Moving Forward Wisely & Intentionally

What do you have to do to conform to this world?
Nothing.
Perhaps you've heard the question and answer before, so don't let it gloss over you like an joke you've heard. It is profound truth. This world will conform if you don't intentionally conform to the truth of the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ, who is expressed in us by the Holy Spirit.

What you read matters.
What you watch matters.
What you listen to matters.
Saying, 'Oh, it's just (fill in the blank with whatever seculary expression of music, TV, thought, etc.)' is dangerous. It is a slippery slope.
That is not to say you should be a prude who is not aware of the world and its influences, who cannot inteligently speak about them, who has never heard a secular song or seen a secular movie. But it does mean that in order to be 'in the world but not of it' you must intentionally fill your mind with God's truth, which will inform your perspective on the world.
Doing nothing is not an option -- unless you are of this world.

Do You Trust Him?

I recently read about how we create 'ruts' in our brain with our thinking patterns, and how the brain can be re-trained -- re-rutted, if you will -- if we choose to think differently.

Most of spiritual growth is about learning to think differently. Our goal must be to think like Jesus about everything, to accept the truths of the Word of God intellectually, so we can then begin to process them emotionally and in turn change our actions.

At issue daily, in countless decisions, is whether we trust God.

Worry often overwhelms us. Intellectual worry turns quickly to physical stress, which breaks down our bodies and kills us. I know people whom I'm quite sure are literally killing themselves due to their stress.

We must accept that a) worry is sin. It is misplaced prayer, someone wrote. b) God is not caught off guard by anything. As the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work in my life (See Romans 8:26, 34 to note that the Spirit and Jesus are at the right hand of the Father constantly interceding), there has never been an 'emergency meeting' because they have never been surprised.

When tempted to worry, we must a) remind ourselves that God knows; b) remind ourselves that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die so that He might renew relationship with us, thus He cares passionately; c) immediately turn worry to prayer.

It is a simple but profound matter of faith. Do we believe Him, or must we handle it ourselves? We won't break through to genuine fellowship with God until we trust Him.