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Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 161-180 A.D. “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”  David, the man after God's own heart one day spotted Bathsheba bathing while walking upon his rooftop and then summoned her to his palace to sleep with her although she was married to Uriah, one of his soldiers. David then had Uriah killed in battle to cover his sins (1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 11:2; 2 Samuel 23:39). The color of David’s thoughts and soul was the catalyst for his sin. A precept or life lesson that we learn from David is that if we allow our soul to be in control, then our soul will negatively influence our thoughts. In turn, negative thoughts will color our actions and conduct with potentially devastating consequences. It is also important to note that David repented and declared, “Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires” (Psalm 51:10, TLB). At this point, the color of David’s thoughts and the pattern of his thinking were reshaped by repentance and accountability so that he was brought back to the attributes of quality thinking. The quality or color of our thoughts also reflects our values.  When we are determined to Think Like God Thinks, we are better able to defeat and overcome negative thoughts that have the potential of destroying our witness of righteousness in representation of the Lord Himself. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

The Mindset of An Overcomer is always aware of their spiritual condition and victorious in life when they have their spiritual eyes wide open and are not led astray by the world (Ro. 12:1-2). An overcomer is also a person who succeeds in gaining control of some problem or difficulty. They prevail in spite of opposition, difficulties, weakness, and hard times. The Message Bible version of Psalm 119:105 declares, "By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. " An overcomer comes over their problems by relying on the light of God's word for direction, purpose, fulfillment, and strength to follow His plan for their lives. They trust the Lord in every situation and walk in faith and not fear. The spirit and mindset of an overcomer is to rise up in faith, find strength and answers, and overcome instead of being overwhelmed and defeated. The word "overcomes" comes from the Greek "nikao" which is derived from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. To be an "overcomer" is to be victorious, to win at life, and to accomplish the purpose for which God designed us. Psalms 33:11-12 reminds us that, "the Lord’s counsel stands firm forever, the plans in his mind for all generations. How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance." God's expected end for you and for me is we think more like God thinks and that we develop the mindset of an overcomer knowing that our sovereign God’s will covers us every day of our lives and we are more than conquerors because we are overcomers! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

Proverbs 23: 7 declares, “that as a man or woman thinks, that is who we really are.” Our thought life, the way that we think, is an inseparable aspect of our human existence. Neuroscientists and neuropsychologists tell us that we have anywhere from 60 to 80,000 thoughts a day and half of those thoughts are negative. And as we stated in last week's podcast, you don't have to be a negative person to have negative thoughts. Negative experiences with people, negative experiences on the job, even negative experiences with family members will produce negative thoughts. Our lives move in the direction of our thoughts, like a current in a river, moving us either closer or farther away from becoming the best version of you that God has desired you to be. If you want to change your life, you and I must begin by changing our thoughts. Our primary focus for today’s podcast is a portion of what Paul taught Timothy as his son in the faith and as a young pastor of the church at Ephesus. In 2nd Timothy 1:5 in the NLT, Paul says of Timothy, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” However, and whatever  Timothy thought about himself, Paul now reminds him in 1 Timothy 6:11,  "you are a man of God." And the man or woman of God is to pursue 6 things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11) You and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens us in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (meekness). Thinking from this perspective influences our living that makes a difference in the lives of others for the glory of God. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

At some time in your life, you have undoubtedly heard the theme of today's podcast. However, I would like to add to today's theme that most of us don't even think about how we think or what we think because we simply think!  And what we think influences and impacts our emotions and what we do. The Bible reminds us in Proverbs 23:7, "As a man or a woman thinks, that is who we really are...” In addition to Proverbs 23:7, God says, in essence, to Isaiah, we've got a problem. You don't think like I think. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Neuroscientists and neuropsychologists tell us that we have anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day and half of them are negative. It is important to know and understand you don't have to be a negative person to have negative thoughts. Negative experiences are going to produce negative thoughts. relationship struggles, the death of a loved one, a business that you created and established that fails, money issues, family issues, and the list goes on and on. The aim of today's podcast is to review principles and precepts of how we can learn to THINK MORE LIKE GOD THINKS. As we do so, God equips us to overcome negative thoughts that only come to hinder, harm, harass and keep us from God's promise of John 10:10 in the Passion Translation. "But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect--life in its fullness until you overflow!" YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

God is always thinking about us and He says, "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11, MSG Bible). In the larger context of Jeremiah 29, God’s people were in exile in Babylon for seventy years, and it was important for them to adjust to their environment. The thoughts that God had towards His people were imagined, invented, and purposed in His mind despite their captivity. God just needed them to "change their thinking." In English, a thought may be defined as the “process of using the mind to consider something. It can also be the product of the process of an idea that has the potential to become that which we act upon or carry out.”  The Voice translation gives this statement, “We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.” The word thought, as Paul uses it in the latter passage, means a design or purpose. In other words, what is the purpose of this thought? What is the potential action or outcome connected to this thought?   The prophet Isaiah states, ”You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You”(Isaiah 26:3, AMP).  Therefore, God says whatever we imagine, when our minds are on God, He will give us perfect and constant peace!   God’s peace is the assurance of present and future security, deliverance, and success! God’s peace delivers a person through all the conflicts, strife, divisions, trials, and temptations of this life. The question that follows is, “How do I keep my mind, my thoughts on Him?” One solution is to have purposeful daily reflection or reflective thinking about Him! It’s All About Him! Think Like God Thinks and be at peace in your mind! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

A detox can refer to the process of removing toxins or harmful influences from our lives. Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company once stated, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right,” emphasizes how much attitude and the way that we think determines our success or failure. In the Message Bible version of Romans 8:37-39, the Apostle Paul declares, “None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master and Lord has embraced us.” Ford had his share of setbacks and failures, but chose to overcome the negative, toxic thoughts and sometimes people, and because he refused to give up or give in to his dream of affordable automobiles the Ford Motor Company is worth almost $126 billion today. Any thoughts that are contrary to God's plan for your life require a detox. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 in The Message Bible, "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Stand on God's Word and detox toxic negative thoughts from your life because God knows the plans that He has for you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

The title of today’s podcast is Detox Your Mind. To detoxify refers to the removal of poison or toxic substances from something contaminated. For the purposes of this podcast, detoxifying means to counteract the activity or effect of toxic thoughts that contaminate our thinking. Paul tells us in the New Life Version of 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ." Paul understood the war that takes place in our thoughts, how our circumstances and imaginations can become weapons that undermine our faith and hope. Knowing the truth of Romans 8:14… “They that are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God.” The word led in this passage is translated as “ago.” Detoxing our mind begins with being determined to be led by the ago of the Spirit and not our ego. Being led, the ago of the Spirit makes us to be, causes us to be, declares us to be the sons of God! Where our ego, rooted in our souls (emotions, intellect and will) has the potential and ability to cause our thoughts and emotions to run or govern our lives rather than our lives being governed or led by the Spirit. As you listen to today's podcast God will provide you with principles and precepts enabling you to Detox Your Mind which further helps us to win the battle for your mind (Romans 12:2).  Dr. Gregory L. Cruell, "God Thinkers" (Isaiah 55:8-9) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

Christmas is the celebration and beginning of new life, a spiritual life for mankind born of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22-23.  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” The name Immanuel speaks to the fact that God has established His guiding and protecting presence with us as His people. Matthew, understanding the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, writes and delivers his inspired revelation: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:22–23). In Jesus, as Immanuel, God walked with us and talked with us as He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Christ’s arrival showed all humanity that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. Jesus is Immanuel. He is not a partial revelation of God with us; Jesus is God with us in all His fullness: ” (Colossians 2:9, NLT). “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body Jesus left the glories of heaven and took on the form of a servant so that He could identify with us in our day-to-day human struggles.” Our fellowship with Immanuel, God with us grants us the ability to relate to Him and talk and share with Him. Knowing that as Immanuel, God with us, He walks with us throughout the day, looking after and caring for us where we can cast all our cares and our problems upon Him. Trusting Him as Immanuel, God with us to help us in meeting our needs. Asking him for strength to conquer the trials and temptations of life. Further knowing that as Immanuel, God with us, He constantly gives us life. A life that is full of love, joy, and peace (John 10:10). In good times and bad, in tragedy and triumph, the Purpose of Christmas is for Immanuel, God to be with us! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

The word synergy comes from the Greek sun, "together" and ergon, "work" (the same root that gives us ergonomic and energy). When one thing magnifies the effect of another, together they have synergy.  Synergy is further defined as a combined or cooperative action or force. When we combine God's sovereignty with our faith, together we have synergy... which provides us with the energy to succeed. As we consider the theme or topic of today's podcast, the key to prosperity in this New Year is God's sovereignty and the key is our faith. Although there were hardships, setbacks, difficulties, uncertainties, heartache, and heartbreak this year... things that you may not have understood why you had to endure or go through... Yet people of God if you're listening to this podcast you're still here. You're still standing, under the canopy of God's sovereignty! The synergy of God’s sovereignty in this New Year is the combination of our faith in God’s word and His power as Emmanuel, God with us. Although there were hardships, difficulties, uncertainties, heartache, and heartbreak... Things that you may not have understood why you had to endure what you did but God was making you into another vessel as it seemed good to the Potter. You're still here. You're still standing. Share this podcast with family and friends during this holiday season as we and in this New Year, and know that you will continue to stand, you will continue to fight the good fight of faith, you will continue to experience the prosperity and blessings of God because He is our sovereign Lord and King and He is on our side.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

One dictionary defines the word happy as, showing, or marked by pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, or joy. One question to be answered is who was the happiest person who ever lived? I submit to you that Jesus was the happiest person to ever live! Even through the rejection, lies, hatred, and hardships, He endured at the hands of the religious leaders that led to His crucifixion. To be happy in this toxic, sin-sick, secular society in which we live, you and I must live by the fact that we are "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). Furthermore, our identity is in His Divinity. We are created in His image and likeness to have dominion and not be dominated (Genesis 1:26-28) by our emotions or the people, pain, and pressures of life. The Good News Translation of Psalm 92:10 becomes reality in the life of the believing believer. The writer of this Psalm declares, “You (God) have made me as strong as a wild ox; you have blessed me with happiness.” God wants you happy! The Good News Translation of Proverbs 8:30, speaking of Wisdom, who is Jesus, says, “I was his daily source of joy, always happy in his presence." Psalm 16:11 declares in the Easy To Read Version says, “You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Invite a friend or co-worker to join us for principles and precepts from God's word as we continue to learn to Think Like God Thinks and the fact that "God Wants You to Be Happy!" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

A cycle is a period of time or a complete set of events that repeat. A process that returns to its beginning and then repeats itself in the same sequence or manner. A portion of the cycle of hope is as Isaiah 40:31 declares, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Biblical hope, rooted in our confidence for the future has as its foundation faith, trust, reliance, and confidence in God.  In both the OT and NT, Biblical hope is a confident expectation or assurance based upon the sure foundation of God Himself for which we wait with full expectation and confidence that it shall be done. Therefore, Biblical hope is a concrete reality and not a feeling. Biblical hope carries no doubt. Biblical hope is a sure foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises. Faith and hope as partners in the cycle of hope for believers like you and I create the reality within us that if God said it, it shall be done!  In other words, it is "help to open people's eyes" as established in 2 Kings 6:16-17. "Do not be afraid. For those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw. He saw that the mountain was full of horses and war-wagons of fire all around Elisha." No matter what the circumstance or situation we encounter in life and ministry, as we place our faith and hope in God, He will "open our eyes that we may see that there are more with us." And as Paul declares in Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support

Jesus sets an example for us by Living An Uncomplicated Life. In fact, in Matthew 22, Jesus provides us with the most important aspects of life when he says that we are to “love God and love our neighbor as ourselves” (verses 37-39). Over the course of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels, Jesus travels. A lot! As he traveled to spread the gospel, to teach and heal, he lived a very uncomplicated lifestyle. He ate and stayed at other people’s homes and didn’t take much with him. The life that Jesus lived focused on his ministry, relationships with others, sharing the good news, serving others, taking care of his health by resting when necessary, and spending time in prayer. All of these things have come together to form the bedrock of Living an Uncomplicated Life. Dr. Gregory L. Cruell God Thinkers (Isaiah 55:8-9) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dr-gregory-l-cruell/support