Break the chain of toxic thinking

 2 Corinthians 10:5

“We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”   Philippians 4:8 “ finally, brothers, 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.” 

Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks in his heart, so shall he be.”    Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ!!! When I was in treatment for my alcoholism they taught us that if we let ourselves think of something four times in a row, we will have an action.  To avoid circling the drain, capture the first toxic thought and get rid of it!!! We all have toxic thoughts.  We have a choice to keep thinking of them or stop!  Recognize the first toxic thoughts,  capture it, let it go!!   Think on what is right.  Memorize a Bible verse and when you have the toxic  thought come in intentionally speak the word of God.      The Name of Jesus is also powerful!!! Sometimes when I have a thought that won’t leave me, I break the chain by calling on the name of Jesus.   I may call on His name over and over.  His name is my one word prayer.   There is power in the name of Jesus.  Call on the name of the of Jesus and you will be saved. Let him help you break every chain.

Be present 🎁

 Philippians 3:13 “ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:  forgetting, what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Forget what is in the past and look forward.   Five minutes a go, is just as over as 50 years ago!!   We can’t change conversations by redoing them in our heads.   Let the past lie, pick up what you can do now.   We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength!!! I have let myself be debilitated by rehearsing the past instead of living in my present, be fully present as your present to yourself today.

Idols steal the grace God wants to give us

 Jonah 2:8 “Those that cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”  Are you clinging to a worthless idol?   I have clung to many a worthless idol!!   I have clung to grief, I have clung to worry, I have clung to physical fitness, alcohol, lustful relationships, status, materialism, and gluttony…..I have clung to many things that are not from God.    I have had many idols.   This passage makes me wonder what beautiful things God’s grace, had in store for me, that I couldn’t receive, because I was holding unto an idol?   What are you idolizing?  Is it God?

Psalm 139 reminds us jow loved we are

 Psalm 139:16 “your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!”

Psalm 139 helps me remember God loves me, knows me and knows my each and every moment.    Not a minute of our lives, He has not seen.   Still He loves each of us.  When  I think things should be different, I remember, God saw this day, before it came to be and did not stop it, for His reasons.    His thoughts and love towards each of us out number the grains of sand.   I find such comfort in knowing; God, so powerful, loves each of us so intimately.  

Believe

 John 5:38 “Nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one He sent.  ….44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”

Just believe!    This is the Christmas theme.  “Believe” is used as a complete sentence this time of year.   What does that truly look like in our lives?    If we are resting in our belief, why do we worry and manipulate?    True belief, is true trust.   He is enough!!   We are complete in Him.   Are you living in belief today?   Or are you seeking mans approval?   Christmas season is in our hearts and lasts year round when we “Believe”!

Rest as God did on the 7th day

 Hebrews 4:10 “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.”

Enter God’s rest!!  Rest from your own work.   God’s got this!! Rest, just as God did on the 7th day.       I am very guilty of working hard to make things happen without God’s rest and peace.  Sometimes God says, no.  Sometimes He says slow, sometimes He says grow.  Sometimes He says yes!! Whatever His answer is; Rest in the answer God gives you!!

Resting in God's ways is trusting in God's ways! 

Share your struggles. They dont define you.

 Hebrews 2:18 “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

One of my very successful friends said to me, “I never boast about my accomplishments, I share my failures. This helps me connect with people, we all have failure in common.”   He said that 30 years ago and still I ponder his words.   When we share how we have suffered, held up or fell to temptation as common ground, it can be of profound help.    AA is built on this very concept.  I used to try to hide my flaws.  I thought no one could see them if I kept them hidden.   What we keep a secret keeps us sick.   Our sins and struggles don’t define us the righteousness of Jesus Christ defines us!!  Don’t be afraid to share your sufferings and temptations they do not define  you, they are just part of your journey.   Being transparent with others, builds intimacy; in it we can help each other.    This doesn’t mean continuously emotionally puking on people it means sharing common struggles to help each other through.