Momentum For Monday, November 15th 2021

“I don’t think the way you think…” (Isaiah 55:8)

Recently, I competed in a tournament that just happened to be one of the toughest and biggest tournaments in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. To give perspective, this specific tournament would be the equivalent to the trials for the Olympics. Winners from their region of the world move on to compete in a world championship next year.

I’ll spare you most of the details, but after weighing in and waiting to compete for seven hours, I finally got my first match. I had six minutes of grappling but ended with a loss by points. Not the worst thing that could have happened, but not good either. Here’s one thing that was super annoying though, my competitor’s coach was the loudest thing I heard in my head for six solid minutes.

When the pressure is on, do you realize how frustrating it is to hear every detail of how your opponent should come at you? After the match, I told her coach that she was absolutely annoying in the best way possible. The coach did exactly as she should have and to be quite honest, she coached her so well.

I couldn’t help but draw my paralleled conclusion, a lesson I learned by failure and intimacy with Christ over time- not every thought you think is your own. Yep, you don’t have to abide and own every single thought that comes into your mind. Like my frustrating six-minute match, sometimes what you hear is coming from the enemy.

This is why knowing Scripture is absolutely imperative. The more we read and see the character of God throughout the Bible in its entirety, we can learn his character and heart to weed out the imposter enemy masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:4). While there is no short-cut to learning from relationship, don’t be afraid to take the time to understand and ask God to show you where you are believing lies in your thought-life.

Freedom comes from the truth (John 8:32). The more truth you wield in your life, the more freedom you will walk about in freedom. So, check your thoughts y’all. Where did you hear some of your core beliefs? If they are not embedded in Scripture, you can be holding on to things that keep you bound.

Don’t be afraid to let God correct your thinking. Some of the greatest milestones in my walk with Christ happened after he challenged how I was thinking and living. It’s not easy (and will always be an on-going process), sometimes you’ll make mistakes, but what we stand to gain is much more valuable than some medal and title. Freedom is priceless.

“I will walk with you in complete freedom, for I seek to follow your every command.”

(Psalm 119:45)