Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and care through my dental surgery. Week one of recovery is over. I am so thankful for every prayer, every thought, every show of care and support. I am grateful to our dear friends who have hosted my husband and me in their home for the recovery.

Re: surgery – we got our miracle. The surgeon removed all my remaining teeth and pieces of teeth, cleaned out the infection, rebuilt my jawbone, and placed all the attachments to hold dentures in one surgery. I have a small set of front dentures for 5 months while the bone graphs heal. I appreciate your prayers, the surgeon said a few of the attachment areas are not strong as necessary, so we ask for prayers for the protection of God’s miracle. My health needs to be strong during these next months.

Now, as promised I will follow up on the January 13, 2021 blog post “Choice.” I had written this follow-up several weeks ago, so praying it makes some sense and blesses you.

Choice

I described two ways of responding to our thoughts when we are not pleased with ourselves. One way leads us to self-focus and discouragement, and the other leads us to the truth of who we are in Christ.

I appreciated all your comments and encouragement of how that helped you. I would love to hear more from you.

At the end of the post,  I shared an amazing truth that I said I would discuss more…

God helps us with our thinking.

So, what do I mean by that? Does God jet in and take over your thoughts? No, that would undo the free-will He gave us. He did not make robots, but free people.

How does He help us?

Let’s look to the Bible. There are hundreds of verses in the Bible that reveal how He is completely involved in our transformation process. It’s a bit tricky to understand, so hand in here.

We are being made new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking…  20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; NIV

I believe the NLT translation captures the original sense of the verse: 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes; NLT

Do we do this or does God?

There is something in the Greek language that we do not have in the English language. The following is an over-simplified explanation, but still helpful. There are three “voices” in the Greek language:

  • Passive – something is done for or to you. “A house was built for me.”
  • Middle – something you can’t do by yourself. “I participated in the building of a house.”
  • Active – something I do. “I built the house by myself.”

We do it with Him.

Many of the verbs that describe our walk with God are in the middle voice.

Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

What does this mean for us?

Take some time this week to reflect on God’s action in your life.

What things are you trying to do on your own?

Let me know what this means for you.