Hinderance

This question came up as I was reading Ephesians chapter 4 this morning. While I read the entire chapter more than once, I kept going over verse 1 in my head. “I, therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,” NKJV. To walk worthy of your calling from God you must be walking with God. So, the question is what hinders you in your walk with God?
As I pondered on this question, I realized my greatest hinderance is Tressie. It’s not Satan, the world, or others it’s me. It’s my mindset, my actions, and my mouth that are my greatest hinderances. This stung a little to admit and even to type because it is easy to lay the blame on others but not so easy when it’s you.
Our minds are our internal computers. Every memory, every thought, everything we see, and everything we hear good or bad is stored in our minds. How we see ourselves is based on the data we have stored in our minds. There are numerous scriptures on the mind and the importance of keeping our minds on Jesus Christ.

• • Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
  • Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
  • I Peter 1: 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Over thinking or as my pastor calls it stinking thinking hinders us from moving forward in God. Some of us can’t move forward in our calling or gifts because of our mindset. We often let doubt, insecurity, and fear run rampant in our minds until we convince ourselves that we can’t do what God has called us to do. Our mindset is directly tied to our actions. Once we believe we can’t do something then we stop trying. Our mouths begin to speak more about what we can’t do than what God can do. What we tell ourselves can do more damage than what others tell us. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. James3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

I encourage each of us today to stop speaking negatively over ourselves. Our minds are transformed, protected, and set on things above by staying in the Word. When that “I can’t” speech starts in your mind, you fight back with the Word. Remind yourself to whom you belong. Tell yourself that you are the head and not the tail, you are above and not beneath. We are often good at encouraging others with these verses but not ourselves. The Bible says we are going to do even greater things than He. We may face trials and tribulations in this life, but we know how this story ends. We know we are VICTORIOUS in the end. Don’t forget today how special and important you are to God. Don’t downgrade or belittle yourself or your calling today. Instead stand firm in knowing that the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings is your father and He paid a high price for you because He thought you were worth it.