Guard Your Mind

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."

~Proverbs 29:11

You've heard that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but it can also be a dangerous place to hang out. Have you ever had something happen that probably wasn't a big deal but you dwelled on it; or obsessed about something you said; or what someone else may have said about something you said or did until it had grown in your mind and you became depressed, anxious, or angry?

Our minds are a playground for disaster if we don't understand how to control our thoughts, or how to deal with those thoughts when we do have them. It is normal for us to replay events in our minds, especially if we are in a position to influence others. A person who gives an important presentation to executives for instance may replay the event, and instead of remembering the great points they made, they remember everything they 'should have' said instead. 

Dwelling on these types of thoughts can lead to self-criticism, condemnation, and depression. We can wind up paralyzed into not wanting to go forward, or face those we think we've let down because we think we have failed. But this is a trick of the devil, who wants us to fail completely. 

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

Everything we do, every move we make, every word we say, begins in our minds. It's there that we must exercise godly wisdom and control. I often tell my children and grandchildren, "Just because it's in your head, doesn't mean it has to come out of your mouth." And just because it's in our heads, doesn't mean we have to act or dwell on it. Not everything we think is good for us.

"If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:21-24)."

Our minds are a terrible thing to waste on thoughts that defeat our growth and progress in life. We have to control what we think about ourselves, believing what God says about us instead of what the world says. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm (Ephesians 6:10-13)."

Read 
Numbers 22:1-26:34
1 Chronicles 7:13-19

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018

An Inconvenient Truth

"Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
~Psalm 139:16


I have given birth to seven children, which was a miracle considering I have also miscarried that same number of times. Each loss of pregnancy was heart-wrenching and devastating. I feel the same way about every child that is lost due to abortion. I believe abortion is murder and the worst kind of murder. It's the murder of an innocent baby, no different than if someone puts a gun to a toddler's head and pulls the trigger or wraps their hands around a six year old's neck and squeezes the life from them. In fact, I think the same people who perform abortions might be outraged over someone murdering an innocent child. Yet, about 3,000 innocent children are murdered daily in abortion clinics nation wide.

In spite of that, I do not want to stand on my soapbox and scream, "Ban abortion!" I remember the days before Roe v. Wade when back alley abortions killed women, and when women tried to perform their own abortions with knitting needles and coat hangers. No one should die because they feel they've made a mistake they absolutely cannot live with.

On the other hand, I believe in the sanctity of life, and that we are all created by God. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you...(Jeremiah 1:5)." We are created in God's image, and we are loved beyond measure by Him. So what is the answer?

We live in a fallen world and until that changes, there is no solution that will please everyone. Ultimately, I would like to see abortion clinics close because there is no reason for them. I would like to see abstinence prevail so there are no "unwanted" pregnancies. I would like to see hearts and minds turn to God and away from the lusts of this world. 

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)."

Jesus is the answer. No matter what question we have, Jesus is the answer. No child should be murdered because they are an inconvenience. There are alternative decisions that saves lives. 

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these' (Matthew 19:14)."

Read Numbers 19-21

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018

Keep Asking

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
~John 15:7

I have prayed and prayed for some things that I've not seen an answer to. It's very discouraging sometimes not to see our prayers answered, and we can incorrectly assume God is saying "no." Sometimes, God is saying "wait, the timing isn't right." We can be impatient when we are waiting for an answer to prayer and stop praying about that particular thing. But if we are faithful and walk in the ways of the Lord, we can be assured He hears us.

"And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us (1 John 5:14)."

My paternal grandmother was a godly woman who prayed daily for the salvation of her children and grandchildren. She passed away in 1981 without seeing any of us saved. But just because she died didn't mean her prayers went unanswered. Our prayers do not fall on deaf ears when we pray according to the word of God. But a few years later, not only did I come to salvation but so did my mother and then, my father. The Lord continues to honor my grandmother's prayers. 

I prayed for my husband's salvation for eighteen years before he came to the Lord, and I continue to pray for my children and and grandchildren to all receive salvation. Whether or not I will see each of them come to the Lord, I don't know. I do know God will answer my prayers for them whether I am here or not.

"The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29)."

No matter how long you've been praying without seeing an answer, don't get discouraged or take it to mean God said no, or isn't listening. His timing is not ours, His ways are not ours, but rest assured that He has the perfect plan to answer your prayers. And no matter how it looks, continue to pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)!

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9)."

Read Numbers 16-18

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018

Hold Fast

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside."
~Job 23:10-11

Job had a few problems in life, and I think we can all relate to one extent or another. Life leads us down some rough paths once in a while. We experience loss in life from the loss of dreams to the loss of jobs, marriages, and loved ones. Nothing is ever certain no matter how carefully we plan, and being a Christian is not an exemption from the pain of life. However, it is a guarantee that God will see us through no matter how rough the storm gets.

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7)."

The trials of life test us - our character and our faith, and shows us what we are made of. God allows us to experience the "downs" in life for a couple of reasons: 1) It builds our faith and dependence on God 2) It builds our character 3) It gives us a greater appreciation for the "ups" in life. Going through the valley and climbing the mountain is never easy, but standing on that mountaintop is glorious and exhilarating.

It doesn't matter what you're going through right now, or where you are. Whether you live in the White House, the wrong side of the tracks, or if you're sitting in prison - God is the same everywhere. He is looking for faithfulness that is tried and true, refined by fire and ready to move forward. Wallowing in your past or your misfortune will get you no where in life, or with God. But He also knows our limits, our ability to endure, and He makes a way out even when we can't see one. God wants us to succeed and come through stronger and better than before.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13)."

No weapon formed against you will stand (Isaiah 54:17) when the Lord is on your side. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He is always on your side and has a plan for your life. Hold fast to His steps, keep the faith, do not turn aside and your reward will be greater than any you could imagine.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

Read Numbers 8-10
(Weekend reading Numbers 11-15

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018

What Do You Desire?

"Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is nothing on Earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
~Psalm 73:25-26

Have you ever been in a situation where your knees gave out, your heart beat wildly, your stomach rolled and your blood ran cold? I have and it's a horrible feeling. My adrenaline level was so high, I thought I would pass out because my brain felt as if everything was in slow motion but my body was in hyper overdrive. I know the physiological reasons why it happens - our "old" or primitive brain goes into fight or flight mode and there's a physical response beginning with a huge dump of adrenaline. It happens when we're faced with uncertain or extreme circumstances like being held at gunpoint, getting into a car wreck, or seeing a loved one injured. It can be frightening at the time, but it's a natural response that gets us in motion.

There's another kind of response that also begins in the brain and sends signals to our body when we fall in love. A combination of testosterone, norepinephrine and serotonin all have a contributing role through their neuromodulatory effects upon dopamine and oxytocin that tells us we are in love. While we like to say it's our hearts that fall in love, it's really a chemical reaction in our brains. That aside, we do have a physical reaction to those chemicals: rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, giggly voices, increased sense of well being, butterflies in our stomachs, etc. All of the things that occur when we are near the object of our affection are what keeps us wanting to be around them.

But what of our love for God? Is that also a chemical reaction in the brain? How do we fall in love with what we can't see or touch? How do we maintain such a relationship? 

First, God created all of us to love Him (Isaiah 43:7). He calls us to love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and He called us into fellowship with Christ (1Corinthians 1:9).

Secondly, God put heavenly purpose into each one of us (Ephesians 2:10). No one was created by mistake (Jeremiah1:5) , no matter what our life circumstances might say. Each one of us was created for God's own glory (Isaiah 43:7) in God's own image ( Genesis 1:26, 5:1-2). 

We are special to God, and He treasures us above all of Creation. Learning to look at ourselves and see what God sees might be  difficult because this world has beat us down and told us we aren't worthy of that kind of love. But when we see ourselves and others the way God does, we experience a freedom we have never known before. It allows us to shake off the crud of the world that weighs us down and drags us backward.

No matter how our flesh fails, as long as we desire to follow God with all our hearts, He will be our strength forevermore.

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:9-14)."

Read Numbers 7

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018

Your First Love

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love."
~Revelation 2:4

Do you remember your first love? Mine was Michael Ashby. We were both thirteen and met at the county fair. By the time summer ended, we had planned our wedding, designed our dream home, and named our kids. But then school started and we were freshmen...high school! I met Alan, he met Cherie and our "love" was gone. Of course, over the next few years, there were several loves of my life, all just as fleeting, and although I can't remember their names, I will always remember my very first love.

Life is a busy place. We have a lot to do and it seems as if there just isn't enough time to get everything done. Some days, I don't know how I get anything done because it seems like nothing is ever really done. But the one thing we must do is remember Who we are supposed to put first above all else - Jesus Christ. 

It's easy to put off reading the Bible, praying, or taking time for praise and worship in our daily lives. It's not unusual to sit in church and tick off all the things we still need to get done if only the preacher would finish his sermon. It's common to try and finish up that one last chore, or last bit of paperwork before finally collapsing into bed without a single hallelujah passing our lips. But if Christ is truly our first love, shouldn't we make time for Him?


"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple (Psalm 27:4)."

Do you remember the day you accepted Christ as your Savior? I do. I remember the overwhelming joy and love I felt. I was so overcome that I cried for days. I couldn't even speak about what happened to me without bursting into tears. It was the greatest experience of my life. But I also remember how, as time went by, I let the duties of life creep in and replace that joy. I had a husband, a young child, a job, responsibilities to tend to. I went to church three times a week but I found myself thinking of all I could be doing if I wasn't "required" to be sitting in church. I also found that on the days I didn't go to church, I picked up my Bible less and less.

That is how the devil works. He uses the little things, the normal things of life to subvert our attention from God. It is up to us to be diligent and watchful. There is nothing more important in life than our relationship with the Lord, and like any relationship, we have to nurture it. 

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)."

There is a spiritual battle we all must be aware of. Once we become a Christian, we are a target for the demons of hell. The devil knows how the story ends, and he's determined to take as many as he can to hell with him. He knows the Word of God better than we do! He can also appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), sneaky as he is.

But what he does and who he is won't matter if we keep our first Love first. Jesus first. Jesus first thing in the morning by thanking Him, reading Scripture, and prayer. Jesus throughout the day by meditating on His Word, and speaking to Him when we have a moment alone. Jesus at every meal; Jesus at dinner with our families. Jesus before bed; no matter how exhausted we are, there is time to thank Him for our day. 

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples (John 15:5-8)."

Read Numbers 4:34-6:27

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha © 2018

Where's Your Self-Control?

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
~1 Timothy 1:7

When I look around at the world today, I don't see a lot of love or self-control. I do see a lot of fear and hatred, and people out of control who are trying to control what others think, say, or do. This world is in complete contrast to what Jesus teaches. In fact, biblical teachings and the world around us is diametrically opposed. The world says what is right is wrong; what is wrong is right; what is up is down, and what is day is night. Everything we see around us is contrary to the Bible.

We could go back to the Garden of Eden and dissect mankind throughout history, but we would still be able to conclude that humans make really bad choices based on emotion, desire, and selfishness. We haven't really evolved much since Cain killed Able. I think our technology just allows us to see human depravity up close and personal. Before we had computer technology, it was much easier to pretend the degradation of society either didn't exist, or it didn't affect us. Now, it's in our face 24/7.

In spite of all that, Jesus' words are still true today. He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). He is still the light of the world (John 8:12), and there is still only one right path to follow (John 14:6). 

 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14)."

It is easy to do the wrong thing; to follow the crowd; to think only of right now; to be selfish; to indulge in our cravings; to revel in fleshly desires - it is easy to be a sinner and the devil laughs with delight with every step we take in the wrong direction. What is that saying... The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing man he doesn't exist? Absolutely.

Or, as the song, "When I Die" by Blood, Sweat & Tears says, "I can swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell... only my dying will tell."

I pray no one finds out about hell the hard way. Once we die, all second chances have ended. There is no way to change our minds once we stand before Truth. Most people think the worst part of hell is the sulphur and brimstone, but I think it's the eternal separation from God, knowing we had the choice but chose selfish desires over the King of Glory. Choose today the path you take and remember, it has eternal consequences.

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)."

Read Numbers 3:1-4:33

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha ©2018