DAY 14 - What good are thoughts if they are never verbalized? So today let me challenge you to "speak your mind." Those who have the mind of Christ will speak what they are thinking. This doesn't mean that we will speak our mind all of the time for the Bible tells us there is a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking. But surely there are times when we simply must verbalize our thoughts.

"I spoke my mind, says the scripture, with full confidence, and we too speak our minds with full confidence" (2 Cor. 4:13, Knox Translation). The Moffatt Translation reads, "I too believe and so I speak." Those who have the mind of Christ should speak their mind. Here is how it can work for you. We all want to be more like Christ but we all struggle with sin. You can remind yourself that you have died with Christ, that your "old man" was crucified with Him, that sin might be done away with, that you have been freed from sin (Rom. 6:6,7). Speak like a liberated slave would! "Sin shall not have dominion over me, because I am now under grace and not the law!" (Rom. 6:14, my paraphrase). Say with Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" This is speaking your mind. Who hears what you say? Yourself. God. Satan. Fellow Christians, should you choose to audibly speak within their hearing. Family members. Fellow workers. Neighbors. If you are alone, speak your mind. If others are around you, use discretion. But whenever and wherever, "speak your mind with full confidence." Boldly affirm your spiritual thoughts. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" (Psa. 107:2).

Hymn: Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.
(Fanny J. Crosby)