A new train of thought

This weekend we've had Tom & Denise Rawls with us & the message in the evening service was exceptional.
Tom spoke about: "Stop listening to yourself, start talking to yourself" which is something I've been mulling over for a while now. (Get the podcast at www.mynclc.co.uk)

I'm reminded of the times Jon has been 10 minutes late home from work and before I know it he's had an accident, lying dead on a hospital bed, I'm at his funeral & trying to start a new life without him. (Sorry Jon)
OR, I've sent someone a text & they haven't replied.  All of a sudden I'm trying to work out when I offended them, what I said to them last time we spoke, whether I should have made more of an effort to talk to them more often, or if I've spoken to them too much & they think I'm stalking them.

I think it's fair to say that our inner voice, if left unchecked can get us into trouble before we even realise it.

In Philippians 4, Paul says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Trying your hardest to think about positive things can be really difficult when your inner voice is shouting negative things at you.  What then can we do?
In this scripture, Paul is telling us that with thanksgiving, the peace of God which transcends (rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed) our understanding will guard our hearts & minds.
Turning our attention on thanking Him turns our thoughts around.
Worrying about situations actually says "I am in this situation and I'm stuck. You can't help me". It limits what God wants to do in and through us.


Praise is a powerful thing.  It says "my thoughts may say this, but you say..."
We then are open to receiving an answer.
So...
My thoughts may say I'm unlovable, but You say I'm fearfully & wonderfullly made (Ps 139)
My thoughts may say people judge me, but You say Your grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12)
My thoughts may say I can't be successful, but You say I can do all things through You who strengthens me (Rom 8)
My thoughts may say things can't possibly be this good, something is bound to happen to spoil it, but You say You have plans for prospering me. (Jer 29)


Enjoy life! Don't waste time with negative thoughts.  Speak to yourself!

...so what are you going to do about it then?

Those words have been rolling around in my head lately "...so, what are you going to do about it then?"

You know when you come across a frustration, or an issue that really has you stumped?  I found myself with one of those lately.  Nothing huge or life threatening, just one of those annoyances that leave you thinking "I wish someone would do something about it"

That's when that question has come up.  What am I going to do?

It's so easy to look at issues and wish someone would provide the answer.  

That’s how things go unsolved.

Walking past a piece of litter and tutting doesn’t make our environment lovely.

Noticing someone standing on their own & being annoyed that no-one is talking to them doesn’t help them get connected.

Hoping that someone will write us a cheque to solve our debt problems doesn’t take us out of debt.

When we take personal responsibility to do something about those situations that frustrate us, that’s when we change the world, person by person, situation by situation.

It starts with us.