During the course of a single day, thousands of thoughts flow through our minds. Some of them give us life as they build us up, while others tear us down and steal our hope.
You were not created to be ruled by negative thoughts. God's desire for you is to take control of your thoughts and live life to the fullest, experiencing His goodness, favor and blessings no matter what you're facing.
You can't always control which thoughts come…but you can decide which ones you allow to stay around.
The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). It's so important to understand that our actions are determined by the way we think.
So many times, we replay the same negative thoughts over and over. When negativity and doubt set in and stay in your mind, it is nearly impossible to set a course toward God's best plans for your life.
In Psalm 77, the psalmist cries out to God as he wrestles with his thoughts. He says he's in deep trouble, he's overwhelmed with longing for God's help, he can't sleep and he feels rejected.
We all struggle at one point or another with thoughts that take us down the wrong path. But God wants us to start thinking on positive things – things that give hope and life. When we do this, we'll begin to experience greater victory and see ourselves rising to new levels.
Remember, when you take control of your thoughts, you ultimately take control of your life. This is just the beginning of what God wants to do in you and through you. He's got a great plan for your life to make a mark in this world
6 comments:
Powerful teaching, Lonnie! These writings of yours just keep getting better and better. Since being diagnosed with late stage lung cancer, I have really learned the meaning and the importance of positive thinking and of praising Him no matter what. Some people hear "cancer" and they think they have just received a death sentence, and some bemoan their lot in life (to be sentenced to death.) They don't last too long. Others fight to overcome the illness, they live longer and happier. Others know that Jesus took His beating so that they will be healed -- and they are healed. Others, like me, are somewhere in between the last two sentences - I know that no matter what the outocme, Jesus is with me every step of the way and it's going to be okay no matter what the overcome. I will continue to praise and love Him here on earth, or I will be praising Him and loving Him from my Heavenly home. Think positive, happy thoughts. Thank you for this teaching, Lonnie.
I can't take credit for this post, Sharon! Karen did it. And it is powerful. Thank you, Karen. And thank you, Sharon, for sharing your personal journey. You guys inspire us. Thanks. And thank you, Jesus.
I am sending both of you a DVD that is along these same thoughts. And are they ever good! Hope you get a chance to watch them!
Wow, this is good stuff! I am feeling so discouraged lately and I cannot imagine how someone with cancer must get discouraged too. I am amazed at your strength and grace Sharon. I am watching your girls bloom into beautiful women with the faith they've learned from you and healings are taking place. I live by the magnet on my refrigerator "In all things give Thanks." Yet, it is easy to let myself go through the valleys sometimes, but I always give thanks and realize God's hand in everything that happens (usually by looking back in awe.) Thank you Karen, for sharing this teaching with me on a day I needed encouragement. Thank you Jesus!
I believe. I have even angered many people including those I love the most, because I believe this with all that I am. The human mind is so powerful and still such a scientiific mystery. What I know is that you can turn your whole existance around by using you mind. Most of my life I have had only negative thoughts. I got so deep down into that pit of depression that I was living with despair. I had to get medical help through anti-depressants to pull me back up to the edge of that hole. I used them for two months, 8 weeks. And during that 8 weeks I studied my Bible, I communicated with the Almighty Counselor. That was just enough for me to learn how to use and control my mind and the thoughts that creep in there. Do you know that science has now acknowledged that there is a "God Spot" in our brains? Well that is what they call it. Through magnetic imaging, they have done studies where they've watched the brain activity while showing photos of "spiritual" images or while playing "spiritual" music or while speaking to the study subjects about "spiritual" concepts. And they found that a certain area of the brain lit up with increased activity, fire red. I really believe that, because I experienced that. As soon as God moved in, I went off the anti-depressents. I needed that medication to get my synapsis firing right in my brain, but I needed to fill up the "God Spot" to fully find relief from the depression. Sometimes it is extemely hard for me to chase away the negative thoughts. But my hope is in the Lord and He did not create me to have a spirit of despair. And once I learned that those negative thoughts were the Devil trying to convict me for that which God forgave me, well God is in control. That is my mantra. When I don't think I can take one more minute, one more minute of ... I say to myself "God is in control." And when God is in control, even the worst is intended for my best. Because I was created to love God and be happy in that.
WOW Mickey, thank you for writing this. YOu are really something! Thanks for helping me today! God is in Control!!! We have a choice to think negative or positive...it is our choice and God is the one we need to call on to help us think "RIGHT!" I struggle with this alot and aim to gain victory over it, through Christ our Lord.
Thank you! I needed all of this tonight! Somehow I missed these comments, and I am just down here browsing around and discovered there were these comments. So good! Thank you for sharing your hearts! You helped me a lot tonight!
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