| Mark Edward |
A WEEKLY MINI-STUDY SERIES ON THOUGHT LIFE
So you’re having some challenges with your thought life.
Welcome to being male.
…
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 11 – Getting Rid of Guilt
– Mark Edward –
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand this:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s Thought Life weapon.
It’s about Getting Rid of Guilt!
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 10 – Stay Alert
– Mark Edward –
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s Thought Life weapon. It’s about Staying Alert!
Thought Life Week 10: Stay Alert
I Peter 5:8 & 9
NLT:
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are…
The Message (MSG):
8 & 9 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.
You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.
AMPL:
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
Image Courtesy: How to Survive a Lion Attack – From wikihow
MyTake:
Let’s face it.
The times we get trampled by temptation and our own flesh is when we have our guard down.
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 9 – Hold That Thought
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s Thought Life weapon:
Thought Life Week 9: Hold That Thought
This passage is lengthy but important.
Take your time:
II Corinthians 10:3-5
NLT:
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.
4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
The Message (MSG):
But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.
We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.
Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
CEV:
3 We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people
4 or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments
5 and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ.
MyTake:
I Love this one.
This passage explains our critical need spiritual weapons, not fleshly weapons. Your Word Arsenal, right?
Got any strongholds in your life?
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 8 – You Don’t Have to Stumble
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 8: You Don’t Have to Stumble
Jude 1:24
AMPL:
24 Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory…
The Message (MSG):
24 And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ…
CEV:
24 Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence.
(Shutterstock)
My Take:
“I just can’t help it”, you say?
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 7 – Lose the Weight
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 7: Lose the Weight
Take A Few Minutes and Let This Passage Penetrate Your Heart:
Hebrews 12:1&2
CEV (Contemporary English Version):
…So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.
2 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete…
AMPLIFIED:
…let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and
active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2 Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith…
New Living:
…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up…
MSG:
Strip down, start running—and never quit!
No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins…
MyTake:
This one speaks for itself!
But a couple of things stand out.
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 6 – There IS a Way Out
– Mark Edward –
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon:
Thought Life Week 6: There IS a way OUT
Take a moment – let this passage soak in:
I Corinthians 10:13
Weymouth New Testament:
No temptation has you in its power but such as is common to human nature; and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength.
But, when the temptation comes, He will also provide the way of escape; so that you may be able to bear it.
Check out the New Living:
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.
When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
MyTake:
I remember many times when I’ve been tempted to do something that I knew was wrong, or look at something that I had no business looking at.…
Arsenal on Thought Life Week 5 – You ARE Free
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 5: You ARE Free
Take a few minutes to let this passage get into your heart.
John 8:32-36
NLT:
32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son (that’s YOU guys) is part of the family forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
You gotta see the MSG version on this one:
31-32 Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.
Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”
33 Surprised, they said, “But we’re descendants of Abraham. We’ve never been slaves to anyone.
How can you say, ‘The truth will free you’?”
34-38 Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave.
A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will.
The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house.
So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.
MyTake:
GUYS – THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!
It’s one of my Core Teachings.
When Jesus sets you free, you are no longer a slave (to sin)…but a son.
…
Arsenal on Thought Life Week 4 – Run to Live
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 4: Run to Live
Amos 5:4, 5:6, 5:14-5
NLT:
5:4 Come back to me and live.
5:6 Come back to the Lord and live.
5:14 Do what is good, and RUN from evil, so that you may live.
Then the lord God of Heaven’s armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed.
(MSG bible says, ‘ you talk about God being your best friend – well live like it!)
5:15 Hate evil! DO what is good.
MyTake:
Ever really screw up and feel so guilty you just wanna run away from God?
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 3 – You Have a Choice
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 3: You Have a Choice
I Peter 1:13-16
NASB Bible:
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
NLT (New Living):
13 Think clearly and exercise self control…
14 don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires…
15 Be holy in everything you do.
MSG (The Message)
14 …Don’t slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing…
MyTake:
There’s some great “grace” teaching out there.
Yet, with grace, it is clear we must choose to do – and not to do- certain things, no matter how legalistic that may seem.
We have choices to make.
Daily.
For example:…
Arsenal on Thought Life Week 2 – What are You Saying?
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the Series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s weapon!
Thought Life Week 2: What Are You Saying ?
Revelation 12:10,11
NET Bible:
…(Satan) is the accuser of the brothers (and sisters). He accuses them day and night before our God. They overcame him by the word of their testimony (by what they SAID).
ESV:
They have conquered….
NLT:
They have defeated him…
MSG:
By the bold word of their witness
My Take:
This passage indicates the destructive and accusing nature of our enemy.
He tries to condemn us and belittle us.
Sometimes day and night!
He is also a liar. The chief of deception.
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Arsenal on Thought Life Week 1
| Mark Edward |
This Article is part of the easy study series: Arsenal on Thought Life – Home Page
You can begin building your own Arsenal on Thought Life with any “week” of your choice in this series.
But first, be sure you have previously read and understand this:
Why You Need Arsenals to Make It / How to Build One
If so, then here’s this week’s Thought Life weapon!
Thought Life Week 1: What Are You Thinking?
Phil 4:8
ESV: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
The Message (MSG): 8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
NLT says “admirable…excellent”
MyTake:
For one day, I challenge you to carry a pen & pad with you.
Or, use the note pad or recorder on your phone (you know, that thing permanently attached to your hand, haha).
Take note of EVERYTHING you are thinking.
How much of it is true?
How much of it is right?
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Sonship: Getting Closer to Your Father God
– Mark Edward –
Every man wants to feel closer to God.
We don’t like to admit we have feelings. We file them away. We try to ignore them.
We delete them. We pretend. Especially if they are feelings of loneliness or rejection.
“NO Problem, man. HEY! I’m cool.” But those feelings are still in our mental registry.
In my early years of raising 3 girls, I used to think only girls had feelings and, if I were raising boys, there would not be nearly so much drama.
Having since mentored many young men over the years, I see now how wrong I was.
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