If I ponder or dwell upon something I obviously believe what I am considering has merit. Along with the logical flow of those thoughts and all they bring to bear upon my life, their impact on my thought life produces a composite of things I think about, and probably meditate upon, and eventually those thoughts become powerful enough to establish or change what I believe to be true.
When we entertain obsessive thoughts that contradict the central tenets of our faith, it is possible to miss the contradiction and follow through instead with choices that undermine faith and dishonor God. And though some people feel justified, even entitled, to present their contradiction as truth, they also miss the snare that comes with it; they really do not have a problem presenting as truth what actually is the fruit of their own meditation—a result of their own obsessive thoughts. Whew!
God can change that kind of habitual carelessness; He will deliver us if we ask and, by His Spirit, sever the connections to those things in the process. He targets our affection for, or sympathy toward, thoughts that run amuck since, if we have practiced them over a period of time, it will be difficult to see or admit since unfortunately we can become sympathetic with the very thing God wants to cut off. Whew again!
We ought to govern our thought life this way: “Whatsoever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and praiseworthy (we are to) think on these things.” Paul said, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Thoughts become beliefs that determine the way we will go. As we discipline our thoughts, the fruit of peace rewards that alignment.
Amen.
Sister Dottie
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