NDP 2021 - PRAY FOR PURPOSE

Our Heavenly Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus, today, we do not know what another day holds, oh Lord, but we know You do. You, Mighty Father, see the end from the beginning and You alone know the plans You have for us.

Plans for righteousness, if we accept the free gift of Grace and salvation.

Plans for holiness, if we reject the world and are not one with this perverse and perishing generation.

Plans for a peaceful life, if we do not complicate our personal, emotional, and spiritual lives by sinful living.

Plans for anointed living if we walk in Your ways and embed ourselves in Thy Holy and Precious Word – the Bible.

Lord, You did not give us a spirit of fear, but of boldness, courage, a sound mind, self-discipline and the Power to execute our appointed mission as Your bondservants until You call us Home. So, Lord, King of the Universe, teach us to number our days that we may have a heart of wisdom.

Teach us to seek wisdom, not from the sons of Baal in this corrupt world, who are everywhere in all their fake religions and philosophies, but teach us to ask of God, Who gives true, divine wisdom. We know all good things comes down from the Father of Lights, through His Holy Spirit Who lives in us to guide us into the paths of all truths, so we are not tricked by the cunnings of the devil who comes in so many deceptive ways.

Teach us to seek, and then, live disciplined lives so that we may not sin against Thee, so that we will comprehend the power of Thy wrath and resolve to lead many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that they may not face that wrath on Judgment Day.

Test our faith so that we may not be found wanting on That Day, but will make the necessary corrections now, to align ourselves with Truth, when the Holy Spirit convicts us that we have walked off the path, or misinterpreted something You said in Thy Word.

Let us not be like the fake Christians who populate Your pews on Sunday morning “looking for a Word from You”, when You already give us an ENTIRE 66 Books Instruction Manual from Genesis to Maps to guide us daily through the journey of life. Lord, may those people really examine themselves to see if they are even saved and in the Faith.

May the strong among us, give a helping hand to the weaker to enable them to comprehend that the Walk with Jesus is an intentional 100% commitment and nothing which can be compartmentalized into Sunday morning for one hour, then they can violate all Your commands the rest of the week and come back the next week looking “for another Word”! May not of them or us keep sinning that grace may abound, because in Your Eyes, cheap grace is non-existent.

But grant a spirit of Godly conviction and drawing unto Yourself, in these last days, so that those who appear to be in Your Body all of their lives but were never converted, those who even preached or taught or did music….help them to search their hearts oh Lord…and REALLY search their lives, oh God. Then, we ask that You reveal any short comings in all of their lives and ours and see if there is any wicked way in all of us. Then remove it completely and lead to life everlasting.

Lord, have compassion and mercy on Your persecuted around the world and those here, even in our own families, who need physical healing in their bodies from cancer, stroke, heart issues and Covid.

Give us hope each day this week and always that we may awake each day with joy, strength, and the will to persevere and win the battles which lie outside our door, knowing that You have already won that war for us.

Make us rejoice for as many days as You have humbled us in the days of adversity.

May Your handiwork be seen through us, Your servants’ hands by a lost, hurting, and confused world.

May Your mighty favor continue to be established all over the lives of Your humble servants, through our lives, our families and loved ones and those who are yet to taste of the goodness of our God, established once and for all by the Life and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ – the Ruler of all Heaven and Earth, and it is in His Precious Name we pray, amen.

PLUMBLINE DEVOTIONAL: COLOSSIANS 1:24-29

TEXT:

COLOSSIANS 1:24-29

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

WORD OF LIFE, PART 2 - FIGHTING FIRE WITH THE SWORD

A 22 PART 21st CENTURY LOOK @ #PSALM 119

Anyone who tells you they have never been tempted, in the worse way, to sin and knowingly cross the line, is either lying or six feet under in the graveyard. In times where up is down, wrong is right and there seems to be no red line this corrupt group alive today will apparently not disrespect.  We see it everywhere. We see young beautiful female teachers, who spend years studying, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in college fees, throw it all away for illicit lust. We see godless filthy from Hollywood that is so horrible. What they do not comprehend is fifty shades of hell….is still hell. We see institutions of education and even churches misuse their God-given privileges – and they are given by God – to misinform and corrupt God’s children under their care. They do so, under the guise of being "relevant" to the culture and do "outreach"....whatever that means.

While there is an eternal price to pay for these iniquities by the godless, there is a paradigm which stands like the Statue of Liberty before the Christian woman and man. This is one which if applied as directed, not just heals and protects us, but results in delight! Yes! Delight in your life, my life and delight in the Giver of Life – Yahweh.

This is – W.A. – the Word Applied. To comprehend how deadly powerful W.A. is, just ask the devil. He tempted Jesus three times in thedesert, when Jesus was at His physical weakest and hungry and thirsty as a man.He tempted the God Who became man with money, power, riches and more power. Thedevil threw the kitchen sink and all the plumbing at the Lord in the desert.Each time, Jesus knocked the devil flat with the Word of God. Each time, evil and temptation were defeated by the Pure and Powerful Word of God.

The child of God already HAS the ability and is thoroughly capable of staying the course on the straight and narrow. Not just that, we can do so fearlessly and without guilt and with joy….and all this because we obeyed Malachi 2:15 (Guard our hearts).

Check this – the devil not just knows our weaknesses and deficiencies, he knows how to exploit them. If we are exposing ourselves to attack by sneaking a little sin here, and another little one there, pretty soon, he is going to set us up – big league. Even the mightiest preacher has to guard against pride, even if he does not do these things.  God tells us to hide His Word in our hearts. That means we have to not just read and comprehend but remember it!  The section of Psalm 119 which we now progress to, speaks directly to this issue, as we see here in verses 9-16:
PSALM 119:
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.

13 With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
16 I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

ACTIONS:
-    Note from verse 9, that righteous living can only come from living according to the BIBLE - the very living, breathing Word of God.
-    Seeking God is NOT a one time act (verse 10). The inspired writer "sought"...and kept on seeking. This is true meaning of the original language.
-    Seeking in the past as prologue, is NOT the only action the man or woman of God needs to have DONE in the past, but need to keep doing. In verse 11, we see we have had to TREASURED in the past and continue to treasure the Bible and its specific commands from Heaven, with every fiber of our being.
-    To have sought and continue to see...to have treasured and continue to regard as priceless and needfully so....bring immediate results...and will continue! In verse 14, we note that seeking and treasuring lead to REJOICING! Not just that, but it is an active joy that happened when we did the seeking and treasuring and then God guarantees that we will have joy. Not just that, but the word riches in this verse tells us the joy therein, is: oh so dear and divine!
-    Finally, because of the three actions we have just, we are in desperate need of making two significant promises and life-transforming Covenants with God. One, we promise to not just study in depth the Commands of the Commander in Chief of Heaven's Armies, but to "regard" or pay special personal attention to them (verse 15). Secondly, because we have studied and held God is such esteem, we cannot afford the sheer happiness, peace, joy and feeling of well-being we have! It is something we will never lose sight of, forget or walk away from (verse 16)!

This is how we fight the fire of temptation and evil in this world. We do so with the Bible. We do so with confidence. We do so fully backed by the verifiable true and powerful promise of God, the great Giver of Life and all things. Amen. 

(Clip Art Credit Here)

KEYS TO A GODLY LIFE PART 7/12 - LIVING FOR GOD

THE DAWN OF GLORY SERIES:

PLEASE READ THE PASSAGE, THEN - WATCH THE BRIEF EXPOSITION FROM THE PLUMBLINE VIDEO:

1 Peter 4:1-19

4 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 4 In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
SHARE IN CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ,you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

THE MEANING OF LIFE: PART 11 OF 12

A CHAPTER BY CHAPTER STUDY OF THE BOOK OF                                                        ECCLESIASTES......CHAPTER 11

"Chapter 11 or...CHAPTER ELEVEN!!

Do you ever feel down and hopeless about anything? Sometimes in a crisis, does everything you try seem to come up short? When that happens, does it leave you even more depressed? Well, the Bible - and Chapter 11 here has the antidote for all of this! Yes it does! In the natural world, Chapter 11 represents a business going into bankruptcy, according to Title 11 of the US Code. In God's economy, Ecclesiastes Chapter 11 is the opposite! When you cast your bread on the waters, you are not throwing something away, but planting a seed into lives of others. Read and study this encouraging portion of Scripture and take a look at the teaching on the video below! Amen.

Ecclesiastes 11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Cast Your Bread on the Waters

11 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it [a]after many days. 2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it[b]lies. 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know[c]the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the [d]pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not [e]be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether [f]morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the [g]impulses of your heart and the [h]desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away [i]pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

WHAT NOW?.........Part 3

WHAT VALIDATES YOU?
A man gains validation from his work - even saved Christian men. We want to see the fruits of our labor and not just from the number on our paycheck (after tax), but from where we have progressed....where we came from.


A woman, and correct me if I am wrong, gains validation from the quality of her relationships; the ability to multi-task and their nurturing instincts...as well as work, whether she is a career professional or a kind receptionist at your local dentist.


A few years ago, in the capitol city of Illinois, a twenty something young man took off from a well-known popular downtown Springfield bar (name withheld) after spending hours drinking on St. Patrick's Day. He was driving a menacing Lincoln Navigator and blew out of the parking lot, heading west on Jefferson Street at speeds of over 90 miles an hour! After running several traffic lights and endangering several other motorists, this man came down the hill (about 4 miles later) at such a speed, where a busy four lane city highway crossed, that he would have been unable to stop....even if he knew how.


After flying across the intersection, with all traffic stopped as they noticed this pending disaster, this guy hit a curb and went airborne for a long time. He came crash landing upside down in a huge dip right next to a then busy strip mall and died instantly. While his family was mourning yet another wasted young life, no one seems to have learned the lesson about the brevity and the beat goes on.

Year after year for seven years, I have evangelized intensely on the streets of Springfield. During the St. Patrick's day parade, I go up to the front of this same bar, where this man drank the final hours of his life away and tried to hand out gospel tracts to dazed drunks (with alcohol) or all ages (mostly young) who recoil at the sight of a harmless piece of paper.  Yet it is this same piece of paper which carries a message they (and we) all need to hear. 


Solomon wrote the following, at the end of HIS wasted life: All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? (Ecclesiastes 3:20-22 ESV).


This is a sad commentary on his life and the lives of most alive today. The wisest man on earth did not know if a beast had a soul and seemed doubtful his own soul was heading up to be with the Lord. This is no different from those in pursuit of material happiness - whether men or women. Solomon's validation was in his work, which gave him the excuse and temporary release in extreme pleasure. More and more today are finding it in "working for the weekend" or  working for that upcoming retirement or who knows what....when the meaningful life can only be found in a fulfilling walk with the Lord!


So what now? We see that Solomon knew how to blow it and why....and this young man in front of this famed city bar....and the teen who gets pregnant right before graduation....or the 51 year old grandma in the office having an affair with her car salesman....or....or....

Well, it would be better if we start taking stock of our lives right now - all of us. We may still have a few more quarters that we can plug into the parking meter of life, before time runs out. Each day is a day of grace and mercy that we are not standing before God in judgment. We still have time to make it right and so we won't have to ask "what now"? ....well....pray with me:


Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I come to you knowing that Life is so short and Eternity is a long time. Thank You for the lesson You provided us when Your Spirit allowed Solomon to write this passage into the Scriptures, that we may learn from his mistakes and apply these truths. Help us to know that we know that we know that our souls would either go UP to be with You or that those who reject You, will be made to depart from You forever. Help us to rejoice not in OUR work, but the WORK OF CHRIST on the Cross, Who gave all that we may have all - all this important, which is Eternal Life in Your Holy Presence! Lord we love You, adore You, worship You, surrender to You, ask forgiveness from You and seek You, even more now, that we know the days are both short and evil. Be with us this day and for as long as you gave us time on this earth, may we rejoice in You and glorify You to the praise and honor of Your Name, through Christ Jesus, our Lord, amen.

(images courtesy google)

EMMAUS HEARTBURN by LYNN MOSHER

They want to leave it all behind; take the road out of it all. So, the two men depart from the hills of Jerusalem to get away from all the reminders of a heartrending crucifixion on the hill of Golgotha. Just as the road slopes down from Jerusalem, so their souls now slope down, reeling from dashed hopes of an empty tomb.


With the Sabbath now past, the two men somberly amble their way to the village of Emmaus, just a little more than seven miles away. 

One would think that the crisp, clear sky, the warm afternoon sun, and the aroma of spring buds in the air would revive their souls. Not so. 

LYNN MOSHER,
AUTHOR
WEBSITE

In their attempt to leave behind the pain and disappointment, they find they yet carry the heartache with them: the lashings of punishment strike at their emotions; the nails of hatred pierce their hearts; the thorns of a mocking crown penetrate their thoughts. 

Numb from it all, Cleopas and his friend stroll along the way discussing the dreadful events of the past few days and try to make sense of it all.

“Passover will never be the same. No Passover lamb can ever be eaten with the same savor; the herbs will be much more bitter; and the bread, oh, the bread of brokenness.”


A stranger comes from behind to join them and interrupts their conversation. “You seem to be in a deep discussion. What concerns you so?” 


They abruptly stop. A look of bewilderment blankets their faces. 


“Are you a stranger in Jerusalem? Do you not know the things that happened there these last three days?” asks Cleopas.


“What things? What has happened?”


They recall to the stranger all the anguish: the judgment, the whipping, and the crucifixion of an innocent man named Jesus. 


Cleopas says, “We thought He was the glorious Messiah come to rescue Israel.”


The other man says, “Some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning and rushed to tell us that His body was gone; the tomb was empty! And they also saw angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and, indeed, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women said.”


“But we did not see Him,” sighs Cleopas. “We did not believe the report, so we left the city.”


“Do you not understand?” the man asks them. “Are you so slow to believe what the prophets wrote in the Scriptures? Didn’t they predict that the Messiah would have to suffer these things before He entered His time of glory?”


The stranger attempts to rekindle their embered hopes by quoting them the prophets, starting with the book of Genesis and going through the Scriptures, explaining what they meant.


Listening so intently to what the stranger says, the men do not realize they have reached the outskirts of the town. The man acts as if he is going on but they beg him to stay. 


“Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” 

Agreeing to go with them, he joins them as they head toward their lodging place. As they sit down at the table for their meal, the man takes the bread, blesses it and breaks it, giving a portion to each one. 


Suddenly, the veil of obscurity vanishes from their eyes and they recognize him! It is Jesus Himself! And at that moment, He disappears from their sight.


“It was Jesus! It was Jesus!” they both shout. 


So exhilarated, they begin to remind each other of their Emmaus walk, “Didn’t our hearts burn as He talked with us along the way and opened up the Scriptures for us?” Grasping it all, their hearts blaze again with the Emmaus heartburn.


And so it is with us as we travel the road of life and leave behind the pain not only of the past at the foot of the cross but also of the tomb emptied of hopes and dreams, for our hearts cannot stay at the site of death and resurrection. We must take that daily, life-road walk, and, as we do, we find Jesus walking with us in fellowship every step of the way. 


As we walk with Him, talk with Him, invite Him to be our guest, and spend time with Him, sharing the Bread of the Word, the true unveiling comes, and, we have a celebration of revelation.


May your heart be set ablaze with His presence, as with the Emmaus heartburn.

(IMAGE BY GOOGLE)

THANK YOU, MY WONDERFUL SISTER LYNN!

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP by MARI-ANNA STALNACKE

DARE TO CELEBRATE JESUS

I just finished reading the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old testament. What can I say? I am very glad for Christmas this year. What an awesome God! What a pitiful bunch of people we are! How dare we to be so selfish, sinful, and shameless! God, have mercy on us!

Despite everything God sent his only son to the world.
Despite everything God displays his love to us in Jesus.
Despite of everything Jesus died and rose again to be in relationship with us.

Jesus really is the only hope to humanity.
But there is no end to that hope!
There is no end to that peace
There is no end to that love!
There is no end to that grace!
There is no end to this joy!

Mari-Anna Stalnacke

So I can’t help but rejoice! The sovereign God of the universe loves us! The Almighty God cares for us! The awesome God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow wants to spend eternity with you and me! I can’t help but rejoice! Glory in the highest!

I’m saying that Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the ancestors, and so that the Gentiles could glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles,
and I will sing praises to your name. [Ps. 18:49]

And again, it says,

Rejoice, Gentiles, with his people. [Deut.32:43]

And again,

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and all the people should sing his praises. [117:1]

And again, Isaiah says,

There will be a root of Jesse,
who will also rise to rule the Gentiles.
The Gentiles will place their hope in him. [Isa.11:10]

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(Romans 15: 8-13, CEB)

It’s time to experience the real Christmas; it’s time to celebrate Jesus! I dare you to choose  joy and rejoice, too. Dare to choose joy today and every day of your life. Choose joy no matter of what is going on in your life. Stick with Jesus. Stick with the promises of God. Don’t let your feelings fool you. Don’t let the whispers of this world distract you.

Dare to choose Jesus Christ for eternal hope, life, and love.
Dare to choose joy and rejoice!
Dare to celebrate Jesus and experience the real Christmas!

Gracious God,

We thank you and praise you!
You are an awesome God!
Full of grace & peace!
Full of love & joy!
We humbly ask you
to clear the way into our hearts!
Make room for
your grace & peace,
your love and joy!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How are you preparing the way for rejoicing in Jesus?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you dare to choose joy and keep on rejoicing!

Giving thanks today for
Jesus – the only hope for humanity!
Eternal life in Jesus
Grace and peace through Jesus
Celebrating Jesus
The real Christmas in our hearts
The Bible
Saints gone before us

 WRITTEN BY MARI-ANNA STALNACKE OF FINLAND! THIS IS HER WEBSITE: FLOWINGFAITH

HOW DO I THINK ON THESE THINGS?

PART 3.....MODUS OPERANDI.....Foundational Truths

REQUIREMENTS:
Thinking Biblically, which we attempt to do and share daily here and elsewhere, requires a mind surrendered completely to God. It is also necessary to be teachable.


Being teachable requires humility.

Humility requires your acknowledgement that He is God and WE ARE NOT!


If all of this is lined up, we have the Blueprint for the Foundation of a Mind set on the Kingdom of God and not of this world! We now have something Holy Spirit can work with! God resists the proud but gives Grace to the Humble.


Therefore:


FROM THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4:
(Exhortations in BOLD BLUE)
A. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE RIGHT MINDSET:


⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! -


Worship and Praise! Gratitude over what He has done for you will spur you to have joy unspeakable and an unmistakeably thankful heart! This leads to WORSHIP!!!

⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 


Be kind, compassionate and gentle like our Savior. He was/is God and could have thrown His Power around - He didn't! He came to love the unloveable and save the "un-saveable" (so to speak). Don't be a doormat, yet show the Love of Christ. It wins every time!


⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 


While the world around you is losing their collective minds - you stand firm in the knowledge that YOU are God's Child. Nothing can separate you from Him and Holy Spirit (or God in us) confirms this, if you're paying attention and do not grieve Him by active, ongoing sin! 
Secondly - pray with humility and thanksgiving.  DO NOT GO TO GOD WITH A LAUNDRY LIST...HAVE A LIST...BUT GET TO IT AFTER YOU HAVE PROPERLY PRAISED AND THANKED HIM, my friends! He already knows what we are going to ask Him to do! He is waiting to see HOW you're going to ask! 
Ask with arrogance - forgeddaboudit!
Ask with meekness and a spirit of helplessness - He listens!
When God listens, He gives peace, revelation right away. The answer may take time, or not, but an answer will come! He has guaranteed it!


⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


You are to pour all of these attributes above, as the concrete into your "Mindset Foundation". Look at the list in just these past few comments in blue:
Humility
Gentleness
Compassion
Self-control
Joy
Gratitude
Worship.....why, some of these sound like the Fruits of the Spirit!!!!!!!!!!! 
You are correct! That's the Foundation!


Finally - He said, GUARD your hearts! Do not love the flesh, tempting sights and sounds of this World, more than you love God! Guard your heart means - WATCH IT! Don't fall for temptation to flirt with disaster, either with an illicit affair or false doctrine or nice sounding cultural trends etc!
You should not just guard your heart, and especially if you are married, but protect garbage from going into your mind! This can be garbage from TV, even harmless sounding things like political shows which can rile you up...turn away from them....!!



TOMORROW: THE FORMULA (IN SOME DETAIL) FOR THE RIGHT MINDSET!

(image by google images)