The Marriage Mastermind

The term mastermind is the popular phrase now to get information and direct access from an industry expert in record time. They are bursts of quality expertise in a crash course to propel you to success in whatever field you are investing in.

The question we propose is - What would a Marriage Mastermind look like?

The best of the best would offer their strategic and time-tested remedies for every imaginable marriage dilemma. Perhaps there would be an offer to improve your marriage within a certain timeframe guaranteed or you and your spouse's money back. This mastermind might include a book, course or several sessions aimed at the most common painpoints that most couples experience.

This actually sounds great, but maybe a tad unrealistic. Marriage is not a "one size fits all" relationship project. It is complex, dynamic and involves much more work than a mere marriage mastermind solution.

Ironically however, there is a mastermind behind the idea of marriage. Its author is God Himself. It is stated in the Bible that "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder". The idea of "one flesh" in marriage is referring to both body and soul. Only God can do that. He is the inventor of marriage.

If He cannot fix your marriage, no one can.

Knowing God's mind on the topic of marriage would change everything about how we approach this relationship, right? It is as if, you invested in a brand new technology and just tried to figure it out on your own without ever reading the instructions. You may have some workable solutions to navigate its use and functions, but there would still be so much untapped potential and underused value.

Fortunately for us there is a guidebook for marriage and its inventor is readily available to assist us in understanding the value and great potential in our relationships. That guidebook is the Bible and the inventor is God.

He is The Mastermind and when we have the mind of Christ, we can know His great intentions and design for the institution of marriage. Not only that, but He gives us the Holy Spirit (who never leaves us), to ensure that our lives are aligned with His perfect will. You can't ask for more than a personal technician on call 24/7!

We don't know all the answers to marriage problems or claim to have all solutions, but we do know the One who does. Make Him your consultant and let the Master guide you.

Sound Mind

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.

What are you thinking about right now? Is it good, pleasant, of good report, virtuous? I need to check my thoughts often. They are not always God-honoring and good. It takes practice to develop a sound mind.

A sound mind also refers to a right mind. When we are not in our right minds, we are being controlled by some other outside force. There once was a demon in the book of Mark that no person could tame. He was out of control and out of his mind. Why? Well...there were thousands of demons controlling him. Jesus casted them all out and they ran into a herd of pigs which dove into the sea (Mark 5).

When we do not surrender our minds to the will of God, we leave them open, fully exposed, to be occupied by whatever comes along. The enemy wanders around seeking for persons that he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). You may have heard that an idle mind is the devil's playground. It's true. Let the Holy Spirit occupy your thoughts so that the enemy does not stand a chance!

Prayer: Lord, I surrender my mind and thoughts to You. Remove anything that is contrary to Your Word and fill me with Phil 4:8 thinking. Teach me to master my mind for your glory in Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Action: Practice meditation. Not the kind that empties your mind, but the kind that focuses your mind on the Words of God in the Bible. Take one scripture and fill your mind and heart with it until there is no room for doubt.

Watch the Scope: https://www.periscope.tv/anitamckaney/1mrxmzWnYOqKy

Renewing the Reprobate Mind

When our conscious is "seared" as the Bible calls it, we become immune to the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit to lead us in the right direction. Like a person who has been burned, we are calloused to conviction. This is a dangerous place to be. One becomes so accustomed to sin in their lives that it does not worry them. It does not feel bad, it actually feels pretty good. The heart is incorrigible. You do not want to become numb to what is holy.

You know you have gone blind when you can "see nothing wrong" with something that God has called sin.

The definition of reprobate is an unprincipled person, destined to damnation and morally depraved. The only cure for the reprobate mind is the renewed mind. The old man must die completely. Renewal is the state of being made brand new.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 speaks of dead, dry bones being brought "back to life". When we are dead to Christ, we cannot hear, see or respond to God's love. However, a renewed life is awake and aware of its surroundings. It is fresh and refreshing to those around it. 

People say, "I can't hear God" or "I can't understand spiritual things", of course not, you are dead to it until you are born again. After repeated exposure to the world (which is the enemy of Christ) it acts as an anesthetic to your soul and spirit. You cannot feel until this condition is reversed. When we are becoming un-numb, it is often uncomfortable. It tingles as you awake from this sleep. There are sensations that you are becoming more aware of in the spirit when you are born again. It's like an infant who is born and screams at the change in environment. It's new, but you have to change and grow. God loves you too much to leave you as you are.

Lord, stir someone's dry bones today. Let them awake from their dead state. I also pray for those who are headed down a road that leads to a reprobate mind. Have mercy Lord and change their hearts and minds. I speak to those dead places in the hearts and minds of fools who say there is no God. Reveal your power to them and save the lost. Restore the spiritually dead. Keep them from becoming hard-hearted to your Love in Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Bones, Thugs and Harmony message