Whatcha thinkin’ about?
September 20th, 2007 Linda Ray“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4: 7)
The mind is a fascinating gift that God has created in us. It can persuade us, it can direct us, it can create peace or it can create havoc that affects our whole being. I have learned a valuable lesson that the thoughts in my mind that are negative always have to be replaced with something positive or that negative will keep coming back. For example; if my mind tends to conclude that God is a strict, unloving, impersonal God because of circumstances, feelings and situations in my past, I have to replace that thought of who I think God is with who I know God is. I literally have to tell myself, that is not true! And think purposely that God loves me and knows me and wants to guide me. Memorizing Scripture and saying it out loud is an incredible tool!
My sweet son is having a lot of difficulty getting to sleep at night. He lies awake and his thoughts begin to consume him until he gets frustrated and comes peeking out his room, risking trouble because he is scared, worried, or anxious. He and I have been talking a lot lately about this subject of the mind. How we might not realize it, but what we are thinking about can literally make us upset or even physically sick at times. The devil can and does use his manipulation with our thoughts in attempt to destroy us. It’s done through the media, the words of others or those ugly thoughts that exist in the back of our mind, simply because of human nature.
I’ve been sharing with him and praying with him about his troubled thoughts. We talk about replacing them with happy memories or distractions of peaceful things. Ultimately though, this battle of the mind can only be won with the help of God. I have been challenged right along with my kiddo to acknowledge those thoughts that are causing me chaos and to give them up to the Lord.
Philippians 4 tells us to think about what is true, noble, right, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy….and that the peace of God will be with you. How easy is that?! We have peace offered right there for us. It’s victory handed to us with a guarantee. A guarantee only if we completely relinquish those ugly thoughts and do as He asks…to think on good things.
With our thoughts turned over to God, we are given peace. We can feel contentment and “do everything through him who gives us strength” when we have peace. I’ve heard the term that the tongue can dictate huge catastrophes or victories. Even more so, what we think in our minds comes out in our words! So in my opinion, the mind is what ensures us either peace or defeat. What we believe in our heart and mind can literally pave the path before us.
What is on your mind today? Is there peace that settles and defuses those thoughts that cause you frustration, anger, or fear? I challenge us all today to consciously take our thoughts captive today. To offer them up to the Lord and to replace them with His words and truth. Perhaps this day that could’ve ended in turmoil, will be a delightfully peaceful day which God has planned if we remember to surrender our mind to Him.
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3