A Passive Mind

    Chapter 14  

 

Joyce Meyers defined "Passivity" as a lack of feeling, a lack of desire, general apathy, lukewarmness, and laziness. She also stated that "The devil knows that inactivity, failure to exercise the will, will spell the believers ultimate defeat." She went on to say that so many believers are emotionally ruled that an absence of feeling is all that is needed to stop them (Us) from doing what they (we) have been taught to do. They (We) praise when we feel like it, give when we feel like it, keep our word when we feel like it, and we don't FEEL like it, we DON'T.

 

I have been guilty of being ruled by my emotions that it produced an absence of feeling. If I didn't FEEL like doing something, I DIDN'T! The whole time I was just giving place to the enemy as it relates to building ministry. With that absence of feeling I was giving the enemy an EMPTY SPACE to fill my mind with all the wrong thoughts. I did not even realize I was being defeated in MY OWN MIND! I was too PASSIVE in MY OWN MIND! I should control what enters my mind and what doesn't!! I gave place to the enemy with the wrong mindset; he was WINNING without me even realizing it. As Joyce Meyers stated "An individual can cast down imaginations repeatedly but they will ALWAYS come right back until he/she learns to fill up the empty space with RIGHT thinking." I first had to learn what was considered RIGHT THINKING according to the Word of God. This is the importance in reading & knowing the Word. It was in Philippians 4:8 (NIV) where I found, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things." And since I realized that the wrong thoughts can lead to the wrong spirits, I had to go over to Galatians 5: 19-23 to learn more about my flesh & the fruit of a HOLY & PURE SPIRIT, ¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

As Joyce Meyers stated in this chapter, "Right action follows right thinking…..A passive person may want to do the right thing, but he will never do so unless he purposely activates his mind and lines it up with God's Word and will" This chapter helped me realize that I cannot give place to the enemy- (Ephesians 4:27). My behavior changes after my thoughts have changed. I cannot make room or play around with sin in my mind. I have to be in control of my thoughts at all times and not allow "passivity" to build a playground in my head. I can have the most anointed person pray for me but I must still hold my own self accountable for MY OWN THOUGHTS. Choose NOT to be PASSIVE in your OWN MIND!!! You have the VICTORY through God's Word and with HIS SPIRIT!!! YOU WIN!!!!!!!! Checkmate!!!!!!

Shawanna Vester