Quit Your Stinkin' Thinkin'!

We all know the power of words but thoughts are every bit as powerful! Politicians, media, and advertisers all know the power that words and thoughts have on people. Politicians use words to make campaign promises. The media and advertisers use words and imagery to play on our minds. Imagery and the use of the right words creates thoughts and thoughts have great power and control over people. 

Negative thoughts brings us to places we do not wish to necessarily go. Depression and sin are direct results of wrong thinking. Negative thoughts can also bring mental and physical harm to our bodies. 

The bible says in Proverbs 23:7a - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: ...

Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there ban any praise, think on these things.

This gives a list of things that we should allow our minds to dwell on. Notice, they are all positive things! 

When we start allowing negative or any type of wrong thinking, we can get into trouble pretty quickly. That is why we need to do our best to nip it in the bud as soon as the negative thoughts start. In 1 Corinthians chapter 9 Paul talks about bringing his body into subjection so that he doesn't harm his preaching to others. We bring our bodies into subjection and alignment with God's Word by first controlling our thoughts.

Romans 12:2 says And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Here's something to try when you start having stinkin thinkin. When a wrong or negative thought enters your mind, force yourself to stop and then think of (and even say out loud if you need to) 3 positive things. Something that makes you smile. Something that gives you peace in your heart. Anything that takes your mind from the stinky thoughts. 

Having a mindset shift or change of thought takes practice but can be done if you follow my little trick above. Where we allow our minds to dwell effects our lives in great ways. You can live in joy and peace or in fear, anxiety, resentment, anger or any other negative pattern. However, you will reap the consequences of those both in a troubled mind and illness ridden body. The choice is yours. 

Have a blessed day and hope I gave someone something to think about.

Like Vs Love

 

I got to hear my hubby preach recently and it inspired this post. Both love and like are important in a relationship. Quite frankly, "like" is harder to pull off than love. We are commanded in the bible to love others. However, we are not commanded to like them. We can love and show love because of God's commandment or because of respect for authority or whatever and still not like the person. Love is a choice. Like is not. Like is based on personality, character, and conduct. 

I have been sure for many years that my husband loves me. I have not always been sure he likes me; that he likes the person I am. He has tried to assure me that he does but there have still been doubts off and on. His love, however, has helped to push those other feelings aside. 

In relationships, especially marriages, hopefully both feelings exist. If both exist, the marriage has a better chance of lasting. 

As I said above, liking someone, in my opinion is harder to pull off. Loving someone chooses to ignore the faults and love anyway. Liking someone usually means you don't even see the faults. You only see the traits that draw you to them. Like sees nice, funny, quiet, loud, serious, responsible, caring, determination, bravery, opinionated, and the list goes on. Like is the true things talked about at a funeral or memorial service. It's the things that are "liked" about a person that generally make up a person's dash or journey in life. 

I hope to be someone that is generally liked as a person. Someone who is not talked negatively about when my name comes up or when I walk away from a group. Of course, you cannot be liked by every person and there will always be someone who you may rub the wrong way but hopefully there are more people in favor of you than that do not like being around you. Oh, yeah, if you like someone you absolutely love being around them! 

Just a little thought provoker. Have a blessed day! 😊