 and we know that when two or three are gathered that God is in the midst and we're two of us are here and there's so many of you out there. And so we know that God's presence and his power is with all of us today and it is the National Day of Prayer and we are so glad that you're joining us for a very, very special program on Hope Today. I'm so glad to be joined by my dear friend, Abie Schaefer, tell us we have, we have an incredible show coming up. I know it's powerful day, National Day of Prayer. We have a very special, incredible topic today to discuss with you with guest author, Kelly Belare. And it is take every thought captive. Now, I just wonder, you know, our thoughts will determine our whole life. So maybe we need to stop today, think about what we're thinking about, maybe renew our mind with the word of God, maybe stop some thoughts and start some thoughts. So I think it's gonna be a really, to me, I don't wanna learn. I wanna grow and I wanna go to the next level. Yeah, it's so important that we take our thoughts captive and we make sure that we renew our minds daily and focus on things above. And speaking of focusing on things about, we are so excited because we have a prayer team from South Korea that is here in our studio and you're gonna hear from them about revival happening in that nation and how God has put a call on their hearts to come to America to pray in a move of God. So you definitely wanna stay tuned. It is gonna be a powerful show. And you know, Amy, I just love when God brings together people of different tribes, people of different nations, there is such power in unity. There's a blessing that flows for us. We have some dear Korean friends in our church and when they pray in Korean, it is like a portal of heaven opens up over our church and in that time and we've got to meet so many relatives and I'm telling you, there is a move of God happening in South Korea and we're believing for North Korea and we're believing for that move of God in America. And there's just, you know what? This is not just an American gospel, you know? I know people say that a lot, it is a global, it is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ that God is moving in and God is pouring out his spirit upon all flesh right now and we're believing, especially today on the national day of prayer. You know, Amy, there's something I just wanna share that even if it was just speaking that God gave me this vision last night that was just so powerful and it's for all of us and I know we've all have come through such a season, there's been a lot of warfare, there's been a lot of tribulation, there's been a lot of trial, but in the midst of the persecution, in the midst of the testing, there's been an oil that has been squeezed that as we've been going through the crushing and we just wanna encourage you today if you've been walking through some very difficult times where you've just been like, God, what is happening? What is going on? Just know that that oil is producing something that is so powerful and I truly believe that is all of us have been going through some intense labor pains, intense things that are happening. It is producing something that is so strong in us that we have the power of our testimony because we know we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony and God is calling us out, God is calling us into the marketplace, God is calling us, whether it's education, the government, media, whatever spirit, your family, we are truly believing, we are in the midst of a move so we need to be expectant, we know that God, oh, he is doing something powerful, we're gonna see miracles, signs and wonders like never before, they are breaking forth and breaking out, so Amy, I am just so excited what God is doing today. And we also know that in the crushing and in the pressing, there is a new wine. You know, the goal of the enemy is to steal, kill and destroy. And one of the ways that he tries to do this is by filling our minds with lies and negative thoughts. The good news though is that we have Jesus and he offers a truth that sets us free. Author and speaker, Kelly Belare is our next guest and in her new book, Take Every Thought Captive, she offers practical steps that will help you change your life by changing your thinking. Kelly, welcome to Hope Today. Amy and Sidney, it's such a pleasure to be with you today. Tell us where this message came from. I mean, were you struggling with thoughts at some point where you thought, I need to work through this and I need to write a book about taking every thought captive. Amy and Sidney, I had a moment here where I almost felt like I was gonna cry because my God has delivered me from my thoughts. And I will tell you when I was in college, I struggled with an eating disorder. I hated myself. I hated who I was. I hated how I would try to fake like I was somebody for everybody and yet I felt like a nobody. And I went through depression and rejection and abandonment and self-hatred thoughts. And then I found Jesus and he delivered me from so much in so many ways in my thoughts, but at the same time, I would read God's word and then by afternoon and I'd be like, I'm not actually living God's word. Like I'm getting annoyed at people. I'm reactive, I'm offended, I'm discouraged, I'm demotivated, I'm insecure. And so there was this gap in my life and I'm thinking, okay, Lord, your word is your word, where's the gap? And I began to realize that the gap is really in my mind because God can say his word, but is it my word? Jesus may have revelation and vision and discernment and wisdom to give me, but am I yielding to it and really receiving it? And so I realized the greatest battle we can fight is in our mind, where God's word actually becomes our mind up here. We are not conformed to the pattern of the world, but then we're transformed by the renewing of our mind. So that we can discern then the perfect, good and pleasing will of God. And when we know his will, everything changes. And he did that for me. And that's why I wrote this book because I wanted to harness that and really write down the learnings and the wisdom so other people's lives could be transformed too. Can you unpack the statement? Our thought life determines our whole life. I mean, that's a big statement to think that what I'm thinking about is determining my entire life. Amy, this is not an understatement because just think for a second. Our thoughts determine our words. Our words form our actions and our reactions. And our actions and reactions form our relationships and the outcomes that we see in everything we do around us. So when we harness our thoughts and we think as Jesus thinks, we love as Jesus loves, we are the hands of Jesus as he reaches out his hands. We're the feet of Christ. Suddenly we have the power to transform the world. And taking our thoughts captive is the difference from moving to self-absorbency to God-reliancy. What do we do if we feel like we're not even worthy of a changed mind? We're not even worthy to stop thinking some thoughts and start thinking some other thoughts. This is the part that I'm so glad you asked about because the reality is many people here who are listening today, I believe feel like this is impossible for me. It's impossible for me to change my thoughts of depression, my thoughts of rejection, my thoughts of dejection. And they think, or insecurity, they think that they are stuck. You may think right now you are stuck in the pit you are in. But I wanna let you know the ground is level at the foot of the cross. And my friends, the Lord has saved me from so much. Financial, health, marital, self-hatred issues. If he did it for me, a sheep at the foot of the cross, there is no difference from me and from you. He will do it for you. I think the difference is, and this is really what I felt on my heart to release this morning. So this question is perfect. We have to boldly storm the throne of grace for all the grace and mercy we need. It's like, if we are on a highway, and I know that there was some traffic even for Amy and Sydney getting in this morning, but we're behind a big rigged truck of worry, anxiety, fear, stress, burdens, and our past, what the future looks like, we can't even see the horizons of God's goodness. But when we receive the grace of God and we go to the throne of God and say, your grace is enough, your power's perfected in my weakness, you can help me transform my thoughts. Suddenly, that grace is power to literally transform our minds. And I write about this in the book, Take Every Thought Captive. This is available, not just for me, but for you. This is available for you. And I want you to know you can get out of the pit you're in. And the pit is not what's happening to you. It's not what's happening around you. It's not the thoughts in you. The pit is not even there. The overwhelming victory, despite all these things, belongs to us. Through Christ Jesus who loved us, Romans 837, it belongs to you, my friend. You can press in and see your thoughts transformed. Amen, that is so good. I love the illustration that you gave in your book about whack-a-mole, because I used to play that game at Chuck E. Cheese and you're standing there and there's like nine blocks or whatever and this mole pops out and you're supposed to hit the mole on the head. And sometimes that's our thoughts. Now, is that what we should be doing, like in the spirit, so to speak, is just whacking a thought? Or do we need to dig a little deeper and get to the root of that thought? Amy, seriously, that is what it's like, oh, I have this thought over here. Now I'm thinking this, I'm bad, I'm at sin, I'm messing up, I'm not righteous, I'm not good, I'm gonna screw up, what's wrong with me? And it's just one thing after another. The problem with that is that we live on defense. We're constantly caught up in me, myself and I, whereas God is like, take the land, you're more than an overcomer. It's everything Sydney was talking about at the beginning of this. Signs, wonders, miracles, but if we're in our own mind, how can we be in the very mind of Christ? Okay, you can tell I'm excited about this, can't you? Well, I wrote about this in the book, Take Every Thought Captive, where I have a stop, start, process to taking our thoughts captive. Many people have talked about, oh, it's just take the thought that is the lie and replace it with truth. Yes, that can work, but it is a whack-a-mole kind of thing because it pops up, it pops up, it pops up. If we're able to take a step back and go a little bit deeper, to say, what are the beliefs that I have underneath this thought? Where did this thought first come from? What agreements do I need to renounce? And we go in a little bit further. We can help heal the inward parts so our outward actions and reactions are not emotional, but they're Christ loving, they're Christ exalted, they're fruit filled. And that's super powerful. It may sound like a lot, but once you go through the stop, start, process, it's easy to get it down and to activate. And I have all the details on that on itakethoughtscaptive.com and free resources. If you can't afford the book, I wanted to make it easy for everyone to access. Kelly, I love the point that you're making about, we have to renounce some of those things, those lies that have been penetrated in our brain. So what have you seen as some of the common things that if I'm, I need to take these thought captives, but what are some of the things that we can recognize, be like, okay, this is not of God, this is a lie of the enemy. What are some of those things that look like? So our viewers can say, you know what? I've been thinking that way and I didn't realize I was in that trap and in that lie. Sydney, thank you for asking that. I'll just admit, sometimes I go through the world and I'm like, I'm not seen, nobody sees me. I'm just, I think about that secret place, the most high hidden spot with the Lord. I just feel sometimes I'm always there. But then a good thing can turn into a negative thing, if it's a subconscious belief. I had to go back and say, God, is that really from you this thing that I'm unseen? Many of us have had familiar thoughts for a long time, but just because we know them, doesn't mean they're good for us. I call them, some of our thoughts are like a bad best friend, right? We've had them since childhood. So because this friend is always talking, we know them really well, but that doesn't mean that what they're saying to us is even good. And so I had to go backwards. And I said to myself, where was the first time I really felt unseen? And I remembered a time where I was in my front yard and I was just screaming out, crying. I was like, are my parents gonna come? I was crying. I was like, do they see me? Are they gonna come? Will they rescue me? And I was just pretending. I was pretending like I was crying. But I think I had formed this belief, even though my parents were great parents and really loving that nobody saw me. And so that was like a familiar bad best friend who was speaking in my ear. Some of us don't even realize the lengths and the widths and the depths of some of the negative thoughts that we've been listening to. And on the other side, the positive lengths, widths and depths of God's love that wants to come in if we make room by removing those thoughts for his love to then penetrate us, which is so powerful. That is a great example. I do not want a bad best friend speaking in my ear all the time. What thought? Do we need to avoid at all costs? Thought that is coming to me right now, Amy, is the stupid dog online. I am not enough. I just want to speak to that right now. And I'm talking to everyone who is listening. You are more than a conqueror. It is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you. You, if God be for you, who can be against you. And I just want to remind every listener that truly Christ is in you the hope of glory. So if he is in you, how could you ever look at yourself and say you're not enough when the King of all glory, all power, all might, all strength, all goodness is actually by his spirit living through you. You are more than enough in Christ Jesus. And I believe, why is this so powerful? I'll tell you, because it moves us from being, oh, woe is me, everything's going bad, my life is in shambles and getting into our mental pity parties, our worry, our anxiety, and moves us from seeing the size of our problems, the size of our issues to the size of our God, where we know literally there is nothing he can't do. There is no mountain he can't move. There is no person he can't conquer. And there's no thing his word, which is the hammer can't take down. Kelly, that's so good. I literally feel like you're sitting right in front of me, right with me, just encouraging my heart and my thought life. Listen, today is the national day of prayer and there are people right now struggling with thoughts. I mean, anxiety, mental health, health and relationships, and just all kinds of crazy thoughts. Will you take a minute or so? And can you just pray for those who are struggling and they just really need breakthrough? Amy, I've been waiting for you to ask this because this is really what I want to do today. And I know the Lord has assigned me on national day of prayer because there are going to be strongholds broken right now because his grace and his power is enough. So in the name of Jesus, I come on behalf of my brothers and sisters, my fellow sheep, my fellow sinners who are now saints by the blood of Jesus. And I just pray a breaking off, a breaking off of any spirit of fear and trauma that may be blocking them from knowing the glories and the riches and the love of Christ Jesus. I pray right now that worries must cease. And God, I ask right now that my brothers and sisters receive grace. I just see some of you just holding your hands out right now, just literally receiving and opening your heart as if it was a basement door. I pray right now you receive all the grace you need right now that you not be conformed to the pattern of the world, but right now that you be transformed by the renewing of your mind. I pray right now the mind to be renewed. In Jesus' name, God, thank you that there's even going to be testimonies, a peace coming onto people right now. Be renewed in your mind that you will now be able to discern like never before. The good and the perfect and the pleasing will of God you're gonna see in new ways, you're gonna hear in new ways because his power, even I see yourself even giving yourself more grace, his power right now, right now, you're gonna have understanding his power is being perfected in your weakness. God, let them see right now, right now, your power now is being perfected in their weakness. God, I thank you that where even there was self-hatred, there's going to be a humbling underneath your power and surprise and awe and wonder. I pray, Lord, at how you're moving. In Jesus' name, amen. In Jesus' name. Thank you so much, Kelly. Take every thought captive, exchange the lives of the enemy for the mind of Christ. Kelly, we really like you and we really appreciate all that you've invested in us today. Well, I really like both of you too. So it's a match made in heaven. Love that, a match made in heaven. Well, thank you. We have so much more of hope today coming up and are you ready for a move of God because we are so excited? We have Pastor Kim and Yuri. They're gonna be with us to share how God is moving in South Korea and how there is a movement happening here that our Korean brothers and sisters are praying right here in America for us. You don't wanna miss it. We'll be right back. Cornerstone Television exists to spread the good news through Bible-based programs and a fully staffed prayer line. Through CTVN, lies are saved. Hearts, minds and bodies are healed and Jesus is lifted high. We can't do this work without you. Would you consider sending a gift this month to keep the gospel moving forward with power? When you give, we'll send you Listen, Love, Repeat, which presents scriptural examples of those who lived alert, including Jesus, who noticed those who least expected to be seen, gives creative ideas for showing love to friends and family, suggests practical ways to reach out to the lonely, marginalized outcast, helps you comfort the grieving and so much more. Ask for your copy of Listen, Love, Repeat when you give today. Call 888-665-4483 or go to ctvn.org slash donate. Thank you for your generosity. Hope happens here. Hope truly does happen here and it is the national day of prayer. You know, one thing we love is when brothers and sisters, we dwell together in unity and we know that our faith in Christ Jesus is one of the nations and we're so excited that we have Pastor Suk Il Kim and Yuri Yee. They are from South Korea and we have a Korean prayer team that is behind us. You see us the way you guys are. This is so beautiful. We are so excited to have you all with us today. It is such an honor. And so can you first like tell us, like Pastor Kim, that about the move of God that happened first in South Korea after the Korean War? So after the Korean War, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. And many people were in pain and suffering. And there were many orphans coming. And a lot of American soldiers helped our people. And because we received your help, that is why we are able to be here today. Yeah, it's truly beautiful. And just talk to us about, you know, the move that, you know, after the Korean War and the thing that the spirit of God was moving in South Korea. What are some of the things that you saw happen in your country? So the Korean church was in a lot of suffering and pain. But the American church and the American people in general helped the South Koreans with materials that we needed and also spiritually. And we received the gospel through the Americans. And not just the gospel, but education and a lot of other things, we were able to civilize ourselves. That's truly amazing. It's just like how you see, like, with America and South Korea, just God in the midst of it all. And talk to us about, you know, now we're fast-forwarding, like, more than 50 years later, that there is a call on your people's heart to come here and to pour God's love and His power and His spirit and the gospel here in America. So for the Korean church, the American church is like the mother's womb. Recently, we heard news about the spiritual happenings that are prevalent in the American church right now. And when we think of that, it breaks our hearts. Not only did the American church spread the gospel to us, but it is still one of the biggest churches in the world. And we received the heart that God's presence is in desperate need for the American church. And you said something that it said, there's things you're seeing in America and you're seeing in the world. And I think that God's presence is in desperate need for the American church. And I think that it said there's things you're seeing in the American church that is breaking your heart. What are things that are breaking your heart about us in the American church in America? What are the things that are hurting you in the American church? So for me personally, what breaks my heart is that many local pastors in the American church are weakening and they are losing their strength and the influence of the Holy Spirit. And there are so many things that are prevailing in this generation right now. I hear that they are feeling down and they're feeling depressed and they feel like some kind of stronghold is pushing them down. And I really hope that they can rise up like Prophet Elijah's in these times. That is like such I know. So dear heart to heart, like Amy, she's a pastor of a church so I know this is near. And dear to heart like heart as well. And then we just want to take a moment so that it is the national day of prayer for you all to pray for us here at America. So can you take a moment and to pray whatever God has put in your heart to pray for us? I can do it all together. let us pray for the American church right now. let us pray for God's presence to be upon this land and the American church. Let's pray for the American church right now. Let's pray for God's presence to be upon this land and the American church. that the American church would be clothed with the presence of the Holy Spirit and that they would be the spiritual leaders to lead the gospel to the ends of the earth. And may the next generation rise up to fear God and to partake in this mission. Let us pray right now for God's presence to be upon North America and for there to be a revival once again. Let us call upon the name of the Lord at this time and pray together. On tomorrow's Hope Today, learn how to defeat the enemy and get delivered and set free. Pastor Greg Locke shares about his riveting new documentary that follows him and a diverse group of demon-slaying creatures as they begin to spark one of the greatest awakenings in the history of the Christian Church. Don't miss tomorrow's Hope Today. Cornerstone Television wishes to thank all our faithful viewers whose consistent prayers and financial support have made this program possible.