We all have to deal with stress from everyday life, the pressures at work, raising our children, people doing us wrong or regretting a mistake that was made. There are a lot of reasons to get discouraged, disappointed or live offended. Jesus says “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you”. John 15:3
These things are like toxins that contaminate our minds, cloud our vision, and take our joy. We can’t stop them from coming, but we don’t have to allow them to stay. Every morning, you need to do a cleansing, where you release any worry, you forgive the people who did you wrong, and you come back to a place of peace, knowing that God is in control.
You need to develop this process of release, a habit where you daily forgive, let go of hurts, daily renew your mind, and remind yourself who God says you are. Daily grateful, thanking God for what He has done. When you have this daily cleansing, things can’t build up. Sure they are going to come, but you don’t let them stay.
The scripture says “Joy comes in the morning”. During the day doubt may come, worry may come and a tough day at the office may come. Those toxic thoughts bring fear and worry. Our spirit can become heavy and our minds contaminated but going through cleansing by taking our joy will make things much better. (Psalm 30:5)
Joy is there in the morning but it won’t do you any good if you are holding on to the negative. You have to go through this cleansing, where you release all that is bothering you. Release the lies that are telling you it’s never going to change, release the worry, the offence or the guilt.
Joy is there, God hand-delivered it, but you have to receive it. When you wake up, “Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for giving me a breath to breathe. Thank you that your plans for me are for good. I know this is the day you have made, I’m going to choose to rejoice and live this day happy”.
The scripture says “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) Notice, not month by month, daily there is the need to be renewed. I wonder how many of us are carrying things that are contaminating us, souring our attitude and straining our relationships… The guilt and shame that we don’t have to carry!
I read about how the body naturally renews itself. A leading expert said that one of the reasons we sleep is to cleanse the brain. When we are asleep, fluids are flowing over our brain that flush out the waste that was accumulated during the day. Otherwise, they can build up and contribute to Alzheimer (a brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and thinking skills) and all kinds of diseases.
God created the brain to be renewed and refreshed anytime we sleep. That happens physically, but mentally God expects us to do it. Your mind, your thoughts, your attitudes, it’s not going to renew or cleanse on its own. God said, “Day by day you need to renew it. If not, just like the physical, these toxins are going to build up and cause us harm”.
And sometimes we wonder why we don’t have the joy we used to have. Or why are we so tired, critical, jealous, and insecure? It’s not that we are a bad person or something is wrong with us, we are just not doing this cleansing. All these things that were supposed to be there 24 hours or less, we have let them stay more than 24 hours, a week, and even a month, now it has clouded our vision.
The scripture says “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24) You have to put on a new attitude, put on a fresh perspective, put on a better way of thinking. It’s not going to come to you necessarily, there is something you have to do. Be intentional about it.
It makes a difference how you start your day. Don’t start negatively, defeated, “I don’t want to go to work. I can’t stand my boss. These kids get on my nerves. My back is still hurting”. That is going to draw in negativity, and defeat, it’s going to drain your energy and lessen your creativity.
Try a different approach, “Lord, I thank you that this is going to be a great day. You said goodness and mercy are following me, that your blessings will chase me. Lord, I think it’s going to be a blessed, productive and favour-filled day”. Do you know what that is going to draw in? Breakthrough, favour, divine connections and many of God’s blessings!
RIGHT THINKING!
The scripture says “Think on things that are wholesome, things that are pure, things that are of a good report” (Philippians 4:8) You get to choose what you are going to think about. You can think about things that discourage you, and how big your problems are or think about things that light up your mood and lift your spirit.
Some things make you feel unworthy, and sometimes you blow it. Things that upset you, make you bitter, what that family member said or that coworker. Those are all toxins that are going to contaminate your life. Maybe you have been through hurts and challenges and every morning thoughts will come saying, “Look what they did to you”.
The scripture says “that He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse her (the church) with the washing of water by the word,” which you are part of (Ephesians 5:26) Just like that water washes the brain, removes the waste and keeps the brain healthy, God’s word will wash your mind and cleanse it from the toxins, the doubt or the worries.
Water has cleansing power. Just like in the natural, when you have been out all day, going to work, running errands, exercising, sweating, you get dirty. What if you said, “I’m not going to shower for a few weeks, I will probably be all right” Friends will run away from you. Your family wouldn’t want to be around you. You will smell bad and look bad. That is why most people take a shower, once or twice every day.
You have to wash off what the day put on you. It’s the same principle with our thinking. During the day you are going to get dirty, stressed, cranky co-workers, traffic, and the contract didn’t go through. You have to wash off the doubt, the worry or the offence.
The way you wash it is not with physical water but with the water of God’s word. You declare what He says about you. That is what cleanses you from the toxins, and takes away the dirt, the shame, and the discouragement.
The words of Jesus have the power to cleanse you completely. Cleanse your mind from the doubt, from thoughts saying you will never meet the right person, never get well, and never break the addiction.
Don’t let those toxins stay. They will build up and keep you from your destiny. You know this secret: wash it away with the water of God’s word, “Father, thank you that a divine connection is coming. You said no good thing would you withhold because I walk uprightly”. (Psalm 84:11)
Start doing a daily cleansing. Every morning release the negative, release the worry, and come back to that place of peace, knowing that God has you in the palm of His hand. He has not brought you this far to leave you. The enemy may be whispering those lies to deceive you into missing your Promised Land. Now, wash those toxins away by declaring what God says about you: strong, talented, and well-able.
If you get in this habit of daily cleansing, I decree and declare that strongholds holding you back are coming down right now. You are about to step into greater joy, peace and favour. Negative situations turning around, new doors opening, the right people showing up, and the fullness of your destiny coming to pass, in Jesus’s name.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’!
