Be Care Little Mind What You Think

Yesterday I blogged about what we see and hear, but to make the subject complete, our little minds could use a filter so the negativity can't enter!

Remember the story of Chicken Little? Chicken little was having a great day -- walking in the woods, looking at the trees, smelling the flowers and listening to the birds singing. Then an acorn fell from a tree, and hit the top of her little head. "My, oh, my, the sky is falling! I must run and tell the lion about it," - says Chicken Little and begins to run. And, so the story goes,,,,

Proverbs 4:23 says "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life." Isn't that so true? From just an acorn, Chicken Little thought the world was coming to an end. And, we, too, can be having an absolutely fabulous day, but then we can think ourselves into nausea from a little something that was planted in our head about a friend who spoke adversely about us or the new pain we just felt, or the employer who doesn't seem to notice the positive things we are doing for our company.

We can even read the paper or watch the evening news and get worked up because of the negative report on the heat wave coming through or the outbreak of mosquitoes or that utility rates are going to go up. Or that yet another food product has potential life-threatening ingredients.

At this point, we need to make a choice. "Am I going to keep a list of these negative thoughts?" We can. Or we can do something else. We can catch those thoughts. We can recognize the enemy who is placing those thoughts in our heads. We can turn those thoughts inside out because God has given us the ability to cancel out those thoughts and turn them into thoughts like "I am strong. I'm accepted. I have an assignment to fulfill. I am able. Whatever God has called me to do, I will get it done. God is for me and who can be against me? No one! I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that means I am beautiful. God holds my todays and tomorrows, so why should I worry or fret?

Keeping Guard Over Our Mind

When the airport's TSA agent was frisking my granddaughter a couple of weeks ago because she was a little "shifty" looking (NOT! It was her water bottle in her purse and a large bottle of sunblock in her carry-on), we realized the importance of being compliant with TSA's regulations.

Yesterday, I thought about how TSA is doing its best to keep out the "shifty" and potential harmful characters from entering our country. TSA requires that we walk through metal detectors and if we are not TSA pre-checked approved, we'll even have to take off our shoes, belts, and empty our pockets to prove we are harmless.

Today, my post is about the need we have for setting up a TSA, of sorts, for our minds to keep those "shifty" and harmful thoughts out that try to invade our minds. Fear comes; regrets come; panic comes; anxiety comes; envy comes; temptations come and we have a choice -- to allow them entry to invade our thought-life or to lock them out!

II Corinthians 10:5 says ".....We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." We have the ability to HALT those negative thoughts from coming in, but we have to do it on purpose, as soon as they try entry. But how, you might ask? Here's one of my favorite scriptures that tells us how. 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." That, is the TSA for our minds. We purposely and intentionally THINK good thoughts and when the alien, negative thoughts come....they get quickly replaced by focusing our attention on what and WHO (God) is good, true, excellent, praiseworthy.

It's a matter of discipline and taking authority over the negative -- again, just like the TSA. TSA has the authority to remove shifty, potentially dangerous people from flying on that aircraft. With God's Word in our heart and mind, we can have mind control over our thoughts, and furthermore, we can put our enemy in captivity when he tries to mess with us! Here's God's Word that confirms it from Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

What's Chasing YOU?

Day 100 of Photo Inspirations -- What’s Chasing You?

This photo is my youngest grandson being chased up a tree by a harmless Billy goat.  It seems quite terrifying to me, but my grandson appears to be totally enjoying himself. It must be because he knows that Billy goat is a pet – not a predator.

Once upon a time, I day-dreamed AND night-dreamed about a cute dark haired, dark eyed boy chasing me.  I couldn’t get him off my mind AND neither did I want to. And, that dream came true!  I was chased and caught!  And, I'm so glad I was!

This photo of my grandson sparked my thoughts about the not-so-good-things that chase us -- like those negative thoughts “You can’t make it!  You’re not good enough! You’re too old or too young!  Life is too hard!  You’re just too tired!  You’ve failed too many times!  You’ll never get well."  When those thoughts come chasing you, keep running as fast as you can -- refuse those lies -- you sure don't want them catching YOU!

On the flip side – let those optimistic, positive, and joy-filled thoughts chase you down and overtake you.  Like my grandson’s smiling face with that Billy goat, you’ll be so empowered by the greatness in you, NOTHING will be able to slow you down on your way to the TOP!

Here's the best medicine for those good things to chase us and over take us....."Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ME"  Isaiah 26:3.  "And all these blessings shall come upon you and OVERTAKE you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God."  Dueteronomy 28:2