A few weeks ago, I was sent a sermon by T.D. Jakes by a friend. We had a great conversation the night before about our lives and the road God has placed us on. We spoke of choices we had made and how we realized those choices have affected many different aspects of our lives. Personal, Professional and Spiritual aspects were all involved, and it seemed like God was pursuing both of us as we talked about where we were that day. My friend told me he wanted me to hear this sermon by T.D. Jakes because it is exactly what we are talking about. Now, I have heard of T.D. Jakes before, but I have never really listened to him. I always thought he was with the prosperity gospel trend, but wow was I wrong, and this was one of the most impactful sermons I have ever heard. I am sure I am saying that because it feels like the sermon was just for me.
He starts off in a powerful voice and says exactly what the title above says ” There is NOTHING as powerful as a changed mind!” The examples he used and the scripture he grabbed just continued to prove extensively that it was time to stop making excuses. Along this same timeline I started reading and listening to a pastor name John Bevere. He has taught me a lot about my relationship with the Holy Spirit and the power and beauty of that relationship that I have totally been missing out on. Here I am having been a Christian for over 20 years and knowing what needed to be done but because I was selfish, I used that as an excuse to continue to live in a battle that I knew I was losing. I think when Pastor Bevere makes the connection of the realness and person of the Holy Spirit that is in us was when it home, finally. To think of the amount of times I have grieved the Holy Spirit by choosing sin. The times that I knew I had a way out but because I was led by my feelings, I justified my sin!! I was justified the moment I accepted Christ, but because I don’t see him makes it easier to make excuses for why I stumble.
I no longer want to stumble and its going a month now that I have spent getting to know the Holy Spirit every day. I am praying for the powerful change of mind and that it would flow through all parts of my life. That Christ would shine through me to the people that cross my path and that I would able to share that with them. Allowing your mind to be renewed means no more excuses!! It doesn’t mean temptation won’t come but I will tell you that you will learn that temptation can be intense and can be a thought that seems so powerful. However, with in the power of a changed mind I take that thought captive and make it obedient to Jesus. He will inspect it for me and place it where the east meets west so that I do not have to deal with it anymore. When your relationship with the Holy Spirit is real and you understand that you take him with you into your sin you will feel differently about the choices you make.
My friends my prayer for you is that you would choose to be different and not give into the old excuses. I have learned that you can be a Christian and not live in victory. All of who we are can be changed by accepting Jesus but like the Jews we can stay walking around for 40 years in what should have taken 11 days!! There is NOTHING as powerful as a changed mind!!!
One Love, One King, All Christ!
