Pray without ceasing

What does "maintain an attitude of prayer" mean?
To "maintain an attitude of prayer" means to live with a constant, inward awareness of God and a continuous readiness to turn your thoughts to Him throughout your daily routine. Instead of treating prayer as only a formal task done at a specific time or place, it treats your entire day as a continuous conversation with God. 

What It Means in Daily Life

Ongoing communication: You share short, spontaneous thoughts, thanks, or requests with God as you go about your normal work.
Recognizing His presence: You stay mindful that God is with you during every task, conversation, and challenge.
Heart dependence: You keep a quiet humility that constantly acknowledges you need His wisdom and strength.
Listening ear: You remain alert to God’s leading and ready to respond when conscience or circumstance calls for action. 

What It Does Not Mean

It does not mean you must walk around with your eyes closed and your head bowed all day.
It does not mean you have to stay on your knees or stop doing your normal responsibilities.
It does not replace set times of deep, focused prayer, but rather flows naturally out of those quiet moments

think about your thoughts

The “Reticular Activating System”  and Philippians 4:8

The reticular activating system (RAS) is a net-like network of nerves in the brainstem that acts as the brain's control tower for wakefulness, alertness, and sensory filtering. 

What It Does

• Waking and Sleeping: The RAS manages your sleep-wake cycle. It turns down its activity when you sleep and ramps it up to help you wake up. 

• The Brain's Bouncer: Your senses take in millions of bits of data every second. The RAS acts as a subconscious gatekeeper, blocking out unimportant background noise and letting only vital information reach your conscious mind. 

• Focus and Attention: It helps you focus on what matters. For example, it lets you hear your name across a loud, crowded room, or makes you suddenly notice a specific car model on the road after you decide to buy one.

• Danger Alert: When you face a sudden threat, the RAS immediately triggers your fight-or-flight response, making you fully alert.

The connection between the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and Philippians 4:8 is a perfect example of modern neuroscience validating ancient biblical wisdom.

Philippians 4:8 instructs: "...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 about such things."

When you actively practice this verse, you are physically training your RAS to change your Decernment.

WHY? The RAS helps maintain alertness and contributes to our attention. More broadly, our RAS system prioritizes some information while allowing other information to recede into the background.

That means what we already believe, fear, desire, or expect can affect what we notice:

• A fearful mind becomes unusually alert to possible threats.

• A suspicious mind readily notices apparent evidence of betrayal.

• A condemned mind notices everything that seems to prove personal failure.

• A self-reliant mind notices resources it can control while overlooking God’s provision.

• A truth-renewed mind becomes increasingly attentive to God’s character, promises, activity, and direction.

This helps explain the neurological dimension of the battle, but Scripture identifies its deeper spiritual and moral dimension. The battle is not merely over what sensory information reaches consciousness. It is over which thoughts receive authority and shape belief.

Philippians 4:8 is a discernment filter

Paul gives believers criteria by which thoughts should be evaluated:

• Is it true, or is it deception?

• Is it honorable, or does it degrade?

• Is it just, or does it distort?

• Is it pure, or does it corrupt?

• Is it lovely, or does it cultivate hatred?

• Is it commendable, or does it advance accusation?

• Does it reflect excellence and praise, or the character of the enemy?

🧠 The Biological and Biblical Alignment

1. Intentional Filtering (The Gatekeeper)

• The RAS: It needs instructions on what to look for, otherwise it defaults to scanning for threats or negative patterns.

• The Bible: Philippians 4:8 provides a highly specific, eight-part instruction manual for programming that filter.

• The Synergy:  By consciously choosing to focus on "whatever is lovely," you command your RAS to highlight those exact qualities in your environment, making them appear more frequent.

2. Overcoming Negativity Bias

• The RAS: Naturally flags negative information to keep you safe from perceived danger.

• The Bible: Commands a deliberate shift toward the "excellent" and "praiseworthy."

• The Synergy: Practicing the verse forces the RAS to build new neural pathways, overriding the default survival mode with a growth-oriented mindset.

3. Creating Your Reality

• The RAS: Does not judge if your focus is good or bad; it simply brings you more of what you dwell on.

• The Bible: Implies that your thought life dictates your peace (Philippians 4:9 promises "the God of peace will be with you").

• The Synergy: When you look for things that are "true" and "right," your RAS filters out the noise of anxiety, directly lowering your stress levels and bringing the biblical promise of peace to fruition.

🛠️ How to "Program" Your RAS Using Philippians 4:8

• Daily Audits: Ask yourself throughout the day if your current thoughts fit the Philippians 4:8 criteria.

• Gratitude Journaling: Write down three things that are "admirable" or "pure" every morning to prime your RAS for the day.

• Media Boundaries: Guard what you watch and listen to, as negative media trains your RAS to look for more chaos.

In the original Koine Greek text of Philippians 4:8, the words Paul selects are not just passive suggestions for "positive thinking". They are precise, active commands.

Here is the exact breakdown of the Greek words from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and how they function to program your mental filter. [1]

🔍 The Eight Filters of Philippians 4:8

English Word	Koine Greek	Strong's #	Literal Greek Meaning & Nuance
True	Alēthē (ἀληθῆ)	G227	Unconcealed, reality, fact. It refers to things that match actual reality as God defines it, rather than illusions, exaggerations, or anxiety-driven falsehoods.
Noble / Honorable	Semna (σεμνά)	G4586	Venerable, dignified, inspiring respect. It describes something with a "noble seriousness" that elevates your character rather than degrading it.
Right / Just	Dikaia (δίκαια)	G1342	In alignment with God’s standard. It means conforming to what is right, fair, and just, ensuring your thoughts are balanced and honest.
Pure	Hagna (ἁγνά)	G53	Chaste, clean, unpolluted. It implies freedom from hidden motives or corrupting influences. It is clean down to the core.
Lovely	Prosphilē (προσφιλῆ)	G4375	That which calls forth love. Composed of pros ("toward") and phileo ("love"). It means thoughts that promote harmony, kindness, and sweetness rather than division.
Admirable / Good Repute	Euphēma (εὔφημα)	G2163	Praiseworthy speech, sounding good. The root of our modern word euphemism. It means focusing on information that builds up and is worthy of being spoken out loud.
Excellent / Virtue	Aretē (ἀρετή)	G703	Moral excellence or valor. Used by classical Greeks to describe an instrument or person fulfilling its highest purpose perfectly.
Praiseworthy	Epainos (ἔπαινος)	G1868	Approbation, commendable. Thoughts that are universally recognized as intrinsically good and pleasing to God.

⚙️ The Command: "Think on These Things"

The final verb of the verse changes everything when looking at it through the lens of neuroscience:

Logizomai (λογίζεσθε) — Strong's G3049 / G3049 [1, 2]

• The Accounting Meaning: In the ancient world, logizomai was a mathematical and accounting term. It meant to calculate, reckon, take inventory, or deliberately log entries into a ledger. [1, 2, 3]

• The Grammar Tense: It is written in the present imperative tense, which indicates an ongoing, habitual command. It literally translates to: "Keep on calculating/reckoning these things continually." [1]

🧠 The Neuroscience Hook

Paul is telling you to audit your brain's ledger. You cannot stop random or intrusive data from floating past your conscious awareness. However, logizomai means you choose which thoughts you "log" as valuable assets in your mind. By continually auditing your thoughts against these eight strict criteria, you force your Reticular Activating System (RAS) to hunt for those specific inputs in your daily life.

🔍 Let’s add 2 Corinthians 10:5, it completes the process because Philippians 4:8 tells us what should occupy our minds, while 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us what to do with thoughts that oppose God’s truth.

—Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable…think about these things”     

 —2 Corinthians 10:5 “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  

The relationship

The RAS helps explain the brain’s selective attention. We are surrounded by more information than we can consciously process, so the brain gives greater prominence to what appears important, threatening, desirable, or relevant.

But the RAS does not know what is true. It can make a lie prominent just as easily as a truth—especially when the lie has been reinforced by fear, repetition, desire, trauma, or cultural pressure.

That is where the two passages work together:

• Philippians 4:8 establishes the filter: Is this true and consistent with God’s character?

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 establishes the authority: Will this thought be permitted to govern me, or must it be brought under Christ’s lordship?

• Philippians 4:9 establishes the action: “Practice these things.”

The progression becomes:   

Thought enters awareness → thought is tested by truth → falsehood is taken captive → truth receives sustained attention → truth is practiced through obedience.

What “taking every thought captive” means

Paul’s immediate context is spiritual warfare against “arguments” and proud claims that oppose the knowledge of God. Therefore, taking thoughts captive is more than trying to suppress unpleasant thoughts.

It means confronting every belief, interpretation, accusation, imagination, or argument that claims authority contrary to Christ.

The decisive questions are:

1. Is this thought true?

2. Does it agree with Scripture and the character of Christ?

3. Where is it directing my attention?

4. What will happen if I continue dwelling upon it?

5. Will believing it lead me toward trust and obedience—or away from them?

A thought may enter the mind without our permission. That does not mean it is true, that it represents our identity, or that we have sinned by becoming aware of it. The spiritual issue is whether we welcome it, agree with it, dwell upon it, and allow it to direct us.

Deception, distraction, and occupation

These passages answer the enemy’s three tactics directly:

Enemy’s tactic	Biblical response
Deception introduces what  contradicts God	Destroy arguments raised against the knowledge of God
Distraction redirects attention away from truth	Think deliberately about what is true and worthy
Occupation keeps the mind and  time filled	Take the thought captive and redirect attention toward Christ
Desired result is belief expressed in disobedience	Bring the thought into obedience to Christ and practice the truth

This reveals something important: the enemy seeks not merely to place a thought in our minds, but to get us to give that thought attention, agreement, and eventually expression.

The battlefield progression is:

Suggestion → attention → consideration → agreement → belief → choice → action → consequence

The biblical counteroffensive is:

Recognition → examination → rejection of the lie → replacement with truth → trust → obedience

The role of the Holy Spirit

This is not a self-powered attempt to control every mental event. It is Spirit-led discernment.

The believer does not merely say, “I will think better thoughts.” The believer says:

“Holy Spirit, reveal what is true. Show me where my thinking contradicts Christ. Help me reject the lie, receive the truth, and obey what You are showing me.”

That places the entire process within God’s Strategic Will:

• God’s initiative: He provides Scripture, our identity in Christ, the mind of Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

• Our response: We recognize, test, reject, redirect, trust, and obey.

• The result: Our minds are renewed and our actions increasingly express who we already are in Christ.

You ARE → so BE → and you'll DO

ARE — Identity:

I am in Christ. A deceptive or intrusive thought does not define who I am.

BE — Renewed mind:

I test the thought, take captive what opposes Christ, and dwell upon what is true.

DO — Obedient action:

I practice the truth through Spirit-led trust and obedience.

So the complete conclusion:

The RAS helps explain why certain thoughts capture our attention, but it cannot determine whether those thoughts are true. Philippians 4:8 gives us God’s standard for what should occupy the mind, and 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to confront every argument that contradicts God, taking it captive under the lordship of Christ. We do not merely reject the lie; we redirect our attention to truth and put that truth into practice through trust and obedience.

Even more concisely:

Philippians 4:8 tells us what to dwell upon. Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us what must not be allowed to rule. Together they teach us to test every thought by God’s truth, take deception captive, redirect our attention, and obey Christ.

THINK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS!

Thinking about your thoughts, the feedback loop of the Holy Spirit

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Take every thought captive to the lordship of Christ
• Pray without ceasing
• Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus
• John 5:19 Jesus said "I don't do anything except what I see my father doing" 
• John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
• All the promises find their yes in Christ
• 1 Peter 1:4  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Partakers of the Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:3  His divine power has given us everything we nee thed for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His owna glory and excellence. 4.Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6. and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7. and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

10. Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, 11. and you Take receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

What is Truth?

Can Truth Really Be Known?

In a world filled with opinions and perspectives, many wonder if anything can truly be known. Philosophy reminds us that human understanding has limits. Our senses can mislead us. Our reasoning can fail. Even our best conclusions are incomplete.

So the real question becomes:
 If human knowledge is limited, where does true wisdom come from?

The Bible agrees with this concern—but it does not leave us in uncertainty. Instead, it points us to a truth that is not merely discovered by the mind, but revealed through relationship with God.

Proverbs 3:5–6 — The Foundation of Knowable Truth

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,  and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct your paths.”

These verses do not reject knowledge—they redefine its source.

They teach us:

• Human understanding has value, but not authority.
• God’s wisdom is not merely superior—it is essential.
• Truth is not only something we think about—it is something that guides our steps.

This is not abstract theology. This is usable truth—truth that works in real life.

Solomon: When Wisdom Becomes Detached from Relationship

Solomon is one of the greatest examples in Scripture of what happens when wisdom is misunderstood.

God gave Solomon wisdom beyond any man who lived before or after him. But Scripture suggests something deeper than intellectual brilliance: God intended wisdom to flow from relationship, not independence.

At the beginning of Solomon’s reign, his heart was humble. He walked closely with God. His wisdom was not merely sharp—it was submitted.

But later, as we read Ecclesiastes, we hear a different voice:

“I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure…’”

 “I applied my heart to know wisdom…”

 “All is vanity…”

Solomon did not lose intelligence.  He lost dependence.

Ecclesiastes is the testimony of a man who possessed extraordinary wisdom—but tried to use it apart from ongoing trust in God. The result was frustration, emptiness, and disillusionment.

This shows us something critical:

Wisdom separated from relationship with God eventually becomes powerless to give meaning.

Truth That Is Revealed, Not Manufactured

Jesus later confirmed what Solomon learned through experience:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6

Truth is not just a principle.  Truth is a Person.

And knowing truth is not merely understanding ideas—it is walking with God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 — The Heart God Responds To

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,

 to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is completely His.”

This verse reveals something extraordinary about how God works:

• God is not searching for the smartest minds.
•  God is not searching for the most gifted leaders.
•  God is searching for hearts fully His.

Truth flows most powerfully not to the independent thinker, but to the dependent believer.

This is the same principle Solomon began with—and later drifted from.

What This Teaches Us About Truth

Truth is not:

• esoteric knowledge for a few,
• intellectual mastery for the elite,
• or philosophical certainty for the confident.

Truth is:

• revealed to the humble,
• given to the dependent,
• walked in by the willing.
  

This is why Proverbs 3:5–6 stands at the center of biblical wisdom: Do not lean on your own understanding—lean on the Lord.

Why the Bible Is Reliable for Those Seeking Real Truth

For anyone seeking truth that actually works, the Bible stands on three solid foundations:

1. Historically reliable — preserved with unmatched care.
2. Spiritually coherent — telling one unified story of God restoring relationship with humanity.
3. Existentially proven — changing lives wherever its truth is trusted.

But more than all this, the Bible is reliable because it consistently leads people into relationship with the living God, not merely into better ideas.

Understanding biblical truth is not primarily about intelligence.  It is about willingness.

• Willingness to trust.
•  Willingness to listen.
•  Willingness to surrender independence.

God gave Solomon wisdom.  But what sustained him at first was his dependence on God.

Scripture shows us clearly:  When wisdom remains connected to relationship with God, it becomes life-giving.  When it becomes detached, it becomes empty.

Closing Thought

Truth is knowable.  Not because our minds are sufficient,  but because God is faithful.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He shall direct your paths.”

That is not a call to ignorance.  It is a call to relational wisdom—  the kind of truth that does not merely inform us,  but forms us into the people God created us to be.

Pursuit of Wisdom

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

You're unique. You're social. What are your needs? 49 character traits to understand calling.

The esoteric apprentice??

To gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from the Bible, start with Proverbs 9-10 and Proverbs 2:6, which state that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. You can also find verses like Proverbs 4:7, which encourages acquiring wisdom and understanding, and Proverbs 3:13-14, which calls finding them a blessing.

Key Biblical Principles for Gaining Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding
Fear the Lord:
The fear of the Lord is the foundation for wisdom, providing the right perspective and a proper relationship with God.

Ask God:The Bible teaches that the Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, so you should ask Him for them.

Study God's Word:
The Bible itself is a source for gaining these qualities, with Proverbs 2:6 stating that knowledge and understanding come from the Lord's mouth.

Prioritize Wisdom:
Proverbs 4 emphasizes that wisdom is the principal thing, and it is worth pursuing at any cost.

Embrace It:
Like a person, the Bible uses "she" to describe wisdom, urging you not to forsake her but to embrace and love her.

Steps to Apply These Principles
Start with Proverbs:
Read the book of Proverbs, which contains many teachings on acquiring wisdom and understanding.

Pray for Guidance:
Seek God's help to understand His Word and to apply its truths to your life.

What You Learn:
Use the knowledge and understanding you gain with good judgment and discernment to navigate life's challenges. NO!

PROVERBS 3:5-7

THE FEED BACK LOOP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

The Fear of God

The "Fear of the Lord" in the following verses encapsulates a profound reverence and respect for God, which is foundational to understanding God’s Strategic Will. By embracing this "fear", we are guided away from evil, towards wisdom and understanding, and into a life of satisfaction, protection, and prolonged days. For a Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint, this reverence is not just a starting point but a sustaining force that shapes our entire walk with God, ensuring we live in alignment with His divine Guidance, Provision, and Care.

1. The Fear of the Lord as a Fountain of Life (Proverbs 14:27)

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death."

• God's Strategic Will: Recognizing and revering God's holiness and authority directs us to a life-giving path, safeguarding us from spiritual and moral pitfalls.

• Fully Actualized Saint: A fully actualized saint draws sustenance and vitality from this reverence, experiencing spiritual renewal and protection.

2. The Fear of the Lord as the Beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

• God's Strategic Will: Wisdom starts with acknowledging God's supreme authority and seeking His guidance, which is foundational to understanding His will.

• Fully Actualized Saint: Wisdom and understanding, grounded in the fear of the Lord, are essential traits of a saint fully operating under God's guidance and truth.

3. Not Being Wise in Our Own Eyes (Proverbs 3:7)

"Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

• God's Strategic Will: Reliance on God's wisdom rather than our own ensures we follow His strategic plan, avoiding the deception of self-reliance.

• Fully Actualized Saint: Humility and dependence on God characterize a fully actualized saint, recognizing the limitations of human wisdom and the necessity of divine guidance.

4. Prolonging Life Through the Fear of the Lord (Proverbs 10:27)

"The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."

• God's Strategic Will: God's plan includes the promise of a longer, more fruitful life for those who revere Him and follow His commandments.

• Fully Actualized Saint: Longevity and a blessed life are rewards for those who live in reverent obedience to God, embodying His will on earth.

5.  Seeking Wisdom and Understanding (Proverbs 2:3-5)

"Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God."

• God's Strategic Will: God desires us to actively seek wisdom and understanding, promising that such a pursuit will lead us to a more profound knowledge and reverence for Him.

• Fully Actualized Saint: The quest for divine wisdom and understanding is a continuous journey for a fully actualized saint, resulting in a deeper relationship with God and alignment with His will.

The fear of the Lord has many benefits. But, these benefits come with expectations from God, highlighting the importance of faithful stewardship and active engagement in the gifts and responsibilities He entrusts to us. 

Let's explore Matthew 25:25-28 and how it aligns with the concept of the fear of the Lord and the expectations for those who are born again.

25. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.  26. “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27. Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28. “So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Connection to the Fear of the Lord and God's Expectations

1. Reverence and Responsibility

• Fear of the Lord: The parable emphasizes the importance of reverence for the master's (God's) expectations. The servant's fear led to inaction, a misunderstanding of what true reverence and fear of the Lord entail.

• God's Expectation: True fear of the Lord should motivate us to actively use and invest the gifts and talents He has given us, not to hide them out of fear of failure or judgment.

2. Faithful Stewardship

• Fear of the Lord: A reverent fear of the Lord includes recognizing our responsibility to steward His gifts wisely, using our talents, time, and resources for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

• God's Expectation: God expects us to be faithful and proactive in our stewardship. He rewards those who diligently work and invest what He has entrusted to them.

3. Accountability and Reward

• Fear of the Lord: Understanding that we will be held accountable for how we use what God has given us is part of the fear of the Lord. This accountability should drive us to live purposefully and productively in His service.

• God's Expectation: The parable shows that there are consequences for both faithful and unfaithful stewardship. Those who use their talents wisely are rewarded, while those who do not face loss.

4. Active Engagement

• Fear of the Lord: True fear of the Lord leads to active engagement in His work, seeking to multiply and grow the resources and opportunities He provides.

• God's Expectation: The Lord expects us to engage actively in His mission, using our unique abilities to contribute to His kingdom's growth and to serve others effectively.

The parable in Matthew 25:25-28 illustrates that the fear of the Lord involves not just reverence but also active, faithful stewardship. For those who are born again, this means recognizing and responding to God's expectations by using the gifts and talents He has given us to their fullest potential. It highlights that true reverence for God leads to proactive engagement in His work, ensuring that we are fruitful and productive in our service to Him. This aligns with becoming a fully actualized saint, living out God's strategic will through radical dependence, trust, and obedience.

At this point a heavy load began to bear down on me. But I was reminded of two very important truths...

The call to faithful stewardship and active engagement in God’s work can seem daunting. However, it is important to be reminded that our ability to fulfill these responsibilities is grounded in God's grace and  His guidance. Colossians 2:6 and Ephesians 2:8-10 provide a powerful reminder of these truths:

• "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
• "Therefore As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."

Connecting Fear of the Lord, Stewardship, and God's Grace:

1. Salvation and Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• God's Gift: Our salvation is a gift of grace from God, not something we achieve through our own efforts. This foundational truth reminds us that our relationship with God starts and is sustained by His grace.

• Freedom from Boasting: Since salvation is not based on our works, we are freed from the pressure of earning God’s favor. Instead, we can rest in His grace.

2. Created for Good Works (Ephesians 2:10)

• His Workmanship: We are God’s workmanship, crafted with purpose in Christ Jesus. This means that God has intentionally designed us for the good works He has planned.

• Prepared by God: The good works we are called to walk in are already prepared by God. Our role is to step into them, trusting in His guidance and provision.

3. Walking in Christ (Colossians 2:6)

• Receiving and Walking: Just as we received Christ by Grace, we are called to continue walking in Him through Faith. This means living daily in dependence on His guidance and strength.

• Empowerment in Christ: Walking in Christ signifies living out our faith through His empowerment, not relying on our own strength but on His indwelling presence.

The weight of the responsibility to be faithful stewards and to engage in God's work is lightened by the truth of God’s grace and empowerment. Ephesians 2:8-10 and Colossians 2:6 remind us that:

• Our salvation and ability to serve are gifts of God’s grace.

• We are created with purpose and equipped for the good works God has prepared.

• Our walk in Christ is a continual process of transformation. We depend on Him, just as we initially received Him by faith.

These truths reassure us that while the call to stewardship and engagement is significant, we are not left to bear it alone. God’s Guidance, Provision and Care enable us to fulfill His expectations, transforming us into Fully Actualized Kingdom Saints who walk in His Strategic Will with confidence and trust.

Conclusion

This discussion has intricately woven together the profound concepts of God's strategic will, the journey towards becoming a fully actualized Kingdom saint, and the essential practice of operating in the fullness of God's guidance, provision, and care.

• God's Strategic Will: The fear of the Lord, as emphasized in Proverbs, serves as the foundation for understanding and living out God's strategic will. This reverence for God directs us to a life that turns away from evil, embraces wisdom, and experiences divine protection and satisfaction. The parable in Matthew 25 further underscores the responsibility to steward God's gifts faithfully, illustrating that reverence for God involves active engagement and fruitful service.
• Fully Actualized Kingdom Saint: The journey to becoming a fully actualized Kingdom saint involves recognizing our identity in Christ and walking in His ways. This process is deeply rooted in the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds us that we are God's workmanship, created for good works that He has prepared for us. This calling is not a burdensome task but a divinely orchestrated plan that we are invited to participate in through His grace.
• Operating in the Fullness of God's Guidance, Provision, and Care: Walking in the fullness of God's guidance, provision, and care means living in radical dependence on Him. Colossians 2:6 encourages us to continue our journey in Christ as we began it—by faith. This ongoing relationship with Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, enables us to fulfill our God-given purposes. We are not left to bear the weight of responsibility alone; God's grace and presence empower us to walk in His strategic will effectively.

The fear of the Lord anchors us in God's wisdom and protection, while His grace equips us to be faithful stewards and fully actualized saints. By embracing our identity in Christ and relying on His guidance, provision, and care, we can confidently live out God's strategic will, revealing His Kingdom through our transformed lives and faithful service.

The Mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Mind of Christ?

Perspective, insight, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and ability, all through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Present Moment?: I call it the Here and Now.

The present moment is "where" and "when" we exist and have our being. Our understanding resides with our thoughts in the present moment. Our understanding is informed by our “perspective", which is derived from a combination of our five senses, our memory of the past that validates the present moment, and our ability to reason, which anticipates the future. Because of this, each individual has a “unique” and limited perspective.

Our perspective is limited by the laws of physics and the nature of our inertial frame, which is our physical body. This is why the truth of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 is so important to understand. And why being Spirit-led is an essential aspect of every believer’s walk.

If we are born again, we are conscious of the Holy Spirit’s presence. According to His will, the Holy Spirit “informs” our perspective and therefore increases our understanding so, if we trust and obey, we can participate in what He is doing in the present moment (Revealing the Kingdom).

The present moment, the here and now, is the only place where a child of God is led by the Spirit of God. It's where the Holy Spirit reminds us of His leading in the past: John 14:26. It is where He speaks prophetically to us about the future.  John 16:13

The present moment is the only place where we can exercise Biblical Faith as we trust and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in the here and now!

Jesus said, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees (present-tense), the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. Jn 5:19

Jesus also said, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10

I Corinthians 12:4-7. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” 

Romans 12: 6-8. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
1 Peter 4:10-11. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

James 4:17

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Is it not wisdom to know what the right thing to do is? In doing that right thing, do we not feel justified? Can you do the right thing, all your life, according to your wisdom and Still Not be Justified in God's eyes?

Innocence

The Innocence of obedience? As a child it is unequivocal. But impossible to maintain. Parents are hardly an example to trust, but we are called to obey our parents "in the Lord".

And when you do, you fall into the trust of their own understanding.

Wisdom? The Bible is full of practical wisdom. Wait... Crap!  How does the book of "Job" fit Into your understanding?

Proverbs 3:5-6 makes more sense now.

Is Wisdom "Acquired"?

Experience provides the opportunity for Knowledge to be gathered. Wisdom is the "state of mind" that gives one the potential for insight, discernment, good judgement and Understanding. This state of mind has its beginning in humility and is cultivated by a teachable heart.

Prov. 9:9 "if you correct a wise man, he will become all the wiser."

James 3:13-18 "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

John 14: 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Experience and knowledge compared to Wisdom and understanding.

One does not mean you have the other. Experience and knowledge is a function of our ability to remember. Wisdom and understanding is a function of our ability to anticipate and reason. The problem is that knowledge puffs up, and pride is a stumbling block to wisdom.

Humility is the first step a wise man will make. A teachable heart is the path to understanding.