You asked for it Series

“YOU ASKED FOR IT SERIES”

QUESTION: What is your favorite Psalm and why?

August 17, 2008, Mike Barnett

I have more than one, but I will share with you two today that have meaning for me personally and I will attempt to explain why.

Psalm 103 says:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

OBSERVATIONS:

· David commands his soul – all his inmost being to praise God. V. 1

1. PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE AND MENTAL DISCIPLINE THAT A PERSON MAKES DESPITE THE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES – THROUGHOUT THE AGES THIS DISCIPLINE HAS BEEN CALLED EITHER “AFFIRMATION PRAYERS” OR THANKSGIVING/PRAISE BY CHRISTIANS.

· Whether you call it “affirmation prayer”, “thanksgiving” or “praise”, King David was a master at it.

· Especially when we do not feel like it, we need to tell ourselves to praise and thank God.

QUESTION: Have you ever told yourself to praise and thank God for his goodness?

· We need to discipline ourselves to not forget all his benefits. V. 2

II. REMEMBERING ALL THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU IS AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE AND IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE AND A MENTAL DISCIPLINE – WE MUST TELL OURSELVES TO DO IT EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT FEEL LIKE IT.

WHY SHOULD WE REMEMBER GOD’S BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS TO US?

1. THIS IS A FORM OF WORSHIP THAT PLEASES GOD.

2. WE WILL ATTRACT MORE OF WHAT WE DWELL ON – SO IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO DWELL ON GOD’S GOODNESS!

“WE REAP WHAT WE SOW” – A GRATEFUL THOUGHT SOWED WILL LEAD TO A HARVEST TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!

3. APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE OPEN THE DOOR TO THE HEART OF GOD.

· God responds to gratitude and thanksgiving.

· King David then gives a list of a few things we should remember and be grateful for:

BENEFITS TO REMEMBER:

1) We need to remember that God forgives us of all our sin. V. 3

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives you of your sin and heals you of your diseases”. Vs. 1-3

2) We need to remember that God heals us of all our diseases. V. 3

3) We need to remember that God redeems our life from the pit. V. 4

“Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” V. 4

4) We need to remember God gives us love and compassion. V. 4

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

5) We need to remember that God satisfies our desires with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. V. 5

“Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle”. V. 5

· God gives us the desires of our heart.

NOTE: INSTEAD OF FEELING GUILTY ABOUT HAVING DESIRES, REALIZE THAT GOD GIVES HIS CHILDREN DESIRES – PERHAPS WHAT YOU DESIRE IS DESIRING YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING IS SEEKING YOU!

· The critic within questions our desires and determines more times than not – “you are being selfish”.

· Have you ever thought, perhaps what I desire is from God.

· Perhaps God put that desire on my heart AND WHAT I AM DESIRING IS REALLY DESIRING ME.

· I believe God puts desires in our heart when he can trust us.

· If we desire something we should not have we will not get it anyway.

· The law of God is perfect and will balance all motives.

· I need to remind myself that God is righteous and just and works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. V. 6

6) We need to remember that God’s laws are perfect and everyone will reap what they sow in the end. V. 6

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” V.6

Some of God’s laws that Jesus spoke of:

· A person will reap what they sow.

· People will treat you according to how you treat them.

· What you resist persists.

· What you give will be given back to you.

· You will be forgiven accordingly to how you forgive others.

· As you bless, so you will be blessed.

· He made known his ways to Moses – He revealed the Law to him. V. 7

7) We need to remember that God will make wise ways known to us when we desire to know the truth. V.7

“He made known his wise ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:” V. 7

James 1:5-7 says:

5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

8) We need to remember that God is compassionate love - slow to anger, abounding in love! Vs. 8-13

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Vs. 8-13

1 John 4:16-18 says:

16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

· God is slow to get angry and so should we be.

9) We need to remember that God forgives us of our sin and does not keep a record of our wrongs nor gives us what we deserve after we come to faith in Christ. Vs. 9-10

“He will not always accuse nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Vs. 9-10

· It just amazing me how many professing Christian today want “sinners” to get what they deserve.

· If we all got what we deserved we would not be alive in Christ today.

NOTE: FULLY EMBRACING THE FACT THAT AS A “CHRIST FOLLOWER”, GOD DOES NOT KEEP A RECORD OF MY WRONGS WILL EMPOWER ME TO NOT KEEP A RECORD OF OTHER PEOPLE’S WRONGS AGAINST ME.

· He will not always accuse, nor will he arbor his anger forever…nor should we. 9

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

· He does not treat us as our sins deserve. V. 10

· For as high as the Heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. V. 11

· He has removed our transgressions from us as far as the East is from the West. V. 12

· We need to remember that: As a father has compassion on his children. So the Lord has compassion on those who fear and revere him. V. 13

· For He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. V. 14

· As for man, his days are like grace, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Vs. 15-16

10) We need to remind ourselves that our time on this earth is very short and of the urgency to make good and responsible decisions with the little time we have left. Vs. Vs. 14-19

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all. Vs. 13-19

· I need to remember that only God’s love is eternal and get in step with it. V. 17

· If I can get into the current of God’s love, then I will think eternal thoughts, speak eternal words and do eternal works that do not fade away.

· Others will benefit from my “love current” like my kids. V. 17

· These are the good decisions that please the Lord.

· To love our wives as Christ loved the church.

· To be “Jesus” to our kids.

· “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all”. V. 19

· Most people think this is some far off place.

· But Jesus reminds us that: “The Kingdom of Heaven is inside of you”.

11) We need to remember that God’s Kingdom is inside of us believers in Christ; as well as outside of us and everywhere God is, because He is omnipresent. V. 19

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all”. V. 19

· Jesus spoke of the Kingdom as being all around us and even inside of us now.

Luke 17:20-21 says:

20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within^[a] you."

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says:

16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says:

19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

· Scientists now believe that what we perceive to be empty space is actually alive with intelligence.

· It is influenced and responds to human thought, and emotion better known as prayer and faith!

· “Ask anything in my name, believe you have received it and it shall be yours”.

· Scientists for years have called this empty space “ether”.

· Mystics have called it “universal mind” for years because it is an intelligent force field that responds to human thought and emotion.

· I and King David and countless others call it God who is everywhere – omnipresent and all knowing.

· God is omnipresent meaning he is inside of us and outside of us wherever we go – God is there.

· So God’s thrown in Heaven is where we are because God is there.

· God’s thrown is everywhere in the Universe and not just some far off distant place called Heaven.

· V. 20 – “Praise the Lord, you his angels you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.”

12) We need to remember that God sends his angels to minister to us at His spoken word. Vs. 20-22

· If God sent his angels at the written word – there would be no spiritual warfare.

Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

· What does this mean – the angles who obey his word.

· I always thought it meant the angles who obey his written word.

· And I think that is partially true.

· However my understanding has changed as of late.

· However in this context, throughout the Psalm, David is speaking God’s Word.

· He is making Prayer affirmations to God where he is declaring God’s truth.

· I believe that the angels who do God’s bidding, who obey his word, is referring to the spoken word that believers recite.

· King David, throughout this Psalm is reciting and speaking God’s Word.

· The angels take that spoken word to create miracles out of it.

· Jesus said, “Whatever we loose in Heaven will be loosed on earth and “Whatever we bind in Heaven will be bound on earth. John 16:16-18

· Jesus said, whoever has the faith of a mustard seed can say to this mountain, “Be uprooted and cast into the sea and it will obey you”.

· Jesus told his disciples that even demons would obey them.

· In the practice of Kabala (the mystical branch of Judaism) it is believed that angels are bundles of energy created by our thoughts.

· It is believed that demons are bundles of energy created by our thoughts.

· They believed that every time you thought good thoughts, you created angels that worked on your behalf to protect you and bless you.

· They also believed that every time you thought hurtful and negative thoughts you created your own demons that sabotaged your life.

· I kind of like how the Kabalist thinks because it puts the responsibility on the person and not some demon out there that is harassing them.

· As Christians we know from God’s word that we do not create angels and demons with our thoughts and words….

· However we do know both angels and demons respond to our thoughts, words and actions.

· That’s why the apostle Paul tells us: “TO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD THROUGH OUR ANGER”.

Ephesians 4:22-27 says:

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.

· You can put yourself in spiritual warfare by thinking, speaking and behaving in sin.

· That’s why Paul tells Christians in Ephesians 6 – “TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD”.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

· While the Bible tells us that angels are created by God and that there are a fixed number of them and that the demons are just angels that rebelled against God…

· The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is the one who is in us than the one who is in the world.”

· Reciting God’s truth summons the angels to do God’s bidding!

“Praise the Lord, all his heavenly host, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.” Vs. 20-22

· Angels respond to God’s spoken word through our lips. Vs. 20-22

Matthew 16:19 says:

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[f] loosed in heaven."

· Praise the Lord all my soul.

· In the Psalms King David uses a lot of “AFFIRMATION PRAYERS” – Statements of truth that are recited back to God as worship.

· “Those who worship God, worship him in spirit and truth”

NOTE – AFFIRMATION PRAYERS RELEASE GOD’S POWER THROUGH HIS MINISTERING ANGELS ALL AROUND US!

· As we recite these affirmations back to God, that are his written and now spoken word, the angels use them to deliver to us more of what the spoken words says.

· So if we speak of God’s abundance like James 1:17 – “every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows”, we will experience more of God’s gifts in our lives.

Why does that happen.

Because the angels obey God’s word.

APPLICATION: A GREAT METHOD THAT HELPS TO BREAK OLD, DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS THAT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD IS TO PRACTICE AFFIRMATION PRAYERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHERE I SPEAK GOD’S TRUTH.

Examples:

“God, I thank you for answering my prayer in your way and in your time for the good of all concerned”.

“Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows”.

“God, I love you, I am sorry, please forgive me, thank you”.

“Jesus have mercy on me a redeemed sinner”

“God, I thank you that my sins are forgiven, I am redeemed and I have new life in Christ.

“God is love and perfect love casts out all fear”

“There is nothing but God and God is love. Devine love prospers me in all my affairs”.

“God you are good all the time and I receive your goodness and give it back to you by giving to others in need”.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”

“God, I thank you that I am no longer a victim of external circumstances – In Christ I am victorious!”

“God is in me and I am in God – there is nothing to fear”

“My past does not equal my future -This is a new day and I receive it”.

“God prospers me in all my ways”

“God, your will be done, your Kingdom come into my life!”

“God, I thank you for your Angels that guard over me in all my ways”.

QUESTION: Is there more information on God sending angels to protect and minister to us?

Yes – Psalm 91

IN FACT ALL OF PSALM 91 IS A GREAT AFFIRMATION PRAYER!

PSALM 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[a]

2 I will say ^[b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

· Note how King David uses “Prayer affirmations” again, that is, he continually verbalized truths about God back to God.

· Affirmation Prayer is both a form of prayer and a form of worship and thanksgiving to God.

· King David models something for us in his psalms – Prayer is more than just begging God for what we need, it includes thanking God for what we need as if it were already accomplished.

· If a Christian is always praying something like, God help me to be a good husband and father over and over again without results…..

· Then I recommend he praise it in the affirmative.

· “God I thank you that I am a good husband and father and you are empowering me to be a better husband and a better father everyday”.

· How come perpetual begging does not work?

· Because it implies you do not yet have what you are seeking.

· And while Jesus told us to ask, seek, know…there comes a cut off mark when our asking must turn to believing!

· Why do affirmation prayers work?

· “Affirmation prayers” work because they thank God as if the need is already met – this is believing!

Mark 11:22-24 says:

22"Have^[a] faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

· Here’s the balance – Ask the first time, or even a few times….but after that thank God it is happening!

· Now your faith is activated and faith moves mountains!

· In Palm 91, King David speaks of God being a shelter and a shadow that hides us from our enemies and pain. Vs. 1-2

· I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust”. V. 3

· He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge. V.4

· King David goes on to speak of God’s protection for his children who trust in him.

· “ A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you…You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Vs. 7-8

· You may say: “Well what about the husband who never comes homes and is killed in the car accident or the wife that gets breast cancer and dies at a young age leaving three kids behind?”

· TRUTH: OTHER PEOPLE’S TRAGEDIES DO NOT HAVE TO BECOME MY REALITY – GOD HAS SENT HIS ANGELS TO GUARD ME AGAINST EVERYTHING HE DOES NOT WANT ME TO EXPERIENCE. Psalm 91

· 90% of the population today will not experience those severe tragedies and I plan on being one of the spared ones.

· You can bring tragedy, disease, pain and even death on yourself by thinking it can happen.

· If you do as King David does and recite God’s promises you will be protected from disease, accidents and even death.

· How does it work?

· Could what the kabalists have taught me be true.

· When we speak of God’s protection we create Guardian angels that protect us from harm?

· While the Bible does not teach that we create angels – God already has.

· I believe our affirmation prayers to God are used to summon the Angels.

· At the very least, I think the Christian has to concede the truth that affirmation prayers such as the ones King David used summons the protection of the angels to guard us and protect us from harm, disease and pestilence.

· “If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. V. 10

· For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Vs. 11-12

· “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. Vs. 14-16

· Again, King David models “affirmation prayers – where we take God’s truth and God’s promises and recite them back to God.

· Perhaps this act of trust and worship summons the angels more than any other to protect and to bless God’s children.

· This is precisely why I have you recite scripture and prayers containing God’s truth to God.

· God not only uses such statements of truth to build up our faith, but they act as worship to God and can be the catalyst God uses to bring the angels to our side.

TRUTH: BIBLE TRUTH, FAITH AND GRATITUDE IS A POWERFUL COMBINATION THAT GOD USES TO SUMMON THE ANGELS TO MINISTER TO YOU. AT THE VERY LEAST GOD RECEIVED YOUR SPOKEN “AFFIRMATION PRAYERS” AS WORSHIP.

THE TRUTH ABOUT AFFIRMATION PRAYER/THANKSGIVING

1. SPEAKING GOD’S TRUTH OUT LOUD AS “AFFIRMATION PRAYERS” AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD SUMMONS THE ANGELS TO ACT ON YOUR BEHALF!

Mark 11:22-24 says:

2. SPEAKING GOD’S TRUTH OUT LOUD AS “AFFIRMATION PRAYERS” AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD IS WORSHIP TO GOD!

TRUTH: WE BREAK AWAY FROM THE SAME OLD PAINFUL PROBLEMS WHEN WE BEGIN TO THINK AND ACT IN NEW HEALTHY PATTERNS.

THINK RIGHT

Philippians 4:4-8 says:

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, 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.

2 Corinthians10:5 says:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 says:

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:22-24 says:

APPLICATION: A GREAT METHOD THAT HELPS TO BREAK OLD, DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHT PATTERNS IS TO PRACTICE AFFIRMATION PRAYERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY WHERE I SPEAK GOD’S TRUTH.