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”!