Laurie Hopkins

In Biblical days, men wore robes that went down around their legs and ankles.
When they needed to move quickly they needed to “gird up” or tuck up their robes so they wouldn’t become tangled in them and their movement wouldn’t be hindered. 
Peter talks about girding up the loins of your mind. 
Our thought life greatly impacts our ability to move forward in God. 
What we entertain in our thoughts impacts our desires, motivations and ability to follow through.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
It is vitally important that we learn to pull together and tuck in the loose ends in our thinking that we don’t find ourselves distracted or discouraged by the negative self-talk we often engage in. 
What we think in our mind, also, often comes out of our mouth.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
 How is your thought life today? 
Be honest. 
If we truly want to move forward in God, we need to do an honest assessment of ourselves.
And then, if we truly want to move forward in God, we need to make a conscious and intentional decision to get our thought life under control.
 It is not meant to be long and flowing, swirling around the ankles of our minds, hindering our movement. 
It is meant to be “girded up”, tucked firmly in the Word of the Lord, allowing us free movement in the Father. 
What do you need to “gird up” today?

In Biblical days, men wore robes that went down around their legs and ankles.
When they needed to move quickly they needed to “gird up” or tuck up their robes so they wouldn’t become tangled in them and their movement wouldn’t be hindered. 
Peter talks about girding up the loins of your mind. 
Our thought life greatly impacts our ability to move forward in God. 
What we entertain in our thoughts impacts our desires, motivations and ability to follow through.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
It is vitally important that we learn to pull together and tuck in the loose ends in our thinking that we don’t find ourselves distracted or discouraged by the negative self-talk we often engage in. 
What we think in our mind, also, often comes out of our mouth.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
 How is your thought life today? 
Be honest. 
If we truly want to move forward in God, we need to do an honest assessment of ourselves.
And then, if we truly want to move forward in God, we need to make a conscious and intentional decision to get our thought life under control.
 It is not meant to be long and flowing, swirling around the ankles of our minds, hindering our movement. 
It is meant to be “girded up”, tucked firmly in the Word of the Lord, allowing us free movement in the Father. 
What do you need to “gird up” today?

God was talking to and about the children of Israel. 
God was with them in a very real and physical way in the desert, after he brought them out of Egypt, in the cloud by night and the pillar of fire by day. 
He fed them, provided for them and led them those 40 years during very difficult and trying times.
But once they settled in the Promised Land, and were filled, they exalted themselves, took credit for where they found themselves and they forgot the Lord. 
We often criticize the children of Israel, but the reality is that we often find ourselves in similar situations. 
When we are in trouble, when there are needs, when we “want”, we spend time before the Lord with our petitions. 
But when things settle out and get busy, we slowly trade in our “quiet” time with the Lord for the other things that are pressing in on and around us. 
We begin to boast in our good fortune as though we were responsible for it and we forget the very Lord that brought us through the difficult and trying times.
We place Him on a shelf for the next time we need Him to deal with our troubles. 
Oh that we would learn to put our Lord first, to prioritize our time with Him and to turn to Him, not only in the trying times, but in the times of plenty. 
That is the time when we will grow in that intimate relationship with the Lord; which will prepare us to be victorious in the difficult and trying times. 
Take some time, even now, and sit in His Presence.  He is waiting on you!