Think About It
Think About What You Are Thinking About
Our thoughts can be positive, productive, and peaceful thoughts, or our thoughts can be our worst enemy, filled with negative emotions that can reck havoc on our health and wellbeing. There are times when our thoughts seem to take on a life it their own. There are times in my day when I have to stop my thoughts from going left by mentally thinking, “Stop, this is not going down!”.
I stop, take a few deep breaths and analyze my thoughts. For me this means putting things into prospective – things such as, asking myself, if this is a situation that I have control over to change? Or, is this something that I have no control over – something that I need to pray about and “…stand still and know that He is God.” (Psalm 46:10)?
Living in the Past
If my thoughts are roaming and have anything to do regarding the past, I know this is nothing but a distraction. Why? I cannot change the past. No amount of thought, analyzing, regret or praying will remove our past. It is, however, a way to lose control of our thoughts. If Satan can get us to focus on our past hurts, disappointments, poor choices and bad decision-making he knows he can drain us enough to where we will not have energy for where we are going in Christ. Living defeated zaps us of our energy. It makes us feel hopeless. Jesus is Hope! Jeremiah 29:11 says: “for I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He didn’t say hope in a past.
Living in the Future
Thinking about the future can make us anxious; even more so now that we are living in COVID times. The Bible tell us, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34. I recall times in the past when I worried about things that I thought would happen that never came to fruition. What a waste of time! Staying in the moment promotes an inner-peace and clarity that I pray for. John 14:27 says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Living in the Now
Remaining in the present is what makes me the most content. It is when my heart is the most grateful. It is when I realize all that the Lord has done for me. It makes me thankful for the mercy and grace that the Lord has shown me; even when I don’t deserve it. He is a forgiving God. I feel the blessings of Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Praying Today
Lord, I pray to focus on the here and now because my Hope, Faith & Trust are in you and you alone. I pray 2 Corinthians 2: 5 that “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” I Pray that our thoughts are as Philippians 5: 8 says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Amen
GL