Have you ever taken the time to think about the thoughts that you let run rampant in your mind? Take a min a do so. Think about all the different types of thoughts you had yesterday. Where they inspiring, encouraging, life giving thoughts, or did they happen to be lustful, hateful,depressing thoughts? Do you know that the things you think about and let affect your heart are the things that you naturally act out?
"Above all else,guard your heart, because everything you do flows from it" Proverbs 4:23 NIV
I have been seeing on twitter about a new album that was leaked by an artist that seems to get people feeling "some type of way". That their music basically puts you in a mood to be down and sad and miss people that you really shouldn't even be thinking about. I know many of us joke about that, but not many of us think about what that sets us up to do. You have to be careful about what you let get into your heart and into your mind. Not saying the music might not have great beats and good lyrics but it really only helps build strongholds.
So let me break this down:
First comes the stimulation ( if i can call it that). That is that one song that makes you lust or, or seeing that girl or guy that you think is very attractive, or those bills that you just got and you realize that your finances are not well enough to pay them and this frequently the case. Maybe even that one person that makes you mad.
Second comes the thought. Thoughts that make you imagine maybe the storyline of that lustful song, putting yourself and someone who is not even married to you in the situation. Knowing that your sinning in your mind. The same goes with seeing that attractive guy or girl. Over and over you constantly think about maybe what their "love faces" look like. ( yes, I went there. I am only going to be real with you) The bible says in matthew 5:28 KJV
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman (or man) to lust after her has already committed adultery with her already in his heart"
( notice it mentions nothing about being married, so in essence your already cheating on your future.)
You also have the thoughts that your not going to be able to survive because you have bills that need to pay that you repetitively can not pay. Leading to thoughts of worry. but " can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:27. No so stop worrying. Does not your God provide for you? Have you not made it to this point already?
And lastly those thoughts that come from negative feelings towards someone who has been negative towards you.
Psalms 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.” ~ Thomas A’ Kempis
Ok lets try to speed this up some, So after you have these thoughts you have a choice. You can either sit and contemplate them all day which leads to strongholds. Or you can take the thoughts captive and make them obey God and his word
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Taking our thoughts captive:
Step 1:Acknowledge the thought, but only enough to know that it is not something be thought of, so you can take measures to capture it. then Don't think the thought. A thought will only stay around for as long as you think on it.
Step 2: PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! the moment you realize that your thought is not anything that lifts up God in anyway. Pray that the thought be removed.
Step 3: Philippines 4:8 it!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Step4: remove the stimulus! If you are not spiritually strong enough to be around what causes those thoughts then you need to remove it completely away from you.
Step5: Let someone know of the thoughts so that they may be in accountability with you to make sure that you aren't around things that provoke them.
Step6: if the thought reoccurs go back to step 2-6
It is so important that you take you go through these steps Because they will definitely help you think better thoughts and live a better life! The devil will try to throw fiery darts (also known as those bad thoughts) but you just have to put on the whole body of armor in order to beat him out. These steps help that!
Challenge for today:
At some point today try to find some encouraging or convicting scriptures that you can write on notecards what God's word says about some of the thoughts that you have. That way you can realize why that thought is wrong. Then how God will help you overcome. Also Practice these 6 steps when ever you have that bad thought.
I love you, but God loves you more
~Chelsee
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Taking our thoughts captive:
Step 1:Acknowledge the thought, but only enough to know that it is not something be thought of, so you can take measures to capture it. then Don't think the thought. A thought will only stay around for as long as you think on it.
Step 2: PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! the moment you realize that your thought is not anything that lifts up God in anyway. Pray that the thought be removed.
Step 3: Philippines 4:8 it!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Step4: remove the stimulus! If you are not spiritually strong enough to be around what causes those thoughts then you need to remove it completely away from you.
Step5: Let someone know of the thoughts so that they may be in accountability with you to make sure that you aren't around things that provoke them.
Step6: if the thought reoccurs go back to step 2-6
It is so important that you take you go through these steps Because they will definitely help you think better thoughts and live a better life! The devil will try to throw fiery darts (also known as those bad thoughts) but you just have to put on the whole body of armor in order to beat him out. These steps help that!
Challenge for today:
At some point today try to find some encouraging or convicting scriptures that you can write on notecards what God's word says about some of the thoughts that you have. That way you can realize why that thought is wrong. Then how God will help you overcome. Also Practice these 6 steps when ever you have that bad thought.
I love you, but God loves you more
~Chelsee
