A Penny for Your Thoughts

Do our thoughts really matter? Do the things we think about really affect our lives? I believe they do. Because where we put our thought energy is where we will direct our lives. Perhaps that is why pessimistic people remain so, and optimistic people are forever looking forward, believing that good can come from any situation. 

Let’s back this thought train up a bit. Think about what occupies your thoughts the most. Do the burdens of life crowd your impressions of the day? Do you have control over your thoughts? Can you push away negative thoughts that threaten to overburden you? 
This isn’t always easy to do.

It seems to me that negative thoughts get caught up in a cycle of repetition. Something we’ve done or said that we later regret plays over and over in our minds, making the situation seem worse than it really is and making us feel worse in the process. 

Can we stop the cycle? Is it possible to look for a positive spin on the problem and force a new thought to overcome the abrasive one? I wonder, could this be as simple as living with gratitude?

Spending time worrying about paying the mortgage or other bills won’t get them paid. Worry only causes distress that can manifest itself into physical symptoms of illness. As I lay down to sleep at night, I could toss and turn worrying about the future. But I don’t. Instead I choose to end my day by giving my thoughts to God. With thoughts of thankfulness for the day and gratitude that I have a warm home and a place to sleep, I drift off into a peaceful slumber. 


"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NIV)


Is this what it means to hold our thoughts captive? Giving our worries to God? And perhaps not just our worries, but also those thoughts that threaten our peace? In our humanness, our minds may wander to less than ideal thoughts. We need to hold those thoughts captive and present them to God. I’ll bet we’ll stop thinking unclean thoughts in a hurry if we know we have to be accountable for them.

So what will it take to capture our thoughts, to make our minds obey the rules we lay down? Consistency, in not allowing our thoughts to stray where they shouldn't, and realizing when we have lost control. When our thoughts wander and threaten our peace, we will have to seize them, acknowledging them before God, and relinquish their power over us. 

With practice, our thoughts will become more consistent with the lifestyle that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians: "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."  2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)


  
 
As we endeavor to improve our thought processes, we will invariably fall prey to the vicious cycles of negative thinking that threaten our peace of mind. We won't always experience completely forward progress, and that's okay. What is important, I think, is to gain an awareness that we are able to exercise control over own thoughts. And through prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit, we can give our fears and worrisome thoughts to God, freeing our minds to focus on what is really important - the beauty of life, and living each day in the example of Christ. 

Blessings on your journey.

What it Takes to Breathe

Most of the time, I see things for what they really are. But being the emotional person that I am, sometimes my vision gets clouded and I can’t see my way out of my troubles. I can get so lost in emotion that my common sense is rejected by my heart which only hears the unending loop of misery I’ve made for myself. Instead of making any forward progress at all, I am floundering.

This happened to me last week, when for no reason at all I found myself feeling lost with no direction in my thinking or my actions. I even wrote to a dear friend asking for prayers because I felt so out of sorts. I couldn’t grasp the source of my discontent. I felt like a fish on a pier, flopping and gasping for air when just the day before I had been getting along swimmingly.

My sweet friend prayed, and I studied and read until I found what I needed to hear. I was holding all of my troubles close to my heart, not realizing that I needed to lay them at Jesus’ feet. The Lord tells to take his yoke, that his burden is light. And we are to surrender our weaknesses to him. 

I don’t know if it was because of taking the week off of church or a lack of structured Bible time in my days, but this particular day felt scary. I didn’t feel the confidence that normally carries me. I didn’t feel the strength of my faith guiding me. I was that fish floundering on the pier within sight of what would save me, but without a plan to get me back into the water.

So I prayed. I took my worries and my problems and I laid them at the feet of my Savior. And I realized I need this process of mentally letting go of my concerns, even if it needs to be repeated every day, to free my mind of the burden of carrying my inward pain. It was so freeing to let go of problems I couldn’t solve and trust that the Lord would help me.  A peace washed over me and my spirits lifted, and I thanked my sweet friend for praying for me and helping me find my direction. I learned a little bit more about myself that day, and what it takes to get a breath of fresh air.

So often in life, we struggle needlessly, when the solution to our problems is as near as our heart. Give it all to God, let Him wrestle with your inner demons. Release control to the One who can truly free you. Humble yourself before the Lord and give your concerns to Him. Your burden will be lifted if you truly believe God will take care of you.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28-29