The unlovely is a place that our minds can go when thinking about our relationships… our spouses, our parents, our children, our friendships, our co-workers, our acquaintances. We can think on the problems… the areas where we differ… the words they said to us, which they probably didn’t know hurt us… the things we don’t like about them (come on, admit it). We think on all of the unlovely about a person instead of focusing on the blessing that person is in our lives.
Guess what? The unlovely is all about who I am on the inside. Who YOU are on the inside. We were all born with a sin nature, and only THE LOVELY can change us on the inside. If MY thoughts about others are mostly negative, then I continue to have the unlovely inside. If YOUR thoughts about others are mostly negative, then YOU continue to have the unlovely inside. It’s difficult to take, I know. I struggle with this a lot and have to be constantly reminded to think on the blessings. My husband has an incredible gift for recognizing when my thoughts are going south. When we are talking and he notices my “pattern,” he stops me and asks, “what are you thankful for?” And of course, I roll my eyes. But what a blessing.
To begin to replace the unlovely that we all have inside, we must focus on THE LOVELY. JESUS. He is the One who is always lovely. We must become more and more like Him in order to replace the unlovely in our hearts and our minds. When we focus on Him, and ask Him to change our negative patterns, then we will begin to see THE LOVELY in those we are doing life with… and we will prevent ourselves from getting to the point of TALKING negatively about them.
What is the unlovely that your thoughts most turn to?
A challenge for this week: When you sense yourself thinking about the unlovely in someone, do the following:
- Stop and turn your focus to Jesus, THE LOVELY.
- List 3 things you love about the person you are thinking about.
- Promise yourself to no longer focus on the unlovely.
- Share this post with one other person… and challenge them.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8
Next week, think on things that are commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
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