Considering what I am about to write I already know the answer to the question. I don’t think I am alone in this category of Christian living. However, I needed to get your attention. I have pondered this issue of struggles recently and particularly pertaining to our thoughts. Last week a woman shared with me that she stays mad at her husband almost all the time. When examining why this is, I was able to get to the root of the problem really quick. While she is doing things around the house throughout the day she thinks about all the things that make her mad about him. She simply stated, “I can be folding laundry and chewing him out in my mind the whole time.” She said often her husband comes home to her anger towards him and has no idea what he has done. Let’s face it, not many of us want to walk in the door to that every day.
Sad as it is, I believe all of us can be plagued by this issue. It may not be a husband, but it can be thoughts about something or someone else that plague our mind. The solution is quick and easy. Let me restate that—the solution is, maybe not so much for the actual doing!
Solution = changing your thoughts
As I share in Called to be a Keeper; I struggled with fear and worry in my mid-twenties (And I struggle today more than I would like to admit). I knew where those ‘strongholds’ came from, but I didn’t realize I had a choice in whether or not they consumed me. The good news from God’s Word is that “greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) In other words, if a Christian, we do have the power within us to kill those thoughts and not become a slave to them. However, the longer we have allowed them into our minds the harder it can be to become free of them. We have to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit and obey Gods Word when it says, “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8). Taking thoughts captive truly is a discipline. It does require training. However, if you ask the Lord to prompt you each time you entertain ‘unworthy’ thoughts He will be faithful to do it.
How about you? Are there thoughts that plague your mind daily, keeping you in bondage to anger, hurt, frustration and the ‘what ifs’ of life? What are they? Recognize them now and give them to God through the power of the Spirit within you. Would love to hear from you!
In His Love,
Lori
