Hello Everyone!

I’m doing something a little different with this story! For a while now, I’ve felt it on my heart to invite someone to share their testimony or their thoughts on a specific topic. This will be the very first guest-written post—and I’m so excited to share it with you!

If you read my most recent story, you’ll know it was about “Our God-Given Purposes.” In that post, I talked about how every person has a God-given purpose, calling, or ministry. We are all called to fear God and keep His commandments. We are all called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to be “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use” (2 Timothy 2:21, KJV). We are also called to be “witnesses unto Him” (Acts 1:8, KJV) and “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20, KJV).

But we each individually have a purpose—or a “talent” (see the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30)—that is meant to be used in the work of the Kingdom of God. We all have a specific purpose and calling from God. In that writing, I shared a few examples of what those purposes and callings might look like, though it was by no means an exhaustive list.

The point is this: we ALL have something—a talent, in the sense of the parable—that God has entrusted to us. And we can choose either to squander that talent or to multiply it in service to God and for His glory.

With all of that in mind, God has been dealing with me on this thought: “What if you are too busy for your God-given purpose?”

With the stirring already in my heart to have another child of God share their testimony or thoughts with us, I was reminded of a session I had listened to where our guest writer spoke on “The Purpose of Your Brokenness” and “Taking Control of Your Thoughts.” At the end of that session, she shared a personal testimony about a season in her life when she had become “too busy” and was no longer walking in her God-given purpose—or even taking time for the simple, daily walk with God. She talked about how this led to loneliness, depression, fear, and doubt as she tried to make it through each day. But she also shared how God opened her eyes, helped her realign her priorities, and renewed her commitment to fulfilling the purpose He had given her.

Because of this, I felt led to ask her to share part of that testimony with us.

That’s why I’m honored to introduce Sis. Victoria Jones—a sweet friend of mine and family – my husband’s cousin. Since the day I met her, she has been a beautiful example of unwavering commitment to God and to her family, and a testimony of unshakeable faith. I’ve looked to her as a role model, not only for myself, but also as someone I want my girls to admire as they grow—an example of a dedicated, holy, and Godly woman. She and her husband, Evangelist Kerry Jones, have just entered their fifth year of full-time evangelism and are currently based in Spokane, Washington. She is the mother of two handsome boys, Judah and Jayden.

• A Redeemed Ruby

Sis. Jones, please share a little about yourself, your testimony as it relates to this topic, and anything else you feel led to speak on regarding “The Purpose of Your Brokenness” and  “Are You Too Busy For Your God-Given Purpose?”

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Sis. Victoria Jones –

“If there is one word that our world unanimously identifies with, it is brokenness. We live in a fallen and broken nature, and we, as children of God, should be witnesses and a light to those around us, encouraging them to allow their own brokenness to bring them closer to the One who created them for His purpose.

See, everything and everyone was created for God’s purpose. The creation of the world—everything that we see—operates in God’s order: the heavens, moon, stars, sun, plants, and trees. The only creation that doesn’t always operate according to the purpose of God, to bring Him glory, is human nature.

This is because we were created differently than the other parts of nature. God spoke and said, “Let there be light,” “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,” “Divide the firmament,” “Let there be plants and vegetation,” “Let there be night and day,” “Let there be fish in the sea,” and “Let there be livestock.” All these things He spoke into existence. They had a purpose, and they still, to this day, serve that purpose.

But we are different. He didn’t just speak us into existence. The Bible says God said, “Let us make man in our own image.” In His own image, He created man and woman to have dominion over all the other works He had created. He formed man from the dust of the earth and then breathed His breath into man’s nostrils, and man became a living soul. He took His time with us. He took dust into His hands and crafted man. Even dust in the Master’s hand can become a masterpiece. Your broken pieces, in God’s hand, can be made whole.

He created us and gave us the power of choice. Because we are men and women with souls—souls that will spend eternity somewhere—unlike vegetation and livestock. God will not force us to live for Him on earth or in heaven; the choice is ours. If we choose not to live for Him while we are here on earth, He, in His very nature, will not force us to live with Him in heaven.

From the beginning, God gave man a choice in the garden. He said everything here is for you, except this one thing, yet that one tree was placed in the midst of the garden. It was still accessible because God is going to allow us to choose what we do.

The same is true today; we have the power of choice—the power to choose what we allow to dictate our current state and our future. We have the power to choose to be a victim or a victor, the power to dwell on the negative or rejoice in the good things—really, to rejoice in everything. The Word says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Another scripture says, “In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you.”

Stand back and watch what God will do through you when you surrender every part of yourself to His will—the good parts and the bad parts, the whole parts and the broken parts. Here are some examples of imperfect people listed and used by God in the Bible.

● Abraham – Was old, yet when he surrendered his will to follow God, God made him a father of many nations. His seed became like the grains of sand or the stars in the sky. He was called out from his comfort zone and told to follow God to a place He would show him.

● Joseph – Was abused, yet God used all of his suffering for good—for him and for his family, who sold him into slavery.

● Job – Went bankrupt and lost everything—his family, livestock, and wealth—yet he did not curse God with his mouth. He said, “The Lord gives and takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In return for his faithfulness, God restored everything to him, and even more than he had before. If God asks you to surrender something, it means He has something better in store for you.

● Moses – Had a speech problem, yet God used him to deliver an entire nation out of captivity.

● Gideon – Was afraid, yet was called a mighty man of valor.

● Samson – Was a womanizer and lacked self-control, which led him into captivity. Yet when he realized he needed the Lord’s strength, he prayed and asked for it, and in his death slew more than he did in his life.

● Rahab – Was a prostitute, yet by protecting the Israelite spies, she was able to save her household.

● The Samaritan Woman – Was divorced and had been with many men, yet she had an encounter with Jesus and became a witness. She went back and spread the news of “a man that told me all things that ever I did.” She had a great impact on her people, and her testimony led many to be converted.

● Jacob – Was a cheater.

● David – Was a murderer, yet became the greatest king to ever rule Israel.

● Jonah – Ran from God.

● Peter – Denied Christ three times, yet preached on the Day of Pentecost.

● The Disciples – Fell asleep while praying.

● Saul – Was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians before becoming one. His ministry caused the gospel to spread throughout the Roman Empire.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV) “(9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Though I may be weak, God’s strength is perfect and sufficient for me. So I take pleasure in knowing that when I am weak in my own body and spirit, then I am strong in the power of His Spirit. The Bible tells us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living inside of us and will quicken our mortal bodies. That means God imparts His own qualities into us, including healing, strength, and joy. His strength is so much better than our strength. Our strength is limited, while His strength is supernatural.

What is it about our brokenness that draws God to us? One reason is because broken people recognize their need for God. Some people consider themselves self-sufficient. They have the money they need, and they can buy their happiness—or so they believe. Why do you think we see so many famous actors, singers, and others lose their minds, become unrecognizable, and sometimes even commit suicide?

They try to fill their lives with the temporal things of this world. Money, in any amount, will never bring true joy. Fame will not bring the happiness and relationships you desire. Success in the secular world will not satisfy us. No one can be complete without God. There will always be a God-sized void in the heart of every person who has not come to know Him. Nothing and no one can fill that void—only God.

Broken people help other broken people. If you’ve been broken, you know how it feels, and you want to be there to comfort those around you in their own season of brokenness. Brokenness is not a bad thing! We reject that lie right now in the name of Jesus! Brokenness is an avenue used by God to bring you close to Him—to save you.

Did you know that Jesus Himself was broken? 

Hebrews 4:15  (KJV) “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

I’m going to share a portion of my testimony from a time when God broke me to put me back in alignment with Him.

Sometimes God takes us through seasons of loneliness and times when it feels as though we are wandering in the wilderness. Sometimes He allows us to go through trials, whether it be sickness, death, or financial difficulties. He allows us to go through these times so that we will be stronger when we come out on the other side, but sometimes it is also so we can minister to someone else who is going through their own season of trials by sharing what the Lord has done for us and how He brought us out.

 Sometimes God gives you practical knowledge on how to handle different seasons in life. It’s easy to live for God when everything is going well and we are on the mountaintop. But we can’t always stay on the mountain. To move forward in life and in our walk with God, we have to walk through the unknown. We have to walk through valleys we’ve never been through before, but the reward is sweet because we know we are drawing closer and closer to Him through every trial and season we go through.

So I am going to share some of my own experiences with you and also give you some practical tips on how applying the Word of God to your situation can bring you peace, hope, and joy, even in the midst of your trial.

Sometimes God calls us to do things that don’t make sense to us at the moment. I was working a job that paid me six figures. I had everything some people want in life—the big house, nice cars, dinners out, clothes—but all of that came at a great cost. You see, I was committed to keeping up with the lifestyle, so I devoted most of my time and energy to my work. I’m one of those people who, when tasked with a job, is going to do my best and give everything to see the success of what I’m involved in.

I worked about 50 hours a week at my job. I was salaried, so I really couldn’t even tell you how many hours I worked while away from the establishment because there was always a phone call, a text, or an issue that would arise where I would be handling things from home or on Sundays between church. I was never “clocked out.”

I had two small children at home at the time, as well as a husband who was also working crazy hours and ministering on the weekends. A typical day for me looked like this: wake up, get ready, wake the kids up and get them ready, take them to daycare, head to work, work my 9–10 hour shift—sometimes 11 or 12—pick them up, and head home for dinner. Do the nighttime routine, then get back up the next morning to repeat the process.

I got so busy with work and with motherhood that I didn’t leave room for devotion or communion with God. Mind you, I was still at church every time the door was open. I was faithful to the house of God—every service and every prayer meeting—I would drag myself in no matter how tired I was or how cranky my babies were. But none of those things can replace personal devotion and time with God.

All of those things are great, and don’t get me wrong—you should be at church every time the doors are open. You should be at every prayer service or event going on at your church. You should align with the vision of your pastor and fellowship with those in your home church body.

We need each other. The Bible tells us not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together. There is strength in the body of Christ. That is another lesson I learned the hard way during this time in my life. I isolated myself, not realizing how important fellowship is and how much I needed people in my corner. I had people who genuinely loved and cared for me, but I convinced myself that they didn’t, so I shut them all out. Isolation is a tool our adversary uses. It is easier for a predator to attack its prey when it is away from the group—when its defense is weak.

The enemy lies in wait for the weak, wounded, and isolated. It is so important to surround yourself with the right people during difficult times. You want friends like the ones the lame man had—those who lowered him through the roof, knowing that Jesus could make him whole—not the friends Job had, who sat around and tried to convince him that he had done something wrong to bring this evil upon him. Even worse was his own wife, who told him to curse God and die.

I found myself always feeling defeated. I put on a strong face with a smile and cheerful attitude both at my job and at church, but behind all of that, I was crying at home, riddled with anxiety—so much so that I didn’t know who I was anymore. I was so overwhelmed that even the simplest tasks, such as making food for my kids or doing a load of laundry, seemed too daunting to cope with.

I spent the majority of my time at home crying, screaming into my pillows, or banging on the headboard of my bed out of frustration. I had so much built up inside of me that I couldn’t possibly do one more thing without feeling like I was going to implode. I know some of you have been there. It’s a scary place, but there is hope, and there is a way out.

I began to have temptations to partake in things that would “take the edge off,” when I had never been tempted by anything of the sort before. I’m blessed to say that I never had any addictions, nor did I experience drugs or alcohol. However, there was a liquor store adjoining a gas station that I passed every day as I was leaving work, and the enemy began to talk to me and tell me, “Just stop by and get a drink. It will help you feel better. Other people do it to take a load off. Aren’t you tired? You deserve a glass of wine after a long day. Don’t you just want to relax?” Day after day, I struggled with this temptation. It sounded so good to just have one drink. Maybe it would help me. 

I would be driving down the road and go over a bridge or an overpass, and the thought would cross my mind, “Why don’t you just cut the wheel and go on over? You would be at peace. You don’t have any friends. All you have is this job, and you’re replaceable. No one would miss you.”

I was so blinded by these thoughts that I began to believe they were actually true. In reality, what had happened was that I became too busy and neglected my devotion time with God. I wasn’t living in sin, but I was not walking with God. It was as if I opened a door, swung it wide open, and invited the enemy of my soul to come in and live in the home of my mind—making himself comfortable. It sounds really silly, doesn’t it? I mean, who would openly invite the devil to mess with your mind?

Here’s the thing—I wasn’t aware that I had done this. Like I said, innocently, I was just too busy. Working for the Lord and being faithful to the house of God are important, but they never replace personal devotion and a personal walk with the Lord. Busyness can easily become an enemy to our walk with God. I continued to put God on the back burner, saying I would get to my devotion time once I finished these chores, or that I could do it when I got off work instead of in the morning before my shift. More times than not, when we procrastinate, it’s not going to get done. We have to be intentional with our time.

I want to say this: some battles with anxiety and depression can be linked to health issues and/or trauma, and some are simply spiritual attacks. In my case, it was spiritual. So please don’t think that I am making light of anyone’s personal battle.

I thought that I was doing everything right—giving my best to my job, giving my best to my church. What was I missing? I wasn’t giving my best to God. Truly, I needed to be giving my best—and also the worst parts of me—to God. I struggled so badly trying to understand why I was feeling the way I was feeling.

I had never been insecure before in my life. I had always been independent. I had always been confident in my abilities. I had never looked at myself and thought, “I’m ugly,” or, “My personality isn’t one that people would want to be around,” or, “I’m nobody.” Why was I suddenly dealing with all of these thoughts and anxiety?

I can remember the night when the scales fell from my eyes and I became aware of what was really happening. I was sitting at our dining room table eating, and my husband was sitting on the couch just relaxing. I had been working up the courage to tell him how I had been feeling. Communicating my feelings has never been easy for me. Acknowledging my weaknesses doesn’t come easily to this overly independent, hard-headed girl. Finally, I just spoke it out. I said, “I feel like I am depressed and dealing with anxiety.” Sometimes speaking it out loud is the hardest part. The hardest thing for some of us to do is admit we are struggling and that we need help.

I will never forget how he went from a relaxed, laid-back position to sitting straight up, pointing his finger in my face, and saying these words: “Tori… don’t you ever take ownership of something you are feeling. You may feel depressed or anxious, but that is not who you are!” Facts are not feelings. Facts are truth, and truth is the Word of God.

John 17:17  (KJV) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Immediately, a boldness rose up in my spirit, and I became angry at the enemy for messing with my mind. It became evident what his tactics were. So, what do you do once the culprit and the motive have been revealed? I’ll tell you what I did. I began to devote my time to seeking the face of God, and I developed a relationship with His Word. His Word is what made all the difference for me.

The only way to combat a lie is with truth. The only truth we have is the Word of God. When a thought came to my mind, I would assess it. Was this a God-thought or an enemy thought? If it didn’t align with the Word of God, it wasn’t a God-thought. God is not a man that He should lie. If His Word says it, it’s true. If His Word doesn’t back it up, it’s a lie. This scripture became one that I lived by—

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (KJV) “(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (4) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (5) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Strongholds are thoughts, arguments, and reasonings. They could also be called “fiery darts.” Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to withstand these fiery darts. What you allow to pierce and capture your heart and mind will determine the outcome of your situation. This is why we put on the armor. See Ephesians 6:10-18.

Imaginations are the act or power of forming mental images of what is not actually present or has not been experienced. The root word of imagination is “image.” Images come from words, thoughts, and things visually obtained. You can’t tell me that what you feed into your eyes and ears will not affect how you think and feel.

These “images” can be natural or supernatural. They can come from everyday living, and some thoughts can be dropped by the Lord to encourage us to study or pray, or by our adversary to trip us up and discourage us. It is so important that you are able to discern these images and thoughts. We will cover that in just a few minutes.

The thoughts that you receive and add images to will become an imagination. Dwelling on and imagining these things coming to pass will eventually manifest them—whether good or bad. You can have great faith, where you speak to your mountain and tell it to move, or you can have weak faith, where you speak death and sadness over your life and cause those things to come to pass. The power of life and death is in your tongue.

When the Israelites sent the twelve spies into Canaan, ten of them came back and said, “We see ourselves as grasshoppers, so the inhabitants must see us as grasshoppers, and we shall surely die.” Be careful what you say to yourself and about yourself. You should only be concerned with what the Word of God has to say about you. Affirm yourself using the Scriptures.

Because of those spies, discouragement spread throughout the camp. A bad attitude spreads like wildfire, so choose your friends wisely. Negative Nancy shouldn’t be the one you call during hard times. You need to call someone who is prayed up and in the Word of God—someone who will tell you straight up to snap out of it and get in your Word, someone who will encourage you and not be a guest at your pity party, throwing fuel into the flames.

The rest of the camp cried out, “Wouldn’t it have been better for us to just stay in Egypt?” Really?! After all the things they had seen—the glory, the miracles, the supernatural provision—they had the audacity to say something like that. They said, “Let’s find a new leader, one who will lead us back into Egypt,” back into captivity. Now, isn’t that silly?

Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and pleaded with God for the people. Yet two of the spies who were sent in, Joshua and Caleb, tore their clothes and said, “This is a good land! The Lord will give it to us! Only do not rebel against God and do not fear, because God is with us!” And do you know what the people wanted to do? Stone them.

Well, it didn’t work out well for those wicked-mouthed people, because the Bible says their dead carcasses fell in the wilderness outside of the Promised Land, and Joshua and Caleb were able to go in and possess it. The Bible says this was because of their right spirit—their right attitude. God has given you power in the words you speak, so speak wisely. He has given us even more power through His Word. You must cast down any thought contrary to the Word of God. Don’t speak death into your situation. You will not die in this.

Psalm 118:17  (KJV) “I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.”

Speak the things that are not as though they were. If you are in need of healing, speak healing into your life. If you are in need of financial blessing, speak it. If you are in need of deliverance, speak it. God’s Word is His vision for your life. What you believe for your life is what you will receive for your life.

The devil wants you to believe these things for your life: failure, sickness, poverty, lack of provision, and never amounting to anything. If he can get you to believe these lies, you will receive them. God is not slack concerning His promise. If He said it, He will do it. If His Word says it, it is so.

Micah 7:8 (KJV) “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.”

Read Psalm 27:1-6

You need to make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, you’re going to rejoice. You’re not going to let the enemy steal weapons from your arsenal. You’ve got a line of defense, and that is your praise and His Word.

The enemy fights you with thoughts of defeat, doubt, fear, depression, worry, and anxiety. He will try to plant these seeds in your mind. Don’t allow him to plant seeds in the field of your mind and then water them yourself by entertaining his lies. If you feed it and dwell on it, it will continue to grow and produce more feelings of fear, anger, or depression.

The devil isn’t dumb. Genesis says the serpent was more cunning and subtle than any other. He’s not going to just feed you nonsense; he will feed you lies with just enough truth in them to get you to believe them. You can’t play his game. You can’t go back and forth with him and try to reason with these thoughts. Cast them down. God’s Word must be lifted up above it all.

James 4:7 (KJV) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”We often misquote this verse.. It’s not just resist the devil and he will flee.”

You have to submit to God. Submit to His Word, to His authority, and to His Spirit, and then you will have the power to resist the devil and cause him to flee. When you are submitted to God, the devil will not be able to easily entice you into sin.

Actively fight for your mind. Don’t let your guard down. Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary is roaming like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. He will only be able to get to you if you allow him. God gave you authority over the enemy—not the other way around. That same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living on the inside of us. He is still bringing things that were declared dead back to life today. We have power through God to do all things. We have the power to tread upon serpents and cast out devils.

But how will you be able to cast down these imaginations and thoughts if you have no knowledge of God or His Word? We can say the name of Jesus all we want to, and there is all power in heaven and earth given unto that name. But God values His Word above His name. We have power in the name of Jesus, but His Word will conquer and defeat the enemy of your soul.

Psalms 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

When Satan came to tempt Jesus in the wilderness, He didn’t say, “In my name, get away from me.” He responded with, “It is written,” and the enemy fled from Him.

Read Matthew 4:1-11  

There was some truth in what Satan was saying to Jesus, in that He did have the power to do the things Satan claimed. Our adversary knows that if he can feed us lies with just enough truth in them, we will often fall for them. But notice how Jesus didn’t rebut or go back and forth with him. He didn’t say, “I know I could, but I really want to do this,” or, “You’re right, maybe this is true about me.” No—He didn’t argue. He simply spoke directly and firmly and said, “It is written.” He stood His ground and didn’t back down because He knew what the Word says, for He was the Word made flesh and dwelling among us. Prayer and study will enable you to discern your thoughts.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

You can’t trust your feelings. You can’t follow your heart. The Bible says the heart is desperately wicked. You have to trust and follow the Word of God. This flesh of ours is in enmity with God; our flesh opposes the Spirit of God. We’ve got to learn to bring this flesh under subjection to the Word and the Spirit of God.

Some ways to do that are reading your Bible, prayer, and fasting. Try to set aside at least one day each week to fast. Set alarms to remind you to read your Bible and pray. If you’re able, try stopping by your church on the way home from work or school to get a few minutes of prayer in. When you do your part, God will make up the difference.

Too much carnality makes you weak in the spirit. The Word of God strengthens you, and when you speak it, it will defeat the enemy. Jesus Himself quoted Scripture when faced with temptation.

Lay down the things that keep you from the Word and presence of God. The Bible tells us to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. Replace the time you would spend on entertainment with the Word of God and prayer, and see how it affects your spirit. When you’ve spent time in the Word and with God, you will be able to discern the enemy’s tactics. The things that once tripped you up won’t work anymore, because now you know better. You’ve put on the armor, and you are ready for battle.

There’s a song we used to sing in youth choir that says, “If you only knew what I was going to be after the storm, you wouldn’t have even bothered me.”

What my enemy meant for evil, God turned for my good. Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him, then sold him into slavery and told their father he had been killed so he wouldn’t search for him. But God had a plan in all of that. He used Joseph to save his family. If it weren’t for the betrayal, Joseph wouldn’t have ended up in the palace, and there would have been no provision for his family in the time of famine.

Okay, back to 2 Corinthians 10—

Casting down means to demolish, destroy, or utterly obliterate. It’s not enough to simply oppose the thought; you must completely destroy it in Jesus’ name. Claim victory over your thoughts. Imaginations are defined as the inclination to do evil, and also as reasonings. Reason means the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments through a process of logic.

High things are elevated places or things; by implication, they can be barriers—something that separates. Anything that tries to separate you from the Lord is a high thing that needs to be torn down. This can be anything that stands in the way of your victory. It can be a thought, a job, or a person we allow to speak into our ears and our hearts—any high thought that tries to take the place of what we know about God.

Cast down every thought, idea, way that seems logical, natural thought pattern, and basic human perception, and lift up God’s Word above it all. Casting down imaginations—not accepting the devil’s thoughts, suggestions, or visions—is a spiritual weapon you must use to be victorious over the enemy.

Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ—when a thought comes into our mind, we need to arrest it, take it captive, and evaluate it by asking ourselves, “Where is this thought coming from?” A good way to find out is to examine it with the Word of God.

Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

What you dwell on affects the type of thoughts you produce. If you dwell on the negative, you will continue to be pessimistic and see the negative in all things. If you dwell on the goodness of God and the blessings in your life, you will produce thankfulness and joy.

The best way to reframe your thoughts is through the Word of God. Here are a few Scriptures you can recall during hard times:

• When you feel anxious — Philippians 4:6–7
• When you’re scared — 2 Timothy 1:7; Isaiah 41:10
• When you feel lonely — Matthew 28:20
• When you feel inadequate — Jeremiah 1:5
• When you feel depressed — Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 23:4”