Isaiah 55:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Commentary: The word of God changes lives.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 4:20 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Commentary: A psychologist named Albert Ellis developed a model to explain how our beliefs affect our actions.

 [Situations > Beliefs > Thoughts > Emotions > Actions]

 As a particular situation confronts us, our beliefs affect our thoughts; thoughts in turn invoke our emotions; and the results are our response (actions). There are only two sources for our beliefs:

Each day, we are saturated with what we should believe but from a worldly point of view. Advertising, television, movies, educational systems, our socio-economic status, family and job status all set of the "situations" of life.  Actions are ultimately how we behave in response to those "situations."  Society today, primarily addresses the control of behavior through incentives or punishment.  It is the "carrot or the stick."

Education advances the effort to affect behavior through training.  Affecting thoughts through education is one of the cornerstones of a free society.  Ellis, however, points out that thoughts are generated by the deep seated beliefs held by a person.  It is what we believe that interprets the situation into acceptable behavior.  Each person should ask themselves, upon what basis are their beliefs founded?

The world will tell us that Scripture is irrelevant. Scripture tells us that we cannot live without a belief in God.  Our challenge is to overcome the world and replace worldly beliefs with the Word of God. The reward is to have the "God of peace" with us. Power that makes even Satan tremble.