Things You Should Never Think about

Are There Things You Should Never Think About?

Are there things in your life that you find difficult to move on from? Perhaps a past event that lingers in your mind, or decisions you've made that seem to keep you trapped in a cycle? These memories can become deeply ingrained in your thoughts, making it hard to move forward.

So, what are the things you should never think about?

Oftentimes, we find ourselves dwelling on situations we’ve been through. However, thinking about these events doesn’t change them—it only holds us back, leading to feelings of depression and preventing us from stepping into the future God has prepared for us.

Focusing on negative situations, on things that have kept us stuck, or on depressing thoughts only prevents us from embracing the fullness of what God wants to do in our lives. It's essential to shift our mindset away from these burdens.

The Story of Jabez: A Lesson in Moving Forward

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we encounter the story of Jabez, a man who, despite his painful beginnings, found strength in calling on God. The passage reads:

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV): 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Jabez was born into sorrow, and his name—a constant reminder of his mother's pain—could have been a source of ongoing emotional burden. Yet, despite this, Jabez chose not to dwell on his past. Instead, he cried out to God for a change. His name, though marked by pain, did not define his future. Jabez's story reminds us that even when circumstances seem to hold us back, we can cry out to God for transformation, and He will answer.

Choosing to Let Go of the Past

Yes, you may have made wrong decisions or taken steps that you regret. But God doesn’t want you to stay trapped in those thoughts. The apostle Paul encourages us in...

 

Philippians 4:8 (NIV):

“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

It’s time to stop dwelling on past mistakes and regrets. It’s time to forgive yourself and focus on the future that God has for you. Your current situation doesn’t define where God is taking you. The best is yet to come, and as you fix your thoughts on God’s promises, you will begin to see His light guiding you forward.

Don’t let the weight of past experiences hold you down. Like Jabez, take your pain to God, and trust that He can turn it into something greater. Embrace the truth that you have a bright future ahead.

Stay revived.

Delight Yourself in the Lord: A Reminder of His Intentionality

Last Sunday, my pastor shared a story that really resonated with me. He talked about seeing a camera that he desired to own. However, because it was quite expensive, he decided to let it go. Over time, he completely forgot about it. Then, the week before, his cousin returned from Germany and said, "I got something for you." When his cousin brought it out, it was the exact camera my pastor had admired and forgotten about.

This story beautifully illustrates the truth of Psalm 37:4:
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, NIV)

This was a clear reminder of God’s intentionality in giving us the desires of our hearts—even when we don’t specifically pray for them. As we dedicate ourselves to God and serve Him, He rewards us. We come to God with a desire to know Him more and grow in our relationship with Him. And when we pray, He doesn’t just answer our requests; He blesses us in ways we may not expect. These blessings can even include things we’ve desired but haven’t asked for, perhaps because we feel that our prayers need to be more serious or specific.

The truth is, God is concerned about every detail of our lives—even the small things, like the amount of water we drink each day. When we allow Him to shape and mold us according to His will, He works in ways we can’t always see, but always for our good. This process of transformation happens when we delight ourselves in the Lord.

What does it mean to delight in the Lord? It means we take pleasure in His presence, we desire to know Him more through His Word, and we align our desires with His will. We trust Him to lead us, knowing He won’t leave us stranded. We live a life of total surrender, cultivating an attitude of gratitude for His constant faithfulness.

God is intentional about us. He provides everything we need, at just the right time—even when we don’t specifically pray for it. One of the ways I pass time is by window shopping for electronics. I often find myself admiring various items. Last week, I was looking at a particular electronic I liked and thought to myself, "It would be nice if I had that." I didn’t make a serious request or prayer about it, but I simply said it in passing. Because it was expensive, I convinced myself that I didn’t need it.

Then, just yesterday, I was asked to pick a paper from a raffle draw. As I reached in and pulled out a slip, it turned out to be the exact item I had desired only a few days before. I was overjoyed! It was a clear reminder that God is intentional about fulfilling the desires of our hearts.

Isaiah 59:1 says, "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear." (Isaiah 59:1, NIV)

God hears us, even when we don’t articulate our desires in prayer. And when we delight ourselves in Him, we experience His goodness and faithfulness in ways we may not expect but always appreciate.

A Judge for God's People

 

The book of Judges is a collection of adventures and activities of men and women who did one thing: refocused the children of Israel back to God. It was not about their legitimacy status, wisdom, strength, sight, grace, or courage, but about God's ability. They stood as a constant reminder to the children of Israel that it is God who has always kept them.

Whenever the judges were alive, they served God, but whenever they weren't, the Israelites went back to worshiping other gods and neglected the God who had kept them.

Judges 2:16 (AMP) states, "But the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hands of those who robbed them." Was this God's original intention - to have people who only come to Him for rescue? No! People who only contemplate God as an option in times of battle and war? No! But it was the option the Israelites constantly chose each day.

The judges symbolized and represented God's strength and ability, displayed in simple people to achieve greatness.

While growing up, and even until recently, I struggled with the fear of the unknown. When I kept praying to God about it, I began reading the book of Judges. I desired the courage that each of these individuals had. When their past or the hours before their victory are examined, we notice that it was not their courage or victory that the Bible depicted, but entirely their dependence on God's ability to give them victory.

You too can live a victorious life. God took every kind of man and woman and made them into judges for His people, and He still does so for His people.

I desire the courage and fearlessness the judges had. What about you? What do you think about when you hear the story of the judges? There are still many battles and victories to be won, and God's people are still in need of judges to point them to Jesus.

Would you take up that mantle and say yes to the call? God still chooses His judges from willing vessels.

Stay Revived!

GOD LOVES ME; I LOVE HIM TOO

What do you think about God? 

When approaching Him, what thoughts race through your mind? 

Is He your first option, last resort, or something in between? Why did you choose God? It's not wrong to start with Him as a last resort, as the Bible says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."

I chose God because, growing up, I felt He was my safest option. I believed that by choosing Him, my life would be free from storms, crises, losses, delays, setbacks, hurts, and failures. However, as I grew older and became an adult, I began to see the reality of life. I started questioning God's mercy and goodness.

But God doesn't abandon His own; He has no record of doing so. As long as we stick with Him, He remains faithful. God wants to be more than just a means to an end; He wants to be our ultimate goal. I've learned that it's not just about what God can do for us, but about loving Him back.

God desires genuine love, not just lip service. He wants us to acknowledge His emotions and reciprocate His love. When we do, He draws closer to us. As beings created in God's image, we reflect His love and traits.

He wants us to sincerely say to him each day I love you, lord, irrespective of our present circumstances or situations 

If God's Love for us could conquer the gate of hell what about when we consciously love him also? 

We will be able to achieve exploits and gain completeness. 

In those moments when we love him we fulfil the scriptures in " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). 

Do you believe in His love? It's a love that makes us feel alive, and the ultimate reward is eternal life – the God-kind of life.

Stay revived!

By Guest Writer.