Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
I listened to a sermon by Joyce Meyer (Christian author and speaker) who said this about thoughts: “Some people try to control their mouths but do nothing about their thoughts. That’s like pulling off the top of a weed. Unless the root is dug up, the weed always comes back. You’ll never control your mouth unless you first learn to control your mind.”
How powerful are those words!! I know many times I seek to “hold my tongue” and not say words I want to, depending on the situation. But, if I’m being honest, there are also times I do not hold back, especially if I’m upset and want to get my point across. How many times do we consistently stop and contemplate our thoughts prior to taking action? How many times do we ask ourselves, am I looking at the individuals and/or various situations in the right frame of mind/thought? I believe all of us need to take the time to work on ourselves and our thoughts, on a consistent basis, prior to moving forward and taking any action.
Have you ever stopped to think how many negative encounters could’ve been avoided, if we took the time to assess our agitated thoughts toward a person or a situation? There are many times we can make incorrect assumptions and believe what we think about a person or situation (without really knowing) and then seek to move forward based on our erroneous conclusions.
As we move forward in life, may we take the time to really be honest with who we are, what we are thinking, and how we choose to respond to various individuals and situations. May we truly study God’s word and apply it to our everyday lives, as this is key to changing the way we think about others and the world around us. Let’s not follow others just because that’s what everyone else does. Instead, let’s decide for ourselves, based on Godly council, what our thoughts should be in any given situation.
God, be with us as we seek to be closer to you and seek to have our thoughts and actions, be in alignment with Your precepts.
Blessings,
Angélique
To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com