Lesson 22: Let Your Mind Be Filled With Christ - Part 2

Yes, the mighty explosion of the cross and resurrection obliterates thought-strongholds! The gospel wins, and when we feed on it, we win.

Tori writes, "When I feae my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast! When the tempter will prevail, Christ will hold me fast! He must hold me fast! He will hold me fast! He will hold me fast! For my Savior loves me so, he will hold me fast! All the words are speaking to me. I identify, in this last couple of months all my pain, God has held me fast! Christ keeps us safe, we are his sheep."

David writes, "When the tempter would prevail, He/Christ will hold me fast.....for my Savior loves me so He will hold me fast.  His promises will last!!!!  Wow!!!"

I love you! (Galatians 2:20)

I sent my Son to die for your sins. (John 3:16)

My grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

I see you. (Genesis 16:13)

I feel your pain and I care about you. (John 11:33-35)

You are not alone. (Hebrews 13:5)

I made you wonderfully. (Psalm 139:14)

You are beloved and chosen. (Colossians 3:12)

You are mine because I bought you on the cross. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

I will mold you and use this struggle for your good. (Romans 9:21)

You have some emails to send off late one night to invite some colleagues to a work function. Before closing down the computer, you realise that you had made the mistake of putting the wrong name in one of the emails. Oh no! ‘Dear Tom’ was meant to be ‘Dear Simon’! Your heart sinks as you check and recheck the sent emails. And Tom was not meant to be invited at all! Your boss was copied into the emails and he would see your mistake and you will have to write and apologize to a bunch of people! Then with intentions of turning in for the night vanishing, your mind starts whirling around on a merry go round of self absorption: “I am going to lose my job over this. They will never consider me competent again. I am the biggest loser” Your thoughts are now in self preoccupation overdrive and you feel the icy cold fingers of fear and despair squeezing your heart as you start to retreat inside yourself with your thoughts in a self despairing loop.

But wait. You know that there is a better way. Your true hiding place is in the presence of Jesus; He is your refuge in good times and in bad. He not only understands and sympathizes with your emotions, but He is able to manage them for you. As you pour out your heart in prayer (Psalm 62:8), Jesus will take your struggle and give you peace and wisdom for the future. He died on the cross and rose again bearing your burdens in His body. You are forgiven and loved and Jesus has taken all condemnation and blame. You remember that the new covenant gospel says “I am forgiven, let’s try again”. You start to forget about your self-consciousness by focusing on God’s love and passion for you and for others. You think outside of yourself and about the people in your work group and how to write an email to them, asking for words of grace as Jesus has covered you in grace by His death at the cross.

So, now when hardships happen, and you feel the temptation to hide within yourself rising, you are learning to run to the cross with your feelings. You now see your circumstances and the distressing situations that arise in your life in light of eternity and this enables you to respond in way that honors God and brings Him glory. You are able to evidence that Christ has made you a new creation and that your flesh has been put to death. You are simply learning to find Jesus, to be your "secret hiding place".