HOMESCHOOLED
In the Classroom with God
July 12th, 2023
See, I’ve been in the classroom lately. With God. And while the lessons have been extremely difficult, excruciatingly painful, exhaustingly real, they also are the purpose of a patient Teacher’s Lesson Plan—extravagantly designed for my good and ultimately His use. And He is (home)schooling me so I may know that He has my best interests strategically in sync with the beat of His heart.
TODAY’S LESSON: #whatCaptivatesU?
I don’t know about you, but I feel betrayed. Every day. I have a sneaky little frenemy that I couldn’t shake if I tried. In fact, I already learned that there were certain relationships I had to let go of for me to be obedient to the call Jesus had on my life. But this other matter would be impossible to release.
Some friends I couldn’t associate with anymore because they hung out in dark places. The kind of places where the Spirit of Light Who had begun to permeate through me wanted to go in to dispel the darkness, but not to become a part of like I had been for so long.
Then, some of my dearest relationships went silent also. They didn’t believe in, nor were they supportive of, what I knew I heard the Lord speak over me concerning His purpose for my future. Suddenly, the landscape of people in my life I had always known looked vastly different. In fact, it didn’t resemble anything at all like what I had been accustomed to. It is hard, painful, devastating, when connections you think will see you through the entirety of life abruptly vanish. But I also learned there are certain people meant only for certain legs of our journey through life. Then there are some journeys that aren’t meant to be walked with any one other than Jesus by our side. And the accompaniment of who He allows to walk with you and me grows rather small.
So, with relationships ending, and thus the cacophony of voices in my ear, I eventually realized I had a new frenemy who was always present, and always yakking incessantly. Our thoughts speak as loudly or as softly as we allow them to, and they can often be betrayers of us. Because of this, we must lasso all those niggling thoughts into submission; otherwise, the white noise from our minds can be filled with endless chatter. We can even often be led astray. The NKJV version of 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, ‘…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.’ The Message version says it like this: (2 Corinthians 10:3-5), ‘The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair; 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.’
It only takes a second for my thoughts to stray. I can be having a positive day, everything going well, being productive, feeling successful, and a tiny black momentary concern can sweep in like a fast-moving storm and cloud everything that was moments ago sunny and bright. Those same notions can creep in even in the middle of the night, and before I know it, there’s a monster hiding beneath my bed and another three or four concealed in my closet. Theories become catastrophic enemies gunning to take all my hard work and progress hostage, holding me and my endeavors for a ransom that is unattainable. People I love are dying; they are turning against me; the world is ending; wild animals are outside my door, just waiting to consume me; the intimidations and horrors my imaginations can cook up are caustic for my soul and gastric on my internal organs. And all of it begins with a little thought. Like a tiny ember, when fanned, can spread into a gigantic forest fire very quickly, so can a tiny seed of doubt or shame metastasize into an overgrown field of fear and guilt.
So, what can we do with these nasty little contemplations, you ask? How do we apprehend the deceptive thoughts that plague us and cause much grief and self-doubt? Is it possible to arrest the ideas and notions and images unhealthy for our souls, our minds, our hearts, and hold them captive instead of them holding us captive?
I believe with Jesus we absolutely can! What I have been practicing myself, that I am finding is quite effective, is as soon as I realize I have a thought spiraling out of control, I simply begin to pray. It works! Just a few simple words spoken in earnest and sincerity to Jesus snatches all the fire out of the midst of the negativity which comes with bitter or fearful or anxious or ugly thought processes. For me, whispering “Jesus”, declaring “Jesus”, crying out “Jesus!”, works miracles and quashes all the drama. It lets the air out of all the inflated thinking patterns I might have fallen into had I not cried out to Jesus for help. It is truly amazing that one word—“Jesus!”—can change the trajectory of every foothold and every obstacle ahead of me on my path every moment of every day.
Let me share one of my daily prayers:
Lord, fix my focus on Your face. Keep my heart upon its knees. Help my feet be on Your path and Yours alone. In Your Name. Amen
Isaiah 26:3, ‘You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.’ (NKJV)
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT:
Name somethings that might cause you to feel as if you are held captive by something or someone? ___________________________________________________________________________________.
What thoughts do you wrestle with that you can entrust to Jesus today? ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________.
‘I hear the Lord saying, “I will stay close to you, instructing you and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with My eyes as your guide. So, don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make Me tug you and pull you along. Just come with Me!”’ (Psalm 32:8-9, TPT)
