If you have been a subscriber for any amount of time you probably know that I am not an animal lover. There is really no kind of animal that I like. There are some that I think are cute but none enough to own one. This is how I have felt all my life...but Breanne is different and always has been.

            When she was little she had dogs, cats, fish, turtles, ducks, frogs, hamsters and anything else you could imagine. Not much has changed in this area; she still has dogs, cats, lizards and whatever else wanders in. Recently she decided she wanted to breed English Bulldogs and she purchased two really nice pedigreed dogs. One, the female, is quiet and timid. The male, however, is a different story. He is full of energy which is unusual for that type dog. His name is Bamm and he is appropriately named.

            One night I was at their house and they were taking him out to walk and use the bathroom. The first thing I noticed was that they did not lead him, he lead them. Wherever he wanted to go, him simply went as they were dragged along behind him.

            A friend of Breanne's told her that she would have to 'get hold' of that dog before this was a big issue. She agreed and is looking into training.

            I was thinking about this last night. As I did I began to think about how our thoughts often do the same thing to us, they drag us around wherever they want us to go.

            For instance, if the devil wants you to think that God is not who he said he is and that he is not faithful or even that he is not faithful to you, it all starts with thoughts. Little thoughts at first but as you mediate on them the thoughts get greater and greater, stronger and stronger, until they are dragging you around in directions you don't want to go. Do you know what I mean?

            The Bible tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2 to not be shaken in our mind. That is the first place the enemy will attempt to shake you...in your mind. If he can't shake your mind he can't shake you or your faith.

            The Bible has much to say about the mind. For instance, it says we have the mind of Christ. It says to let this mind be in you which is also in Christ, in other words to think like Jesus thinks. But he doesn't stop there, he goes on to tell us how to think.

Philippians 4:8 says; Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

            I want to ask you today; what are you meditating on? What is dominating your mind? What are you thinking about yourself? Remember, as a man thinks...so is he.

            Are you allowing the enemy to drag you places you don't want to go with your thoughts? Are you allowing him to drag you to a place of fear, doubt and distrust of your God? Are you allowing him to cause you to meditate on fear, sickness, or what someone has done to hurt you? Or...are you meditating on things that are pure, just, and lovely and of a good report? Are you thinking on what the word says about you or what the enemy says about you?

            Are you meditating on what you want to come to pass or what you fear will come to pass?

            You know, all Breanne's dog needs is a little training and discipline, he already has the good genes and pedigree, and he only needs to be trained to go where he is led and not the other way around.

            I believe it is the same with our thoughts, we should lead our thoughts, our mind, and we have control over what we choose to meditate on. We should not allow the thoughts of the enemy to lead us. We are the one with the power, not him. Today, choose to be led by God, go where he wants you to go and nowhere else. Don't allow anything to drag you where you don't want to go...only allow the thoughts that line up with the word of God to lead you and guide you in the way you should go. The way you should go is a place of peace, prosperity and covenant blessings...never believe or meditate on anything else. Get hold of your thoughts. Control your thoughts or they will control you.