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

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...
Post a Comment
Read more

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...
Post a Comment
Read more