Stop Wondering in Yourself and Ask God

II have been fascinated by Genesis 1-3 for years and reread it frequently. I love to read it and see the heart and intention of God as He created mankind. To read that God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority…over all of the earth…” (Genesis 1:26) is astonishing. His command to us was “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it…” (Genesis 1:28). Just let that sink in. His intention was to make us in His own image and likeness and to give us complete authority over the earth! We all know that He also gave us free will and we chose to align with the enemy. The loss was great! But as Adam and Eve were removed from the garden, God’s plan of reconciling mankind to His original intention through Christ Jesus was already in motion.

I have been pondering God’s command to “subdue the earth” for a long time. Where does this subduing begin? In ourselves. What are we called to subdue in ourselves? Our flesh, our soul, and our body. In Romans 6 we see that as believers, we are a new creation. But what was made new? Your spirit man is the new creation. What about your soul—your mind, will, and emotions—and your body? According to Romans 6:6, those places that were not made new have been “rendered ineffective for evil” through the work of the cross. The work of reckoning ourselves dead to sin, and presenting ourselves to righteousness that Romans 6 speaks of is part of the work of subduing ourselves by the grace and mercy of God.

So, in the last several months, I’ve given a great deal of time and focus to seeking the Lord regarding subduing the flesh and the soul and walking in the Spirit. The Lord has had a lot to say about the mind (part of the soul) and how to steward thoughts. Recently, He shared this with me as I asked Him, “Lord, what would You like to say today?”

Stop thinking like your natural man and wondering in yourself. Ask Me. Elevate your thinking to My thinking. You cannot do what I have called you to do thinking natural thoughts. You will wear yourself out thinking natural thoughts. Don’t tolerate the fleshly and soulish ways. Call people up and rule up high by choosing what you focus on, what you tolerate, what you give your attention to—this is ruling or abdicating. Rule with Me. That is why Jesus didn’t respond to everything. Everything is grabbing for your attention. Be selective with what you focus on, think about, and respond to. Stop wondering what to do and just ask Me. If I’m not talking about it, release it at My throne. Don’t let yourself be worn out. You don’t have to feel, think, or respond to everything. Just release it to Me. Run quicker by not carrying so much weight. And stop wondering about it all. That is not My way. That is independence from Me. I have spoken. Think on My words, not on how it’s all going to happen. That is for Me to do. You are to rule by ruling over your thoughts and how your respond. Give the bigger things to me that want to distract you and weigh you down. Give Me the things weighing you down and occupying your thoughts. That is fretting, which leads only to sinning. Be anxious for nothing. That is ruling.

Why are we wondering in ourselves when we were designed to commune with Him? Jeremiah 33:3 promises us that He will answer us as we call out to Him. Matthew 7:7-11 gives us clues to how to ask God as well as revealing His heart to give us good gifts. 1 Peter 5:5 shows us that He opposes the proud but will give empowering grace to those who approach Him in humility.

Our minds have been unrestrained for too long. Earlier this year, when the Lord began to talk to me about the mind, He showed me that it is like an engine:

You wonder without Me and it doesn’t bring life. Think of your thinking as an engine. Don’t waste gas and energy going places that are not life for you. Ask Me about your thoughts, what to be thinking about. You can set your thoughts and you will see a new engine and forward movement as you align your thoughts with Mine. Beware of thinking thoughts of self-justification, wondering about how to justify yourself, or if you are justified. I justify the ungodly and free them to not think about themselves. Think my thoughts, Kerri. Put on the mind of the Spirit!

Shortly after the Lord began this dialogue with Me, revealing how to steward my mind, He highlighted 5 scriptures to me to instruct me (below). These are the things we can think on as we determine to submit to God, subdue ourselves, and think like He does. When we do that, we begin to step into the authority He designed for us to have. As we demonstrate authority over ourselves, He can release greater authority to us. His intention that we would subdue the earth through our union with Him has not changed. This life is a training ground. Let’s stop wondering in ourselves and dialogue with Him! He is drawing us into deeper communion today!

“I have been crucified with Christ…; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in…the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (AMPC)

“If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 (AMPC)

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17(NKJV)

“For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” Philippians 4:8 (AMPC)

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14 (NKJV)