What Dwells Inside- Is Who You Become

You have probably heard this quote one way or another but today when I woke up this quote popped into my head. “I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become- as a woman thinks, so she is.”- Oprah Winfrey. Or in Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) “For as he thinks in his heart, so he is.”

How much truth holds in those statements. What is dwelling inside me is becoming who I am. I am hoping it's nothing ugly but truthfully it normally is... you know why? Because we are human and we are so easily persuaded by what is taught around us, or what we see on tv, or what people tell us, and so on. We are so easily persuaded to dwell on thoughts that are not from the Lord and it becomes who we are.

I realized this was happening to me this week and not just in one form but many. One of the most influential and consuming outlets of this comes from watching tv/ news. I don't typically watch the news because it is always talking about how depressing the world is right now. Not a great way to start my day off. But my mother was watching it on Tuesday morning, so I was listening in. They talked about how a young family was hit by a drunk driver and killed their family of 5. I was devastated at this news! She was a young woman about my age and was gone way too young. I went to work and continued on my day but knew I was in a funk but didn't know why... a case of the Tuesdays? That evening I was driving to meet my family for dinner. As it does in Oregon in the fall, winter, spring and summer it was raining and to top it off it was the first rain of the week so the roads were very slippery. As I am driving along and merging into a lane, I witness a car accident on the other side of the street. At this point I am on nerves and driving as carefully as I can so I am not the next one. I get to the location where I am meeting my family and am just in a funk. I am with my family and should be happy cause I have been looking forward to it all week but I am not. While I am sitting at the table it comes to me! What I watched on the news that morning was impacting my whole day dwelling within me with fear. Not only did it affect my life but now I am making it affect my family. I apologized to them for my gloominess and let them know what was going on. Just the act of knowing and confessing was freeing. Not letting the negative, depressing, uncontrollable thoughts/ situations control my life and who I am. For it says in John 14:27 (NIV) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The Lord does not want me to live in fear and he also does not want me to listen to what the world tells me but to listen to him.

And this does not stop with just fear or nor does it only come from watch we watch on tv. Remember Satan is trying to kill, steal and destroy us. He will find any way to dwell inside us through anxiety, stress, relationships, self-esteem, finances... and boy is everyday a fight to remember what holds true. The Lord is with you (and me) through every situation and emotion that we face. We are not alone in this world.

Something I was challenged to do, which I am encouraging you to do the same, is to memorize 30 scriptures to help you in life and your walk with God. Our founding pastor of City Bible Church, Brother Dick Iverson, talked about one of the key things he did when he was younger was memorize this list of scriptures to help him in every situation in his life. If he lacked money he would quote “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. He went on to say, “I would never allow me to say anything opposite of what God said about me and about the future.” What a powerful statement, a statement I want to live by. Do not let anything that is not of the Lord dwell inside you!

So as we continue on our day, may we remember to dwell in the Lord so He may become who we are.

Here is the list of verses for you:

Matthew 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;  but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 17:20. . . for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Romans 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Ephesians 6:12-17 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;  and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said,“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

CBC- 30 Scriptures to Help you Grow