Over the years, I have heard many good teachings based on the words of Jesus above when He says "take no thought." This simple but powerful principle has impacted my life in many ways. One example of this is when my doctor told me that I had to stop drinking coffee. I was only drinking a cup or two a day, but even that became too much for my heart. I tried drinking the decaffeinated version, but when I started having stomach problems, my doctor said that I had to quit drinking that, too. To say that I was miserable would be a gross understatement. But more than 20 years later, I am totally free from an overwhelming desire for coffee. What helps me most even today is to "take no thought" of drinking it. In other words, I don't even let the thought of me drinking coffee enter my mind. My husband, Joe, brews it and drinks it several times a day, so I smell it almost constantly in our home. But I am never tempted to drink it myself because I "take no thought" of doing that. It's the same with smoking cigarettes. I was able to quit this habit many years ago once I learned the art of not allowing it to enter my mind. In cases like these, where addictions are involved, it does no good to say, "Don't dwell on that." No, because by the time you have decided not to "dwell" on something, you have already allowed that thought to enter your mind. And that makes it a lot harder to resist what you are trying to resist!

Scripture says: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 MEV) If we want to gain the victory over the sins, bondages, and evil addictions that our God wants to deliver us from, we are going to have to win the battle in our minds first. When a tempting thought comes our way, casting it down with lightning speed at the threshold of our minds is our best hope. Why? Because once we entertain that thought for even a split second, it is more likely to take hold in our minds, and lead us to act upon it. I encourage you to start doing this in your areas of need, and ask the Lord to show you how. Don't believe the devil's lies that you are doomed to stay in bondage. That is a lie from the pit of hell. You were born again in Christ so that you could live in freedom right here and right now. Go to God today and tell Him that you want to be free. "For you have been called to live in freedom!" (Galatians 5:13 NLT)

Prayer: Lord, I want to live a life of freedom in Christ, and I believe that this is Your will for me, too. Teach me how to "take no thought" that would put me or keep me in bondage to sin or unhealthy habits. Remind me of Your promise which says that I "have the mind of Christ and do hold the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart." (1 Corinthians 2:16 AMPC) Thank You that as I cast down every disobedient thought, I will walk in the freedom that You bought for me on Calvary!