Fortify Your Mind

There is a spiritual pattern I see in my life and of those I share life with that has been around for thousands of years. In 2 Chronicles 24:2 tells us that King Joash of Judah “did right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest”. We find out later that King Joash leads the people back to a life of  idolatry right after Jehoiada the priest dies, but that is another discussion altogether. You repeatedly read how when the kings of old would be in a desperate situation, they would seek the Lord as a last resort and by his grace he would respond in amazing fashion defeating their enemies or whatever the situation dictated. You read that they worshiped the Lord, made some repentance lifestyle changes and usually an oath of total allegiance. (Does this sound familiar so far?) Here is what hit my heart. Once the dust settled, the blessed kings would begin to form alliances with the kings of other nations, even marrying their daughters so that they would have peace from their enemies. In addition, they would begin a major building campaign. They would fortify their cities to secure them from invasion. Did you grasp what was going on here? Who needs God when we can stack the deck for our own benefit, safety and security?

Joash actually did something a bit different and rather commendable from some of his ancestors; instead of building up the walls of the city, he fortifies the house of the Lord by taking an offering from the people so that the skilled workers could repair all that was removed and in need of repair.  “So the workman labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they restored house of God according to its specifications and strengthened it.” v. 13

How can this affect us today? Since our bodies are the new temple of God how are we fortifying it? What are things in His temple of your life that need to be removed and what parts need to be repaired? How are we making these necessary repairs and are they according to His specifications? Who are the  "skilled workers" in your life?  Are they aware of what needs to be done in your temple and can they walk alongside you to help make the repairs?

Where do we begin this spiritual renovation?

·        Start with your mind.

Remove the areas of self-deception. (Who me, I am not self-deceived?) If that was your first thought, guess what?
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing (renovate, restored, to make better than new) of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NASB)

If you are not able to identify the areas in need of spiritual repair (We call them sin) ask God to reveal to you what needs to be done in His temple.
But as for me, LORD, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered! Jeremiah 12:3 (NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

Once it is revealed and removed, here is your next step to renewal... Read, Reflect and Remember:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)