[Adeodata's Heart] Stinkin Thinkin

[Adeodata]

"…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". 2 Corinthians 10:5

One evening, while trying on clothes for an event, I had a mini meltdown! I know you know what I’m talking about. Every thing I tried on seemed to scream at the seam. After trying outfit number 3, I began to sweat and utter words of disbelief and frustration. Knowing that not going was not an option, I calmed down just enough to make something work. For the next 15 minutes however, my thoughts were consumed with how I looked, how I got that way, and by golly, how I was going to change it. To top it off, just seconds before we left the house, you guessed it, I changed again! My sweet husband attempted to console me with, "You alright, it's alright, you look fine", all with a slight chuckle. I responded with a stern, "It's not funny!" It wasn't until I got in the car that I began to come back down to earth! It's amazing what a little change of scenery and quietness will do for you. No wonder Jesus would often go off to pray (Luke 5:16). And Moses would pitch a tent outside of the camp to seek God (Exodus 33:7-10).

While in the quietness of the car, I was able to think clearly.  I repented and surrendered the grip I had on frustration and fear of man’s approval. I felt relieved and a bit embarrassed by my clothes flingin, starvation thinkin, harsh speakin ways. "Where did that little monster come from?"  First, let’s keep it real, that little monster was packin one too many chocolate chip pecan cookies (one of my favorites)! But that’s another posting. Mostly, my thinkin was stinkin. I allowed my "I’m too fat" thoughts to roam free, and they quickly picked up a few friends such as, "Everybody who sees you is going to know you gained weight", "Your husband doesn’t find you attractive anymore" or "Nothing looks good on you". Before I knew, I was convinced these thoughts were truth. I felt like a loser!

What can be done to prevent these kinds of tailspins? God’s word tells us to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Imagine yourself capturing those "I’m ugly, nobody likes me, they all think I’m stupid, you’ll never amount to anything, you are not capable of that, she deserves whatever she gets…." thoughts and locking them in jail. There, they have no freedom, no ability to wreak havoc. Then we must replace those debilitating thoughts with thoughts of whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). The truth: we’re not losers. In fact, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us (Romans 8:37)!

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Posted By Adeodata to Adeodata's Heart at 5/12/2010 03:06:00 PM

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