This Morning:
- Ask God to prepare your heart for today’s thought battles.
- Journal about how you are doing with your thought patterns.
- Read Philippians 4:8 out loud.
I came across a forum today where I person had posed the question, “Spiritually speaking, is your glass half full or half empty?” Some of the answers amused me. Some of them just made me sad:
- “At this point, I would say I am feeling very much like the glass is half empty. But when I get out of this dark place I’m in, I’m gonna fill it up to the top so it won’t matter!”
- “Before I met my husband and moved away, I would have told you my glass was half empty. But now, I am happy to say my glass is half full!” (chosen by voters as best answer)
- “Some days it is half full, some it is half empty. It depends on how life is going at the particular time.”
- “It doesn’t matter what you choose, the result is still the same. The positive thinking doesn’t make your life better.”
Read these scriptures from Philippians and Romans:
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
We are forever joined with Christ. NOTHING can separate us from His love. Knowing this, we can be content in all circumstances. He who holds us in His hand knows the future. He planned it. And we can be confident in the fact that everything that happens… even the horrible stuff that we experience and see in the world… is all a part of His plan.
Instead of grumbling about our day-to-day stuff, we can trust that God holds the future. He holds today. He holds tomorrow. He holds every day from now until eternity. We can rest in that fact. Easier said than done. Yes. But when we commit to Him… allowing His thoughts to become ours, we become expectant trusters instead of circumstantial grumblers.
To Make You Think:
- How are you doing in this area? Do you consider yourself to be a circumstantial grumbler or an expectant truster?
- When you are complaining to people around you, do you notice that your inside thoughts are even worse?
- Are you able to recognize when this thought pattern sneaks in?
- Do you know this love I am talking about? The love of Christ in your life? If you have been miserable in your life and realize something is missing, click here and check out The Story. It just might be the life and perspective change you’ve been looking for. Learn about Jesus… the only One who offers us a life-changing unconditional love.
- Keep throwing Philippians 4:8 at Satan when he attacks you with negative thoughts.
- Journal about the “To Make You Think” questions.
- Before you go to bed, journal about today’s thought failures and victories. Commit your list to the Lord and continue to ask Him to protect your mind.
Continuing on… 31 Days :: Day 4 – Bonded Legalist or Liberated Bride?
Ok, so last night wasn't so restful. I was extremely tired, but the baby was wide awake.
I woke up this morning to a very cold room which made getting out of bed all the more hard.
After getting up and starting to get my day together, my hubby was looking for his watch. Where is it? Have you seen it?
Inside, I started to cringe. I WANNA READ MY BIBLE! LEAVE ME ALONE>
Outwardly I said,' I have too much to take care of to have to keep track of your stuff.' Right then I got zinged! I knew where it was. Under the bed. The cat was playing with it. But he looked on the side of the bed, not under. My pride said, you didn't look hard enough. My spirit said,' be gracious, get his watch so that his day isn't thwarted.' Double zing!!
Starting this journey has brought with it arrows from Satan. Praise the Lord for verse memorization, his word and the spirit that dwells inside of me. Lord, reverse the Circumstantial Grumbler that I am. Bring to my rememberance your goodness and mercy.
I tend to be a Circumstancial Grumbler inside. When someone else is grumbling, I revert to trusting on the outside. Although I think I 'put on the air' of trusting.
Asking God to change my thought pattern has been simple, ALLOWING has been challenging. I'm grateful for this study.
Pure, Just, Honorable, Lovely, Commendable, Excellence-worthy of Praise.
Yes, keep repeating that verse!!! It's such an incredible reminder… I'm right there with you! And I'm grateful, too. God is really working in my heart through the writing. 🙂