The Forward-Thinking Believer
                     Spiritual Spanking Edition

In my most recent podcast “Radical Living” I discuss the importance of believers living a life that is so contrary to the world’s standards that we are seen as radicals. The world is looking for something radically different. Many are discovering that what the world has to offer simply is not enough and does not satisfy. But as believers, are we shining the light of Christ that directs a hurting and spiritually dying world to the Savior? Or are we living as Christian Atheists: confessing Jesus with our lips but our hearts are far from Him? I contend that we have nothing radical to show a dying world because we are too busy trying to fit in and preserve our comforts rather than live a radical life for and with Christ.

We are not thinking as children of the age to come, but rather we think as children of this age. Let’s break this down further by looking at a familiar verse:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
 by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what
is the will of God – what his good and acceptable and
perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NRSV)

As I stated earlier, I believe that those of the Jesus following community are, for the most part, conformed to this world. We are consumed with the world’s ways and its tools. We are obsessed with Tik Tok and the latest trends it teaches. We worry about the latest fashions and being sexy enough on social media to get all the “likes.” When potential disaster strikes, we make sure we consume as much as we can without regard for others merely to ensure our own comforts.

Our minds, then, are not truly renewed.

What is interesting about the verse in Romans is Paul’s use of the phrase “to this world.” The Greek word Paul originally uses in this letter to the church in Rome is αἰῶνι τούτῳ which translates as “this age.” It seems here that Paul is throwing in some eschatological thinking in this verse. If we are not supposed to be conformed to this age, to what age should we conform? What does a renewed mind look like? I would argue that Paul is instructing the church in Rome to think like citizens of the age to come… as kingdom children! That, brothers and sisters, is the renewed mind: thinking as God’s kids belonging not to this age, but as inheritors with Christ in the kingdom or age to come. It is the epitome of forward thinking!

Let’s compare to another verse:

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds
of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the
image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NRSV)

Paul makes reference to the “god of this world.” He uses the same words “αἰῶνος τούτου” referring to the god of this age blinding unbelievers to the gospel. Who is the god of this age? I will let you study this further, but I think it’s pretty obvious. If we are conformed to this age, which is ruled by demonic forces, then what does our behavior represent? That’s right: our behavior would, therefore, reflect this world/age. How can we shine the light of Christ pointing them to the Savior if our minds and behavior are evidently consuming and imitating the things of this age?

Important to note, the enemy being “god of this world” is not implying that he is sovereign or more powerful than the Most High God. According to Genesis, it is Adam and Eve that turned over their dominion of the world to satan allowing earth to be his domain (see Genesis chapters 1-3). Jesus came that he may restore these things to us through His death and resurrection which is why we have authority in His Name. When the Lion of Judah returns to earth to set things right again, the enemy’s time will end (Hallelujah!). God is still sovereign, and he is still and will always be the Great I Am. We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1), thus presented to us is a choice: to live as God’s children or to live as children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10). Which lifestyle are we exuding? If we have presented ourselves as a living sacrifice, is this obvious through our changed and renewed minds (which should be reflected in our behavior) or are we operating as secret Christian agents (Christians by mouth, demonic in deeds)?

Brothers and sisters, I don’t have to tell you what this age encompasses. Look at the news, look outside, look at social media, pay attention in your social circles and even at your church. We can see the things that are indicative to this age quite plainly reflected in everyday life. So, I ask: are we truly thinking like those who are kingdom citizens or as those conformed to this age? Would someone who was so hopeless and looking for something radically different than what the world has to offer see that difference in you?

The Challenge:

If we fail to be forward thinking Christians – that is, not thinking and operating as people belonging to the age to come, but rather like those according to this age – then we are unable to do the following:
1.Discern what is the will of God:
oWhat is good?
oWhat is acceptable?
oWhat is perfect?

Our walk as believers will be inept and corrupted by the world’s system as we are unable to discern, or determine, the will of God for our lives. Living a transformed life with a renewed mind through Christ is not only important for others to see but imperative for us to live the life that God intended for us to live (Jer. 29:11)!
Let us live a life as co-inheritors with Christ: as kingdom citizens belonging to the age to come. Let us be forward thinkers that point a hurting world to the Savior and truly serve the One who aligns our lives according to His perfect will.


Further Scripture to consider in studying what a renewed mind in Christ looks like (practically walking out the Word):

James 2:17-20
James 1:25
James 2:22
James 4
Read all 5 chapters in letter of James. You won’t be disappointed.

Pastor Jim had been preaching a sermon series on Dreams, focusing this on the story of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50. The begging questions posited in his series are, “What is your dream” and “How does it serve God by serving others?” During the sermon, he read an excerpt from Dr. Bruce Wilkinson’s Dream Giver. I felt a familiar nudge to buy that book. Initially, I thought to simply write down the title and buy it another time. After all, as a seminary student, I read multiple books per class and one more book might tip the scales (not to mention annoy my long-suffering husband with yet another book purchase. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a bibliophile. Okay, maybe a bibliomaniac!). But the Spirit of the Lord must be obeyed, and sometimes sacrifices (like, free time) must be made to do so. After Pastor Jim finished reading that excerpt, I immediately bought the book which took about 30 seconds (thanks, Amazon!).

During Pastor Jim’s sermon over the last few weeks, I was deeply encouraged and motivated to find out what my Dream was and serve others with that Dream. “Lord, how might I serve you with my Dream?” I said in my heart anxiously. Then, I thought, “Wait! Lord, what is my Dream?”

It was time during church service for prayer at the altar. I was all too eager to rush to that altar and get in the Lord’s ear. After I prayed for the church, the leadership, and my family, I turned my attention on this Dream that I am supposed to have. “Lord,” I began, “Can you visit me tonight and talk to me about my Dream? What Dream have you given me and how may I serve your people with it? I look forward to our chat.” The Lord usually wakes me up in the middle of the night or early in the morning to answer my questions that usually result in a great conversation. It’s my absolute favorite thing: waiting expectantly for God to show up.

That night, I set out my usual pen and paper on my nightstand, prepared to be awakened for my meeting with the Lord. I would have to take good notes, after all! But when my alarm went off the next morning, I was overwhelmed with disappointment that God didn’t show up. He never misses an appointment! I asked the Lord what happened, but my ear was met with silence. “That’s ok, Lord,” I lied, “I’m not salty. I’m ok. You’ll communicate with me in another way, I guess.” The words that spilled from my lips seemed enduring, but the disappointment behind my words were unmasked before an All-Knowing God. Still, his mercy prevails.

When I got home after work, Dream Giver was waiting in its Amazon package on my porch. I ripped the package open but didn’t read it right away. I had a husband and children to attend to, dinner to cook, books to read and a paper to write, Scripture to read, and baths to give. My nights are typically full. After the kids went to bed, I curled up in my bed and opened Dream Giver. I admit, I was still a bit salty because God hadn’t told me about my Dream. However, at the end of the first chapter of Dream Giver, I began to weep, and I mean an ugly cry. I realized that God didn’t need to show up and tell me the same thing he told me in 2017 (5 years ago!). I was already pursuing my Dream! I’ve encountered Border Bullies, fought against the comfort of Familiar, and been in the WasteLand a few times (for more info on what these are, give The Dream Giver a read). At a time when I was questioning “what is all this for?” God revealed, “This is your Dream. You’re pursuing it, you will accomplish it, and you will serve my people with it.” Talk about a comforting, exciting, rejuvenating, wonderful wake-up call!

Within this week, I have confronted the Fear that was causing me to cap, or limit, my Dream. When the Lord affirmed my Dream in 2017, I asked him, “How far should I go?” He replied, “As far as I take you.” On February 7, 2022, the Lord reminded me of his reply and revealed that I was capping my Dream due to fear: “I can only go this far because further would be prideful,” was my rationalization [excuse] for going only so far. It seemed like I was choosing humility, but really, I was choosing cowardice. I was disguising laziness with holiness. God requires all of me and every effort, so that I may serve God and his people to the fullest of my capability while tapping into his ability.

I’m sorry, Lord, for limiting what you want to do in my life so that I may stay in a new Comfort Zone.

I didn’t recognize my Dream because I was looking at it through worldly eyes. It wasn’t glittery enough or showy enough. It didn’t cause people to say “Ooooo!” and “Ahhhh!” like dreams usually do in movies, television, or in books. But when I was reminded of my Dream – the Dream God has given me – he allowed me to see my Dream through his eyes and from his perspective. It is shiny to him. It glitters to him. He is pleased and he loves it. He says “Ooooo!” and “Ahhhh!” to my Dream. The Dream Giver is Whom I aim to please, not the world. My Dream is meant for me to do Great Things for his glory, not for my glory or anyone else’s.

Thank you, God, for putting me in check and reminding me lovingly what is important.

I continue to push toward what God has for me – pursuing my God-Given Dream. My Dream has a name. It serves a purpose. Moreover, it has God’s stamp of approval and with his help and through his strength, I am off Familiar Grounds and enduring the trials of this journey; learning to count it all joy (James 1:2).

God has called us Nobodies to be Somebodies. What is your God-given dream? How might you serve God and his people through your Dream? Inquire of the Lord and pursue it while keeping your eyes on Christ.

Excerpt from The Dream Giver (page 20, emphasis added):

·      
The Dream Giver gave me a Big Dream before I was even born! I just finally woke up to it!
·      My Dream is what I do best and what I most love to do! How could I have missed it for so long?
·      I had to sacrifice and make big changes to pursue my Dream. But it will be worth it.
·      It makes me sad to think that so many Nobodies are missing something so Big.




Further Reading:
            Genesis 37-50
            1 Peter 1
            James 1
            Wilkinson, Bruce. The Dream Giver: Following Your God-Given Destiny. New York:
                        Multnomah, 2003.

After exercising for over a month, I was growing more and more excited about the muscles that were popping out and the new found shape my body was growing into. Finally, after having three babies, and almost twenty months after I had my last child, I was starting to feel and look better than I had in years! But there was one problem: while every other muscle was forming well, my abdominals were…well…not. And when I say “not,” I mean not at all. I began to get irritated over the ordeal. All this hard work, all of this sacrifice of waking up before dawn and hitting the gym, and my abs had the audacity to be non-compliant? The nerve of some muscles! One afternoon, I was complaining about it to my husband. And that is where this story begins.

“Alesha,” my husband began, “Your abdominal muscles are what you eat.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked my husband-turned-fitness-coach as I munched on my Homestyle Vanilla ice cream.

“In other words, how your abs form, or don’t form, depend on what you’re eating. You can do all the sit-ups you want, but eating that ice cream by the pound is like defeating the purpose,” he said matter-of-factly.” Well, I thought to myself, I’m sure gonna polish off this bowl of ice cream…how’s that?

But, alas, he was right. So right then…well, not right then, after I finished that ice cream, I decided to challenge myself to eating clean and healthy. I went to the store and bought good fats that would support my muscle building like avocados, more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dramatically cutting down on the sugars in my diet. I actually enjoyed eating healthy! My husband was encouraging, and my children would eat with me. How do people struggle with this, I wondered? This is easy and it’s a pleasure!

A week later, my husband had to go out of town for a fitness engagement. I needed some things from the store, so I packed up my baby girl and we headed to the supermarket. I grabbed my fruits, and some water. Then I realized I needed my fruit shakes (already made, of course). After placing three shakes proudly in my basket, I heard my name being called, “Alesha. Alesha. Look at me. Over here…”

“Who’s there?” I said in surprise. There was nobody else in the aisle, and my daughter wasn’t speaking at that level yet.

“It’s me,” the voice said, “your old friend right next to the shakes. Come a little farther down.” I slowly made my way to the left of the shakes. Was there a person in the freezer? As my eyes wandered along the freezer of frozen fruits, I saw the pound cake looking at me. The already made, already succulent, already buttery, and forever delicious pound cake. “How could you forget about me?” it said. “Me, your friend. We haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“Listen, Cake, there has been a change in my life. I can no longer partake in your goodness. You’re messing up my health progress! My abs are a mess!”

“Alesha, I’m hurt. Haven’t I been there for you through thick and thin? The good and the bad times? When you and your husband would argue, who was there to pick up the pieces? Me, that’s who. When you cooked dinner and you needed something sweet, who was there? Me, that’s who. Who was there to comfort you during those scary movies? Me, that’s who! And who helped ease the pain of having to endure one of your husband’s redundant choices of Redbox movies? ME!”

“Cake, I can’t–” I began as I placed the back of my hand across my forehead in distress.

“So now you discard me like some sappy old love? I’m not trash! I’m expensive! I’m quality! I cost almost four dollars without a coupon!”

“You know you’re no good for me! You will hurt me in the long run. I’m taking a stand now and telling you to your face that I can no longer do this. We are over, Cake!” I began to sob. Every taste bud in my mouth was against me. Oh, God, give me strength. It’s so good-looking! And tastes so good! No, I need to be strong. “I WILL NOT cheat on my health with you!”

“Oh darling,” the cake whispered, “It’s not cheating if nobody knows.”

“I would know!” I cried.

“You’ll be back, Alesha,” it mocked.

“You’re processed food!” I yelled, angry at its mockery.

“Oh, now we are name calling? Very mature, Alesha.”

“I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“Do not!”

“Then why are you so angry?” The cake quipped. It was right. I did love the cake. Its golden complexion was reminiscent of the sunlight glow on the hilltops of New Zealand. And the taste was even more satisfying than its appearance, so soft and sweet. The cake was right. I did love it.  “What’s love got to do with it?” I responded with a sly grin. The cake’s eyes grew big and angry. It was now upset knowing I was standing strong. “Everything!” it snapped in desperation.

“Lord, remove this thorn from my side!” I cried. I calmed myself with a deep breath, and gathered my thoughts, “But, Lord, Your grace is sufficient for me.”

“Don’t you bring the Lord into this! This is between you and I!”

“My body is His temple and you’re not allowed in here anymore!” I shouted and began to walk away.

“You’ll be back,” it laughed, “they always come back! You’re not my only one, and you won’t be my last one!” it taunted.

“You won’t be rotting in my arteries, punk!” I said as I continued to walk away. And walk away, I did…. victoriously.

 

I think my daughter is traumatized from the experience since she won’t go near our refrigerator anymore. But my abdominal muscles are much better and are forming nicely. Yay!

 

Train dirty, my Friends, but eat clean.

 

“Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 amp

My husband would frustrate me so much regarding my health and exercise regime (or lack thereof). I have a close relationship with God, excited about my work for the Kingdom, I’m an active member of my church, and I love God with all of my heart…. good health is a guarantee, right? I’m young and at a healthy weight, so I felt no need to take supplements, eat extremely healthy, or exercise.

 

Then the Holy Ghost hit me with it one morning:

“Just because you’re at a healthy weight, doesn’t mean you’re healthy. You’re a good daughter,” He said, “but you still have to do your part.”

 

It was like my eyes were opened. I saw things I didn’t see before. While my husband was walking around muscular and fit, I was eating a pint of ice cream. I started to get a good look at my energy and stress levels. Having two children with special needs plus a young toddler requires extra energy and can be stressful on top of other things. If stress shuts down the anointing, then I had to figure out a way to eliminate that stress and increase my energy levels. I thought about my children and how they needed their mother. But what good would I be if I dropped dead due to something like high cholesterol. Cholesterol …the silent killer…. my dad had high cholesterol and I take after him. I began to think about how I’m just now walking in boldness in the gifts and talents God gave me. What good are they if I’m not here to fulfill my duty for the Kingdom simply because I didn’t take care of the body God gave me? See, it’s not about vanity or fear; it’s about glorifying God by taking care of what is His. My body is no longer my own, nor is my life; but it is His. It is that day, at the end of that thought process, that I realized I have some work to do. As Christians, we want to believe God for healing, but slack when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Thankfully, I have a husband who is an ex-NFL player and a fitness expert to help me get myself together. I also have the best group of friends that are also on this same journey of healthy living. We call ourselves MOBB: Mothers of Blessed Babies. We are a group of like-minded women who love Jesus more than anything, are wives, and mothers with different gifts and talents from God enabling us to continuously edify one another. We chat about our new workout regimes and healthy food recipes we have discovered. We also gripe about how hungry we are after the healthy meal. But that’s ok! We are still learning and growing in this area. The Bible says in 3 John 2 “…that you may prosper in every way and that your body may keep well even as I know your soul keeps well and prospers.” That word “prospers” in the Greek (the original text of the New Testament) is euodoo and it means to be successful. God wants us to be a success spiritually and physically!

I purposed in my heart that I would glorify God in my body. That I would make my husband happy by taking better care of myself. God spoke to me on this matter because my husband was concerned for me. I was in rebellion and he couldn’t get through to me; but he left it to the Holy Ghost knowing and trusting that He would have a talk with me. He did. And I obeyed. I exercise five days a week. I have changed my eating habits; well, that part is still a work in progress actually. But I have made significant changes. I noticed my stress levels were going down and my energy levels were going up after the first week of exercise. I also noticed other things not so positive.

I became so obsessed with fitness that I began neglecting my time with God. My personal time with Him was being substituted with the gym. One morning at 4am while I was still asleep, the Lord said to me, “Are you going to make time for Me today?”  I had to repent! The most important One in my life was being pushed aside and I was becoming unbalanced. 1 Timothy says “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” That same day, one of the ladies of MOBB posted this Scripture in our group just reconfirming what the Lord had shared with me. Thankfully, I didn’t go long without my morning talks with God, but even two days is too long. So many things can fail due to lack of prayer in just two days. I don’t want to be disconnected from God for even two seconds!

Yes, God wants us to be healthy and glorify Him physically, but our first priority is God and our time with Him. We can’t become lop-sided; but train ourselves to be balanced in glorifying God whole-heartedly and in every way. Besides, we wouldn’t wake up at all to exercise if it wasn’t for Him providing the very breath in our bodies that keeps us. I am grateful for the outlet the gym gives me, and the feeling of being physically fit. But God satisfies me completely and it is because of Him, that my stress is low and my health is good. I’m just simply doing my part and showing Him that I care, too, and I will do my part in everything. After all, Jesus did not say, “I sent the Holy Ghost down to do all the work for you. Eat, be merry, and die is all you have to do.” No, the Holy Ghost is a helper which means we have to do some things in the natural as well.

Let us be prosperous and successful spiritually and physically. Let us also make sure that our faith muscles (spiritual muscles) are bigger than our physical muscles by keeping God first in all that we do.

“The man of many friends [a friend of the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

                                                                                                    -Proverbs 18:24
When I first moved to Arizona, I was so lonely. I was about twenty-seven years old and called my mom crying like a baby every night because I didn’t have any close friends. I’m a very social person and I love interacting with people. Being isolated felt like I was being punished. I spent more money than I should have by running back and forth to Houston to visit my running buddies.

 

Then that day came that changed my life forever.

 

I found myself rededicating my life to Christ at Faith Christian Center, and my life changed immensely. I was in church serving, giving, and attending faithfully. I was no longer lonely, but I was still longing to be a part of a friendship. I met my husband shortly after and when we got married, we both prayed for God to bless us with a married couple whom we can call friend. Michael, my husband, was recruited by the Detroit Lions and we were off to Michigan to start our new life together. We had only been married a month or so, and had prayed that prayer a week before the Lions called. To make a long story short, Mike met a gentleman at church in Michigan, who introduced us to his wife, they had a couple’s party, and at that party, introduced us to about 8 or 10 other married couples! Not only did God give us one friend, but MANY! God answered our prayer far above what we originally asked for! We were excited.

From that party, I formed a close friendship with a group of ladies that has lasted over five years and over a great distance. Shortly after we all met, we moved here to Texas. These ladies, most of them have been friends for many years, embraced me like a sister from the beginning. It felt like we had been friends our whole lives. In many new friendships, and old, distance would eat the best part of a friendship and leave the remains in the dust. But what about friendships that God organizes and designs?

There is a friendship that God creates that isn’t affected by distances or differences. God has set up brotherhoods and sisterhoods in the Body of Christ so that we can keep each other encouraged and uplifted. These ladies and I have bond of sisterhood that was designed by God, and is built on the teachings and principles of Jesus. We discuss biblical matters, marriage, children; what makes us sad, happy, angry, and frustrated. We take each other along on new journeys and discuss goals, health, our fears, regrets. We celebrate our victories together. Moreover, we pray for one another regularly.

Our sisterhood has stood the test of time and distance. I knew these ladies were the answer to my prayer. They encouraged me to step out on faith and use the talents that God gave me when I was chained down by the burden of fear. They talked me through it, encouraged me, prayed for me, and challenged me like a sister would. And I’m boldly declaring myself a writer and an author, although at one time, I wouldn’t have dared uttered those words. But it is who God created me to be and He did not create me to be insecure or fearful.

It is important to be able to be accountable to someone. We aren’t perfect, but our foundation, Jesus Christ, is. We always know if we are doing the right things according to what the Bible says. We are like-minded and agree that the Word of God is life; it is the final say and authority in our lives. I know that if I’m ever in danger of falling down the wrong path, my friends wouldn’t hesitate to spare my feelings or hurt my pride in telling me I’m endangering myself. My blood sister would tell me instantly if I was destining myself for a failure; and I wouldn’t expect any less from a friend whom God says sticks closer than a brother.

When God called us to move from Michigan, I was a little upset because I didn’t understand why He would call me away from people that He put in my life, the ladies I grew to love so much. To this day, I haven’t been able to establish friendships with anyone as strong as I had in that snowy state. And there have been days where I’ve been frustrated about that and wished to go back to that frigid climate. But the Lord has shown me that the distance doesn’t matter. Our friendship is committed to Him and nothing that is of God or built by Him ever falters, fails, disappears, or hurts. The love doesn’t fade. I can go where God tells me to go and do what He tells me to do without losing the sisterhood. Spiritually and in my heart, I take them with me!

I encourage my sisters [and brothers] in Christ who don’t have the right friends surrounding them, to inquire of the Lord and ask Him for friends. Ask Him to join you with a sisterhood [brotherhood] built on the foundation of Word so that you have a support system, endless laughter, a prayer partner, and listening ear. Friends that will edify, show love, and patience because we are all growing. God has created and designed the best things in this world: marriage, families, and friendships. There is a sisterhood [brotherhood] that exists in the Body of Christ that glorifies God and strives to do better each day. It is just one of the gifts He has given us to enjoy in this life. Superficial connections fail. A sisterhood [brotherhood] is one of the strongest relationships out there. And a friend from God that sticks closer than a brother is trustworthy, truly loved, and treasured.