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The mind has limitless capacity for development. It is like a photographic film which must first be developed in the darkroom before it can bring out a beautiful picture
“Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” I Kings 3:12
1. THE NEED TO READ BOOKS
Dan. 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
§ Books are documented thought which expresses the author’s thought
§ Documentary discoveries which readers must explore to reveal the documented truth
§ Each time you read, you borrow somebody’s mind and sharpen yours with it.
§ Books stretches your mind and broaden your scope of thinking
§ When you don’t read you become narrow minded
§ What you read determines your thought, your thought determines your height in life.
§ Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee
§ Concentration is required to be able to break through into realm of answers
§ God speaks to men of concentrated thought, therefore, the amount of time you spend on your thought determines how much of God you receive per time.
§ The more you think on the vision, the clearer it becomes
§ I Tim. 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
§ Meditation fertilizes your potentials, it is the platform on which history makers and inventors tread
3. MAKE USE OF THE NIGHT SEASON
§ Unfortunately many see the night as the time to sleep but it is a break period, recovery period and discoveryperiod
§ God designed the night to demarcate days so that we don’t carry over the failure of one day into another
§ Great men use the night to retreat and reinforce for the challenges that lie ahead.
§ Psalms 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
§ Some move in the day time with no clue because they fail to seek knowledge during the night
§ Life impact actions achieved during the day are received through the knowledge given at night
§ Psalms 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
§ It is what you conceive in the night that you execute in the day time
§ If you do not have a loaded night you cannot have a fulfilling day
§ The night season create the right environment for you to easily receive when God sends signals of inspiration into your mind
§ Night season is heaven revelation time
§ Daniel received meaning to Nebchadnezzar’s dream at night
§ Dan. 2:19.Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven
§ Jesus used the night season to receive inspiration and orders from God
§ Matt. 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
§ Though inspiration and understanding to tackle the knotty issues of life are received during the night seasons, it is man’s duty to nurture and position his mind to process and appropriate the information for his profitable use.
4. CONTROLLED THOUGHT
§ Putting your mind to use in this study is not a license for ungodly, wayward and unhealthy use or to start worrying over unnecessary issues
§ It is to provoke your renewed mind to covenant exercise within the parameters of the word of God for your edification and profiting
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things arejust, whatsoever things arepure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
§ You need to guide your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. 4:23
§ You have the responsibility to harness, guard and guide your mind by controlling your thought
“II Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
§ Your mind is a battle field where you win or lose battles of life, make conscious effort to keep it from pollution
§ Refuse to think poverty, failure or impossibility because what you think is what you get.
“Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” I Kings 3:12
“Ecc. 1:13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven”
“I Kings 4:29, the Bible says;And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore
THINGS THAT CAN HELP US USE OUR MINDS PRODUCTIVELY
1. THE NEED TO READ BOOKS
Dan. 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
§ Books are documented thought which expresses the author’s thought
§ Documentary discoveries which readers must explore to reveal the documented truth
§ Each time you read, you borrow somebody’s mind and sharpen yours with it.
§ Books stretches your mind and broaden your scope of thinking
§ When you don’t read you become narrow minded
§ What you read determines your thought, your thought determines your height in life.
2. CONCENTRATION
§ Thinking requires time to ponder and wonder.
§ Acts 10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee
§ The full effect of your thought can only be realized in the process of time
§ Concentration is required to be able to break through into realm of answers
§ God speaks to men of concentrated thought, therefore, the amount of time you spend on your thought determines how much of God you receive per time.
§ The more you think on the vision, the clearer it becomes
§ I Tim. 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
§ Meditation shoot you out of obscurity into your stardom
§ Meditation fertilizes your potentials, it is the platform on which history makers and inventors tread
3. MAKE USE OF THE NIGHT SEASON
§ Another aid to productive thinking is the night season
§ Unfortunately many see the night as the time to sleep but it is a break period, recovery period and discoveryperiod
§ God designed the night to demarcate days so that we don’t carry over the failure of one day into another
§ Great men use the night to retreat and reinforce for the challenges that lie ahead.
§ Psalms 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
§ Some move in the day time with no clue because they fail to seek knowledge during the night
§ Life impact actions achieved during the day are received through the knowledge given at night
§ Psalms 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
§ It is what you conceive in the night that you execute in the day time
§ If you do not have a loaded night you cannot have a fulfilling day
§ The night season create the right environment for you to easily receive when God sends signals of inspiration into your mind
§ Night season is heaven revelation time
§ Daniel received meaning to Nebchadnezzar’s dream at night
§ Dan. 2:19.Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven
§ Jesus used the night season to receive inspiration and orders from God
§ Matt. 13:54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
§ Though inspiration and understanding to tackle the knotty issues of life are received during the night seasons, it is man’s duty to nurture and position his mind to process and appropriate the information for his profitable use.
4. CONTROLLED THOUGHT
§ Putting your mind to use in this study is not a license for ungodly, wayward and unhealthy use or to start worrying over unnecessary issues
§ It is to provoke your renewed mind to covenant exercise within the parameters of the word of God for your edification and profiting
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things arehonest, whatsoever things arejust, whatsoever things arepure, whatsoever things arelovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
§ You need to guide your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. 4:23
§ You have the responsibility to harness, guard and guide your mind by controlling your thought
“II Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
§ Don’t accommodate everything and anything that passes through your mind.
§ Your mind is a battle field where you win or lose battles of life, make conscious effort to keep it from pollution
§ Refuse to think poverty, failure or impossibility because what you think is what you get.
PASTOR LANRE AREOLA
