What Is on Your Mind Today?
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God said:
What is on your mind today? Unless the thought is giving you great happiness, get it off your mind. When a mosquito lands on you, you swat it. You don't even give it a thought. You simply don't want biting mosquitoes on your arm...
When it's a thought that doesn't belong in your mind, when it's a nagging thought, or a biting one, summarily give it a swat and find better thoughts...
How many of your thoughts are thoughts that you would rather not have? They are thoughts of the past or thoughts of the future, and they fill up your beautiful mind. They nag you. They get you out of sorts. Is that not true? Well, then, get rid of them. They are leeches. They erode your heart. They take years off your life. They give you wrinkles...
Perhaps you think that a world without negative thoughts is simply not possible.
Perhaps you wonder what the multitude of your thoughts would be then? What would you think about? What would you talk about?
It is very possible that you wouldn't fill up every gap. It is likely that there would be more silence.
Would that be so bad? Would it be so bad to sit with a friend in silent conversation, or with Me? Is this objectionable to you?
You may be strong on energy conservation, and now I ask you to consider conserving your own energy. Perhaps you think all your wayward thoughts, your good-for-nothing thoughts, are an exercise that will help you lose weight or keep a slim figure. The actuality is far from it. Every undue thought adds pounds. They supply you with extra weight to carry around. Certainly, heavy thoughts weigh you down...
Have your thoughts been as big-footed as the Yeti? Why not have thoughts like butterflies? Thoughts so lovely that you would want to keep them always.
What might some of these thoughts be, beloveds? What are the thoughts that you would like to keep near you? What thoughts make you happy right now? Can you have them? Can you keep them lively? Can you draw more thoughts like these to multiply your happiness?
Your happiness and your unhappiness come from your thoughts. The power of your thoughts is indisputable. Your mind is innocent. The mind cannot say to some thoughts, "Work your power," and say to others, "Hey, make these thoughts ineffectual." The mind can do many things. It can play all kinds of tricks, yet it can't sort out thoughts into powerful or unpowerful. The mind can discern, but it can't turn on nor off the power of thought. The mind can lend connotations, but the connection of all your thoughts is universal. The wiring cannot be switched on and off...
I do know it's easy to feel that you are at the mercy of thoughts. You may have been, yet that was before you knew that thoughts were up to you. You thought you had to admit them all, and treat them all fairly. This is not the case at all. This is one time when you don't have to be democratic and say all are welcome. Oh, no, this is one time when you can bar the door and know it is a great thing to do...
Just as you do not need to be all things to all men, you don't have to foster every thought that appears. There are wanted thoughts and unwanted thoughts, and that's perfectly okay. That's quite all right. Let some thoughts in, and do not admit some others. And if, somehow, if some thoughts enter and you think better of it, shoo them out. What do you need them for? They're not your original thoughts anyway...
~ Heavenletters ~
Posted by: LINELLA BRECKENRIDGE
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Escaping the Stress Trap
Manage Your Fears
Mary Southerland
Today's Truth
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).
Friend to Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. There always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the process all over again. Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. After a few loads that yielded pink male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting. Heaven help the man, woman or child who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to peace and joy! How? By counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful and we can count on Him to be with us every step of the way. Worry is trying to fix tomorrow's problems with today's resources. God gives grace in daily doses.
Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT).
Count on God for direction. Life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion. God offers direction and guidance through His word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 32:8 I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you (NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from scenario sickness of "What if". There are no "what ifs" when we choose to trust God for every need.
Isaiah 65:24 I will provide their needs before they ask. I will help them while they are still asking for help (NLT).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we follow God's agenda, God fights for us. When we follow our agenda, we are on our own.
Exodus 14:13 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, "If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!" Many of us have good reason to be afraid because we are in control. Fear feeds stress. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender control to God and find the peace waiting in His hand.
Let's Pray
Father, my heart is filled with fear. It seems like I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Lord, help me to surrender my fears to you. Strengthen me to face each one and walk through it, knowing that you are with me. I choose to trust you and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and for peace. I choose you, Lord. Amen.
Now it's Your Turn
Make a list of your fears. Surrender each one to the loving control of God as you pray, "I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Burn the list as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God's perfect peace enthroned in your life.
Manage Your Fears
Mary Southerland
Today's Truth
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).
Friend to Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. There always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the process all over again. Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. After a few loads that yielded pink male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting. Heaven help the man, woman or child who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to peace and joy! How? By counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful and we can count on Him to be with us every step of the way. Worry is trying to fix tomorrow's problems with today's resources. God gives grace in daily doses.
Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (NLT).
Count on God for direction. Life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion. God offers direction and guidance through His word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 32:8 I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you (NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from scenario sickness of "What if". There are no "what ifs" when we choose to trust God for every need.
Isaiah 65:24 I will provide their needs before they ask. I will help them while they are still asking for help (NLT).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we follow God's agenda, God fights for us. When we follow our agenda, we are on our own.
Exodus 14:13 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, "If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!" Many of us have good reason to be afraid because we are in control. Fear feeds stress. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender control to God and find the peace waiting in His hand.
Let's Pray
Father, my heart is filled with fear. It seems like I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Lord, help me to surrender my fears to you. Strengthen me to face each one and walk through it, knowing that you are with me. I choose to trust you and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and for peace. I choose you, Lord. Amen.
Now it's Your Turn
Make a list of your fears. Surrender each one to the loving control of God as you pray, "I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Burn the list as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to God's perfect peace enthroned in your life.