As you celebrated Easter in the US last week I celebrated Easter in Kazakhstan just yesterday! Where I am currently ministering.
While celebrating Easter, I thought about the pain Jesus dealt with from the nailing of His body on the cross and the additional pain from the crown of thrones placed on his head.
As many of you know, it’s one thing to deal with pain in the body and another to experience pain in or on your head.
Jesus not only bore the tormenting pain for our bodies but also for our minds.
Everything that causes our minds to stress, worry, or feel troubled – Jesus bore it.
He bore our griefs and sorrows.
Isaiah 53:4 says, “Yet, we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
“Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace.”
In other words, Jesus took upon Himself the beating, pain, suffering, and torture caused by our choices upon Himself, so we no longer have to deal with the pain of it but walk in complete wholeness and peace.
What thoughts are you wrestling with that are stealing your peace?
Is it the thoughts of shame or guilt from a mistake?
Is it the thoughts of worry or stress?
Jesus has already put it upon Himself; you no longer have to carry it!
Jesus said cast your cares upon me!
You can now have the mind of Christ.
All we need to do is humble ourselves, lay it down before Him, and be honest so that we can walk in His peace in exchange.
We no longer have to allow worry or a mistake to cause restlessness in our minds.
Here are some ways to handle your thoughts:
1. Take It Captive- You have the power and authority to take every thought captive that is not obedient to God. To take captive is to arrest. Arrest your thoughts and ask, “How did you get in here?” Notice how it enters your mind, throw it out, and fix the way it entered in. Stand on 2 Corinthians 10:4-6.
2. Cast Them – As I said, some of us take it upon ourselves when we need to cast them upon Jesus. God has the wisdom to handle all things. Stand on 1 Peter 5:7.
3. Confess – Confess over your mind and say, “I have the mind of Christ.” Start to think the way He thinks. By confessing over your mind, you are renewing and transforming it and will begin to think about pure things. Stand on Romans 12:2.
Philippians 4:6-8 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
