I mentioned before that I am doing the Intentionally Focused study from Good Morning Girls. It has been really good, and pretty much right on for what I have been needing to hear. I just finished up week 3 which was about the mind.
The memory verse was Philippians 4:8 "...always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right, and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those things." (NIrV)
This really hit me today when I read it. I love the question in the study that went along with this verse. It said, "Philippians 4:8 is a great filter system for our mind. (We use our mind to filter what our mouth says, but do we actually have a filter for our thoughts? Not usually...) Each time a thought pops into our head, we can run it through the characteristics mentioned in this verse. If it doesn't filter through one of these areas - it needs to leave our mind. In which area of your thinking do your thoughts often get stuck? Stop and pray, asking God for help to focus your mind on the things He calls us to." (I added the italics).
My mind constantly thinks about worries, about the what if's or why's. My mind rarely thinks about what is true, what is praiseworthy, what is lovely. I'd about 75% of the time I am thinking about all the opposite things. Some days I just wish that I could flip a switch and all of the sudden just see everything clearer because it is absolutely exhausting. I need to think of the promises that God has given to me. My thoughts tend to get stuck on the lies. So, I need to start at the beginning. "Always think about what is true..." I need to breathe that verse into my life. When I feel like there is something I am thinking about that may not pass, I need to throw it out. But how do I do that? I pray, I give it to God, and I pray some more. I talk to my hubby, a trusted friend letting them know that I am struggling with untruths.
I am challenging myself to focus on what is true. If that means that I write Phil 4:8 and plaster it all over my house, then that is what i will do until it is written on my heart! I need to start each day with the promise that the Lord won't leave me... cracking open my Bible (or Bible App - whichever is handy) and just soaking in what He has to tell me. Starting the day off in truth is better than the latter...Feeling defeated before the day even begins. I should really start my days like this...
And then once this prayer has been said... this is what I want...
I want to be feared by the things that are not from God. I want them to know that I will no longer believe the lies that I am not good enough, or that I am failing at being a wife and mother, or that I should always question certain things that I know deep down are not true. I need to recognize when I am not at peace that is when the devil is whispering in my ear trying to wreck my faith, my trust, my love. I need my mind to be set on God and filled with peace. It's all about control. Who do I want at the drivers seat? Do I want to be at the drivers seat and go in my own direction? Do I want the devil at the drivers seat, showing me all the things that take me farther away from God? Or do I want God to be in the drivers seat? I will pick God. He is the only one who can truly give me the joy and peace that my mind craves.
So, where is it that your mind gets stuck? Is it believing the lies that are whispered everywhere? It is hard to think about the blessings of life? It is hard to think about things that are worthy of respect? Whatever it is that causes you to be stuck, I challenge you to put a game plan together and put it into action. It's time to overcome what leaves us feeling stuck and hopeless and cling to who gives us hope and peace.
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