Nail It To The Cross & Get Steppin'

''Let it die. Let it die! Let it shrivel up and die." I am a mother; I often draw spiritual parallels from my childrens' movies. We all share a good laugh over the silly villain in Dr. Seuss' "the LORAX," but the principle is correct. If they plant, water, and tend the beautiful, Trufula Tree seed, it will grow, but "we can't reap what we don't sow." The same is true of attributes, relationships, and situations in our lives.  What we focus on will grow. What we are watering will flourish. Are we verbalizing and obsessing over our fears? Fear we will reap. Are we spouting our empty pocketbook, then our pocketbook will remain so. Are we focusing on our blessings, then more blessings shall come to us. Its a Biblical principle. God's solution to all this?

2 Timothy 2:7-9
"7 Think over these things I am saying [understand them and grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything.
8 Constantly keep in mind Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David, according to the good news (the Gospel) that I preach.
9 For that [Gospel] I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained or imprisoned!"

Romans 12:2
"In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to  succeed."

Ephesians 4:22-25
 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;
23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],
24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

I love P.T.s comment Sunday that some of us may need to buy a hammer, nails, and a board, and start slinging some nails. We need to crucify the old man, many of us may have never truly done so. After nailing myself to the cross yesterday, I'm studying what other things Christ says must be nailed down. There is quite a list for us in God's Word. Anger, resentment, fear, vile talk. Nail it down and let it die. Then get moving. We have to get beyond living AT the cross, and as P.T. said on Sunday, and live IN Christ.

But before we can get moving, we must KILL our flesh and any desire or thing in our life that does not come into alignment with Gods.Word, then put on our new man and walk it out. So, what are you nailing to the cross today? I'm once again nailing my anger there. I find I have lots of anger. Today, I am crucifying it fully, completely. It will not have dominion over me any longer.

Once you have nailed it down, you must put on the mind of Christ. I am NOT filled with anger, I AM filled with peace, joy, and love. I AM slow to anger. I AM patient. I have the mind of Christ. I AM healed, forgiven, set free.

Galatians 2: 20
 I've  been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

So, nail it down. Let it die. And then get in step with the Spirit. Walk it out.