I never dreamed when I started working through Joyce’s book several months ago that I would still be plugging away in the month of November!
But here we are on Wednesday, November 3rd, diving into the last two chapters on negative conditions of the mind. I thought it might be good to go back and review all of the chapters we have studied so far in this journey.
Part One: The Importance of the Mind
Chapter One: The Mind is the Battlefield
Chapter Two: A Vital Necessity
Chapter Three: Don’t Give Up!
Chapter Four: Little by Little
Chapter FIve: Be Positive
Chapter Six: Mind-Binding Spirits
Chapter Seven: Think About What You Are Thinking About
Part Two: The Conditions of the Mind
Chapter Eight: When is My Mind Normal?
Chapter Nine: A Wandering, Wondering Mind
Chapter Ten: A Confused Mind
Chapter Eleven: A Doubtful and Unbelieving Mind
Chapter Twelve: An Anxious and Worried Mind
Chapter Thirteen: A Judgmental, Critical, and Suspicious Mind
Chapter Fourteen: A Passive Mind
In Chapter Thirteen, Joyce makes it very clear that as we go through our daily lives we need to be focused on our own struggles, our own weakness, our own sins…….not those of the people around us. She shares many verses that stress that importance of not judging, about not having too high an opinion of ourselves, and about helping to carry the burden of those around us.
She reminds us that the Bible clearly says that we will reap what we sow, and then she applies this to our mind. If we sow negative, judgmental thoughts, we will reap those kinds of behaviors from people around us.
Ultimately, as Christians, we are called to love one another. We are also called to guard our hearts and to believe the best in every person.
She ends this chapter with Proverbs 16:23,24
The mind of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning and persuasiveness to his lips. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.
Chapter Fourteen deals with being passive. She brings out the message of Ephesians 4:27 which says, Neither give place to the devil, and then makes this statement.
EMPTY SPACE IS A PLACE!
Basically, her point in this chapter is this:
When we sit back and do not fill our minds with “good” things and right thinking, then we are giving the devil the opportunity to fill up that empty space with bad things and wrong thinking.
God loves us passionately.
Jesus ministered passionately.
We are called to live passionate lives not lives of passivity.
Joyce ends the chapter by saying we must live a life that demonstrates the power of the resurrection….having a backbone not a wishbone.
Don’t wish things we’re different.
Make different choices and then live a different, active, positive life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
For today, I am convicted and inspired.
I pray that your day is full of positive thinking and opportunities to love on those around you.
God bless you all!
In December of 2007 as our youngest son, Nick, was fighting brain cancer, I began to blog. Writing provided a way for me to release all of my questions, fears, and doubts. It also allowed me to share the ups and downs of Nick's journey with people who were praying for him all over the world. When Nick went Home in November of 2008, my blog became my way of searching for God in the midst of my deep heartache. My heart was broken and grief brought to the surface every emotion imaginable. Being able to release those emotions through my writing brought a sense of purpose to my pain. Having already walked the road of grief in 1992 when we lost our daughter to SIDS, I knew I needed a way to keep from falling into a pit of depression and despair. I had walked close to the edge of a bottomless pit when we lost our daughter,and I knew I couldn't let myself get that close to the edge again. This blog has been and continues to be my tiny corner of the world where I can share My Heart as I journey through God's Word.......thus the name........ My Heart His Words. Thank you for taking time to share life with me. If we do not meet while here on earth, I look forward to hearing all about your life when we reach our final destiny.........Heaven! Email me anytime at 
