Power Of The Cut Off Point

Power Of The Cut Off Point

Key Scripture:  "My thoughts are higher!"  Isaiah 55

"They are good thoughts to give you a future and a hope!"  Jeremiah 29:11  

Power Point:

     When our Hannah was a baby, she would eat and eat and eat.  She just really loved her food. One day, I was sitting with her and feeding her and my daughter-in-law Kim said, "You just have to stop.  She really has no "cut off" point. What she was saying was that she no internal gauge that told her when enough was enough. I've been there. How about you?

     I have friends who love to send me those "forwarded" emails.  The problem is they have no cut off point. I love my friends and its easy for me to push "delete", but I think that there needs to be a preset number which sets a healthy boundary on how many they will send on a given day. Some people have no cut off point when they shop. Others they may not be able to cut off anger, or a critical spirit.

     Fear needs to have a cut off point doesn't it?  Depression needs to have a cut off point.  Don't you think self-pity and unbelief need to be cut off at the knees?   Have you ever found yourself entertaining negative ideas that rob you of faith and hope?  You may find your brain full of those "faith stealers" one day and realize that they started with just a few thoughts and now you are in the middle of an avalanche of hopelessness.

Jesus gave us some really good advice.  He said, "Don't!"

Don't be afraid.

Don't worry.

Don't live in strife.

Don't doubt.

Don't give up!

     If He told us NOT to do something, that must mean we have a choice, right?  In other words, we can choose to have a cut off point for all of those things! We can set boundaries on whatever we think or do. The very first moment that we realize that those thoughts or actions have gained a foothold, is the time we must take them captive and send them running. We have the power to know the difference, Beloved.  We have the power to loose that way of thinking and acting from ourselves and we have the power to bind ourselves to the power of God to help us to "Don't GO there"!

     Maybe you've found yourself in the middle of a muddle, submerged in hopelessness. Is it time to cut that off?  You opened the door a  

crack and Satan has come running in full force to steal God's promises, kill your faith, and destroy your dreams. Cut him off. How?

Paul tells us exactly how in chapter 4 of Philippians.  He says, "Summing it all

up friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst, the beautiful not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse."

    If we cut off the faith stealers before they start, "before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down."

     "It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

When your mind is centered on what God has promised you, the outcome that He has for you in this place, and most importantly, His absolutely faithful goodness, then you can keep focused on His goal for you, and everything He has for you. What if you concentrated on things like, multiplied grace and peace, good plans to give you a future and a hope, and the promise of a reward for your faith?

     In Philippians 3 Paul says, "So, let's keep focused on the goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you has something less in mind, something less that total commitment, God will clear our blurred vision-you'll see it yet!"

DON'T allow worry and fear to knock you out of the race. Make sure they have a "cut off point". DO think on those things that Jesus thinks about all the time. 

Power Thought:

Faith should never have a cut off point but hopelessness and unbelief certainly should! You get to choose!