..hollow and deceitful philosophies..

..as the student of the Word that I am I need to get to the bottom of thoughts and find the "black and white" that the Lord has given me whenever I think He is saying something to me..
my JOG "homework" for this week was to look up some verses that speak about me being complete in Christ, so that I could counter the lie I am believing and replace it with the TRUTH.
I am then going to memorize some of those so that when the old deceitful thoughts want to creep up I can take them captive to the obedience of Christ and filter them through this beautiful verse the Lord has given us:  Finally, brothers, 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.....( Phil 4:8 )
so, if my thoughts don't fit with this verse, I am going to have a truth tucked away in my mind to think about... something that just by nature, it being the Word of God is all those things Phil 4:8 talks about...


.. so here we go... this is the passage I will memorize..


Colossians 2

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ( Colossians 2:1-10)

As I have been reading through this, something else hit me.. it is interesting how it speaks about that we have to make sure no one takes us captive through "hollow and deceptive philosophy".... I was watching a show that my daughters are watching and had taped last night and even as I was watching I realized how it was all about finding all we need in that one romantic relationship... 3 couples were getting together in this one episode, all teenagers and as a mother of a teenager I was saddened how they were all falling for some empty promises, and at the same time I realized what it was doing to me... I all of a sudden felt the need to experience the exhilarating feeling of that first kiss.... just after I had made up my mind that this was not what I wanted to focus on. I turned off the tv ... took these thoughts captive and rather read through yesterday's blog again.... so in this passage, no surprise, God has a lot more for me than just confirming that my fullness, my completeness is found in Him alone, it also educates and guides me even further..

He is and gives me all I need and that is a fact. proven to me over and over again. Oh what a merciful and patient Father I have... I love Him with all my heart.