DAY #20: Count the Cost, Part One | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”

Thursday, June 20, 2024 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”

DAY #20: Count the Cost, Part One

Devotional reading from “Winning the Battle for Your Mind,” Chapter Nine ~ Winning the Battle

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Today’s Lesson

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Our Lord Jesus taught us that no one should go to war until he has first counted the cost. Every war carries a high price—including the battle for our minds. We have the promise that when we commit our works to God, our thoughts will be established. We must be willing to take action, or pay the cost, in some important areas including:

1. The price of making (or taking) a decision.

Fear of making a mistake paralyzes many people in taking a decision. The key is to pray and meditate on your options until you sense a deep “knowing” on the inside that will not go away. There is always a great peace that accompanies the will of God. While you may be somewhat anxious about your decision, at a deeper level of your being, there will be a sense of abiding peace.

2. The price of committing to a schedule for action.

Talking about doing something and doing it are two different things. Setting a time and carrying out an action moves one out of the fuzzy area of having dreams and discussion into the practical area of making it happen. Ephesians 5:15 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Every successful, productive person has at least one thing in common, they have some form of personal time/task management tool.

3. The price of having a plan.

Written plans, purpose statements and strategies are another discipline that positively shapes our minds. The old saying is true, “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” David told his son Solomon that his plans for the temple were of the Spirit (1 Chronicles. 28:12). This was important for many reasons including the fact that David showed his son how to become totally focused on the purpose of God.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What works do you need to commit to the Lord? Are these works worthy of God's plan or only something “nice?”
2. What decisions do you need to “take?”
3. What plans do you need to put in writing?

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):

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“Winning the Battle for Your Mind”