that your efforts will lead you to hear the Father say...
"Well done, My good and faithful servant."

Truly Trusting Him

Trust, something that I think the majority of people struggle with. Not only on a human level but on a spiritual level too. We waiver to and fro convincing ourselves that we've "let go and let God". But too often, we look down and we've still got the situation/circumstance firm within our grasp. Why? Why is it so hard to trust? Why is it so hard to leave it all in the hands of the One who created heaven and earth? The One who named each and every star in the sky, and thought it important know the exact number of hairs on our head. A God who says over and over again in His Word that even if it had just been me, He still would have died. Why, do we struggle to trust Someone who is in total and complete control?

There are times when I find myself completely caught up in a situation or circumstance and I begin to lose sight of things. Usually my husband reminds me that everything in this life that we get so worked up about, in the end, really means nothing. This isn't the life that we're living for, its the one that has yet to come that is truly meaningful. But again, that trust comes in, trusting that everything that God has said in His Word rings true. That there is a life which is to come that is eternal. A life that is without the hardships and stresses that we so often experience. A life completely thriving through Him. Something hard to comprehend, absolutely, but not impossible. Especially if you believe that the Bible is God's infallible Word.

So how do we function in accordance with God's Word as we walk through this life? PERSPECTIVE is the key to the whole thing. Maintaining the proper perspective about life will enable you to live a joyful and fruitful life. What is the proper perspective? I think sometimes we begin to take for granted things in this life that are truly gifts from God. Most often we think of our children, as well, our children. But, they are really a gift from God. Beings put into our trust and care to nurture and rear in the things of the Lord. A figure in the Bible that truly understood this perspective was Hannah, the mother of Samuel. After praying and seeking the Lord in earnest she was given the gift the she had been praying for. In return she gave him (Samuel) back to the Lord. *1 Samuel 1:11*
How would our parenting change if we had this perspective of our children as gifts from the Lord, knowing full well that they are "on loan" from Him?

This is one example of proper perspective which ultimately affects our trust in/on Him. Would you say that you TRULY are trusting Him at all times, in all things, always?

'the SHACK' ~ clarity or heresy?

'The Shack' written by Paul Young 2007

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine and my husband asked if we would read this book and give our honest opinions. I had heard bits and pieces here and there of the content of the book but really had no idea what it was about. I knew there was a shack involved however! (=
We live in a society that is largely influenced by experiences. Common questions are asked like, "How did it make you feel?", "What did you get out of it?", "What was your interpretation of what was being said?". We all want to know what the other is thinking, I mean lets be honest, FACEBOOK, we write little blurps about where we are, what we're eating etc etc. Even now, I'm writing on a blog and will soon be submitting it out on to the World Wide Web for any and all to read. We want to know anything and everything that we can about one another!

Starting this book I had no preconceived notions about anything. I was reading to provide my friend with a well thought out clear opinion. the first few chapters were definitely gut wrenching, being a parent I was able to look at it through my parental eyes. However, when the book entered into the "shack experience" things began to get somewhat "hairy" for me...

By the time you reach chapter 8 a multitude of things have occurred. First, we've been introduced to the three main "god-like" characters: Papa (a large Africa-American woman; God), Jesus (a simple 'workman'; Indian like in appearance) and then Sarayu (a small Asian looking woman that has a glow-like appearance; Holy Spirit). My first shock was the comparison between God shown as a woman. I understand that the writer might have been trying to show that we are the ones that put limits on God by "genderizing" him, still, I found it somewhat disrespectful to make this comparison. Not only that, the Bible continually refers to God in the 'He' tense. The male reference is the ONLY one used when referring to Him throughout the scriptures. I feel that there could have been a more tactful way to do this. So on page 125 we are in the middle of a meal being had by all three God characters along with Mack (the one having the experience). There's some small talk going on and then discussions about who/what these three are and their relationship to one another and their functions. Mack proceeds to ask the question,
"Who is the one in charge or the boss?"
All three are somewhat shocked by the question but he is responded to by Sarayu (Holy Spirit) with the following,
"Mackenzie, we have no concept of final authority among us, only unity. We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command or 'great chain of being', as your ancestors termed it. What you're seeing here is a relationship without any overlay of power. We don't need power over the other because we are always looking out for the best. Heirarchy would make no sense among us. Actually, this is your problem, not ours." 1 Corinthians 15:28 says, "When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all." There are several areas throughout the Bible where references are made to he submission of the Son to the Father. John 6:38-39 says, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day." Young gets this entirely wrong. The relationship of the Trinity is to be an example to us of how we are to submit not only to God but also to any authority(ies) that He so chooses to put over us.
The Bible states in Matthew 24:36
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."
That makes clear that there is a sort of distinction or "chain of command" amongst the Godhead. Not to make any one less powerful than the other. Just that there are things that God the Father knows that God the Son does not.

Page 125 makes another statement:
Sarayu says, "We carefully respect your choices, so we work within your systems even while we seek to free you from them...Creation has been taken down a very different path than we desired..."
Its as though the writer is stripping God(Godhead) of any and all power. As if God needs to make Himself fit into our way(s) of doing things. He went to, I would say, unthinkable links to reference God as a woman so as not to "put Him in our box" but yet makes statements like, "we work within your systems" and "creation has gone down a different path than they desired". I firmly believe that God is all powerful and all knowing, there is nothing that happens, happened or will happen that He is not 100% aware of. He is God and in total control.

Page 120 there are references to sin.
Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities (sin) have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
The character "Papa" says, "I don't need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring from the inside. It's not my purpose to punish; it's my joy to cure it!" God cannot have anything to do with sin. Sin and God are like water and oil, they cannot mix within one another. Just like you shape and mold a child by punishing them when they do wrong, God does the same with His children. He doesn't stand idly by and say nothing. Sometimes His discipline hurts more than the sin, but He does it because He loves us.

Page 182: Jesus says,
"Those who love me come from every stream that exists. They are Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions." Mack then asks for clarification, "Does that mean...that all roads will lead to you?" "Not at all", smiles Jesus, "Most roads don't lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you."
This is completely against what scripture teaches! Matthew 7:13-14 says,
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
These verses say nothing about God seeking us out along these pathways. We have the Bible to be our direction and guidebook. In no way does God throw us out against the wind and say, "Okay, have at it!" On the contrary, He shows us the paths that will lead us to Him. The Bible says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)" We have everything we need to know about how to live, think and be all recorded for us in the Bible. It's not a game of cat and mouse between us and God as we walk/travel/journey through this life.
Young also states through the characters that Jesus is simply the "BEST" way to get to know Papa (GOD) not like what the Bible says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."
He didn't say Jesus was the ONLY way, just the BEST. There is just not a clear understanding of what the gospel is, according to the Bible. Young depicts sin as something that God doesn't punish, and also, that there might be another way to God other than Jesus. Two things that the Bible is VERY clear on!

The Trinity or Godhead. A very complex idea of the whos and what of God. We can understand the Trinity as far as the Bible gives us information on it. We know that all three are God, but yet all three are One. The most understandable example I've heard is this.
An egg has 3 equal parts. The shell, the white, the yoke. All three different, but all three make up the 1 egg. The trinity functions in the same manner. There is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All three distinctly different yet all three are the 1 true God. The Bible makes it clear that we are not to put God into any type of image form, the Creator cannot become the creation. Putting God in an image form would be committing the sin of idolatry. Romans 1:22-23 states, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." The Apostle Paul says that the wrath of God is poured out on any who would do such a thing. So how can we condone what Young has done to God through his book?

Lastly, throughout the Bible when we encounter those that were given the gift of being able to see God there are very different reactions than that of Mack. Isaiah the prophet reacted by saying, "Woe is me! A man of unclean lips." He declared a curse on himself for being a man whose lips had uttered unclean words. Moses fell on his face when God appeared to him in the burning bush. However, when we look to the reaction that Young depicts Mack to have had, is vastly different. Mack uses foul language such as damn and SOB. He also reacts to God out of anger where Papa shows sadness and it in turn makes Him (Her) cry. Obviously this man was not in the presence of the One true God, but rather, a peer. The God portrayed in the Shack is NOT the God described in the Bible.

In conclusion, this is a book that is not meant to teach one the truths of the Bible or even God. There are too many errors that can only confuse one about the truth(s) of God. At the end of the book there was the point of forgiveness that was made which I do believe more need to understand. Forgiveness is something that we as Christians must exercise no matter the circumstance (death, tragedy etc) however, I would not recommend this publication to one needing to grasp that understanding. I would turn them to the book of Job in the Bible. A book full of tragedy, despair, hurt and anger yet the correct responses, teaching and reactions are given throughout. My righteous anger towards 'the Shack' spawns from the fact that there are millions of these books out and probably millions more set to be printed. The God in this book is not the God of the Bible and definitely not the God I call Lord. It can mislead a non-christian as much as it can mislead a Christian. I felt it necessary to defend the true God against Young's depiction of God.

1 John 4:1
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Use wisdom and discernment in all things concerning Him...

God's Silence

Have you ever felt that after you prayed there was this sort of "null and void" feeling. Like maybe everything you just poured out of your heart fell like empty words right to the floor?

In the book of Psalm 13:1,2 we read about a similar experience that King David had...

"How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take council in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day?..."
It is evident that David is experiencing extreme anguish in his spirit, he is broken and torn by this feeling of "abandonment".

Sometimes as Christians we get this idea that when we get a silent response from the Lord that maybe we've done something wrong or have un-confessed sins. This may be the case but, most likely the issue is simply that the silence is God's answer at that time.
We live in a world that is constantly going going going. We get our food to go, and we get irritated if we have to wait!! We get angry if we have to wait in traffic. We get annoyed standing in line to use a restroom, "hello! doesn't everyone know that I need to use the bathroom?" Uh, HELLO, don't you realize that there ARE other people on the planet other than yourself? So, in making our prayers made known to God, we find ourselves once again in that impatient state.
For myself and in my own experiences when I find my answer to be silence, there is usually a lesson coming immediately following. I believe that when God gives this answer of temporary silence its then that He's wanting to see if we are really trusting Him like we're saying we are regarding our prayer(s) or maybe He's just wanting to see if your willing to accept that answer and wait until He sees fit to give you a more clearly defined answer, which in all honesty could be a simple "yes" or "no".

Hebrews 13:5 gives us this promise as Christians. A promise that should always bring comfort in those "temporary silence" moments...

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'NEVER will I leave you; NEVER will I forsake you.'" (emphasis mine)
No matter how "alone" we may feel in that silence you don't stop praying, you don't stop communicating with the Lord, you don't stop growing. You move forward and wait until His complete answer is made known. Like the scripture says, "be content with what you have" and wait patiently in the silence...

What are Thought Patterns? (Changing your Thought Patterns *PART 1 ((article by: George Sanchez of the Navigator))

Taking a breather from the Proverbs 31 verse by verse discussion. Let's look at some words by a gentleman pertaining to our thoughts/perspective...

CHANGING YOUR THOUGHT PATTERNS

How can I stop having lustful thoughts? How can I have victory over my critical, negative, pessimistic thinking? How can I keep from feeling angry, jealous, guilty, depressed or impatient? How can I keep my thoughts pure?

If you are asking any of these questions, you are basically asking the question, "How can I change? How can I control my thoughts and develop new attitudes?"

Experiences we have had, including our childhood ones, make impressions on us. These experiences cause us to respond in certain ways to situations we face later in life. This is a common pattern for all of us. One person never experienced an outward display of affection from his father, and now struggles with a deep need for that kind of expression. Another was made to feel he could never do anything properly, so today he battles with a sense of uncertainty and inferiority. Another was deeply hurt by someone to whom hr reached out, and now finds it difficult to trust anyone. But there are also positive experiences. Many people experienced love, acceptance, support, and encouragement as children. They are able, as life develops, to relate more easily to people and circumstances.

Where the patterns are negative and destructive, the person needs change so he can find release and experience a new freedom, freedom that comes from knowing the truth and how to apply it. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (JOHN 8:32). Where the patterns have been positive and affirming, they can be developed and reinforced by utilization and specific, planned action.

The important fact to recognize is that our thought patterns and habits can be changed constructively and we can experience release from the reactions and responses that continually defeat us.

Let's look at a typical pattern of thinking in this type of situation. First, we recognize that there is a need to change an attitude, whatever the attitude may be. Maybe it's an attitude toward an individual or an attitude toward a situation. In order to change his attitude, the average Christian thinks that just praying about it will hopefully change his attitude.

We have been instructed that the way to change is through means of prayer. After we pray, somehow something is supposed to happen and our attitudes change. We may not say it that way, but there is the implication that some mystical process takes place and attitudes change when a person reads the Bible or prays.

 We recognize that there is a certain truth to that concept. The Bible says it, so we know that there has to be truth in it. " How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy Word" ( PSALM 119:9). God is the only One who can bring about real change in our thought patterns. We must always keep that in mind!

However, people repeatedly struggle in vain for results in this pattern - they pray and ask for help but nothing happens. No change of attitude takes place. They continue to struggle with the same basic conflicts. When this happens, a pattern of defeat begins.

Of course, the enemy (satan) takes advantage at this point and begins accusing, " You see, there must be something else wrong or this attitude would change." So people look deeper, pray harder, spend longer periods of time with the Lord, and still many of these attitudes don't change. This is a real issue which we are going to encounter continually in our relationships with people.

In considering this we want to be very careful to avoid any idea of a so-called "do-it-yourself" Christianity. We do not make the changes in our lives. Only God has the power to make deep, inner changes. We want to emphasize that, so that there is no misunderstanding.

On the basis of Proverbs 4:23, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life," and other Scripture, we encourage people to saturate their hearts - their minds basically - with the Word of God. We believe that the more saturation takes place, the more people's conduct and way of thinking are going to be affected. Again, this is a true concept. But to experience change, we must put into practice the truths with which we are saturating our minds.

In order to begin to understand how this applies to the concept of changing our thought patterns, let's examine one little phrase from Paul, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (ROMANS 12:2). Every one of us must seek to answer the all-important and practical question, " How do I renew my mind?"