What are YOU thinking?

I have someone very dear to me who has been really struggling lately.

She has felt overwhelmed and almost defeated.   She really DISLIKES her job and is desperate for a way to escape.

After watching this self-defeating attitude for a good month or more, I finally knew I had to say something.    She continually speaks about the stress in her life and the more she talks, the more chains that seem to weigh her down.

Satan doesn’t play fair.

The devil will use the words that come out of our mouths as legal ground to harass and oppress.    God knows his schemes and directs us in the scriptures how to overcome, but the choice is ours.

This person was filling her mind with negative thoughts.  There was a lot of self-pity oozing from her lips as she listed off all of her responsibilities and pressures.   The more she talked about them, the heavier they became.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The battle starts in your mind — in your thought-life.

No matter what the struggle, if you stop and consider the thoughts you are entertaining — you will recognize the stinkin’ thinkin’ taking place.

When I was bound by fear, I heard what I thought were my own thoughts preparing me for a panic attack.  It wasn’t until I started renewing my mind with the Word of God that I recognized the voice as a spirit of fear.    It was during that time that I learned to capture my thoughts.   In other words, when I started hearing fearful thoughts, I would intentionally STOP the madness and quote scriptures.   I would say out loud, “NO!  God has NOT given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a SOUND MIND.   I have authority to trample over snakes, scorpions, and all the power of the enemy.  Nothing by any means shall harm me!  God said that what I bind on earth will be bound in the heavenlies!  I BIND YOU IN JESUS’ NAME.”   I finally started aligning my words (and my thoughts) with the Living Word of God.

2 Corinthians 10:5
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.

So, back to my friend … I stopped her in the middle of her litany of woes and asked her to start sharing things with me that were blessings.   I could tell it was a struggle for her to list things.   I said, “You are thankful for ….” and she would fill in the blank.  Then I prompted her again … “What else are you thankful for ….?”

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

If you’re a parent, you understand the desire to want to bless a child who is thankful.  I can only imagine that God feels that way with us too.

God calls us to be thankful.   We can always find something to be thankful for can’t we?   Wouldn’t you rather spend your time thanking Him and praising Him than focusing on the problems that seem so big around you?   Honestly, when things are in their proper perspective, the MOUNTAINS become more like mole-hills.

Our focus needs to be on God.  Not on the circumstances.

Our words also need to be words of faith, not words of doom and gloom.

Proverbs 18:20-21
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
    with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
The tongue has the power of life and death,
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.