Skip to main content

“Am I responsible for all the thoughts I think?”

A thought by H. Norman Wright DMin. from his book, A Better Way to Think: Using Positive Thoughts to Change Your Life (p.26). Baker Publishing Group (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That is a good question.

Norman says, “For the answer, we can look at Scripture.

“We can have great intentions to follow this directive: ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth’ (Col. 3:2 AMP). But even when we’re trying to do that, we have those other not-so-good, not-so-healthy, not-so-Christian thoughts that flash on the screens of our minds. We didn’t want them. We didn’t invite them. They just showed up.

“In most cases, we can’t stop specific thoughts from coming to mind. Our task is to manage them once they arrive.

“It’s like the different individuals who come to your door. Some might walk right in without being invited. Do you invite them to stay? I doubt it. You evict them.

“Once unwelcome thoughts pop in, you have the choice to either allow them to stay or kick them out. That’s where your responsibility lies. Think about it: What does the word set mean to you in the verse from Colossians?

“Thoughts about recent trauma, or even trauma from far in the past, all the way back to childhood, also may flash through your mind.

“Vivid dreams or nightmares, as well as thoughts, may take up residence in your mind. You feel as if you’re reliving the event over again. The experience seems embedded or tattooed on your brain.”

Norman says, “Bottom line: We need to kick out unwelcome, uninvited, negative thoughts, and ‘set our minds,’ as Scripture instructs, on thoughts that are good, healthful, uplifting, and positive.”

He then says, “I look at it like this: Every now and then, a strange animal wanders into my yard. I didn’t invite it. And if it shows potential to do harm, I must engage in damage control before it affects me or my property.

“We need to treat our thoughts with the same urgency.”

Yes we do, don’t we?

Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more

“We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives.”

A thought by Jon Tyson from his book, The Burden Is Light: Liberating Your Life from the Tyranny of Performance and Success (p. 118). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But is that all that is important? Jon says, “We want to realize an immediate return from whatever we invest in. I am prone to this way of thinking in so many areas of my life. ‘I paid a lot for that meal, yet the portions were not that big.’ ‘I invested two hours in that movie, and it was just okay.’   ‘I went to church, but the sermon wasn’t that profound.’ We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives. But beauty doesn’t fit within that framework. When Mary anointed Jesus with oil, there was an immediate outcry against her extravagant generosity. ‘It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ (Mark 14:5) One gospel depicts the disciples crying, ‘Why this waste?...
Post a Comment
Read more