Jerry Savelle's website devotional for today is an excellent lesson on thought life.
PLANTING THOUGHTS
Have you ever known someone who appeared to have the
“perfect” life and seemed to be happy? And then one day, you discover that
they’re getting a divorce and that they had been having an affair for several
years? You wonder, “How did that happen?”
It all began in the mind . . . as a thought.
Everything in your life begins as a thought. A single
thought that you dwell on and allow to drop into your spirit could change your
entire destiny. Thoughts that are dwelled on and meditated upon, eventually
lead to actions.
You don’t just wake up one day and discover that your life
has fallen apart, or you don’t love your spouse anymore. Those feelings began
as thoughts planted into your mind and you allowed them to take root and grow
up and become your actions.
I remember the testimony of a couple whose marriage was
restored after going through a very heart-breaking divorce. They were both born
again, serving God and preparing for the ministry. The wife shared that during
this time, on several occasions, a gentleman at her work place would often make
the comment to her, “If you were my wife . . .” She had no intentions of
leaving her husband, having an affair or any thoughts of being married to
anyone else.
The more this man made this same comment, “If you were my
wife . . .,” that thought was then planted into her mind. She began wondering,
“What if I were married to someone else?” She imagined herself with another man
and how life would be different. Eventually, those thoughts took root in her
mind because she entertained them constantly; and as a result, she had an
affair and left her husband.
By the grace of God, eventually her eyes were opened to
Satan’s deception and miraculously, God restored her marriage and they are now
doing great. But it all began as a thought planted into her mind that took
root.
Negative and positive thoughts will come across your mind on
a daily basis. You can’t prevent negative thoughts from coming. But you can
prevent them from lodging in your mind and taking root. Philippians 4:8 says,
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what
is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think
about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”(NLT) The only way to
“fix your thoughts” on these things, is to stay in God’s Word!
AMEN! Refuse to allow any thoughts that are contrary to the Word of God to stay! We cannot control the thoughts that the enemy sends at us, but we have FULL control over what thoughts we choose to allow to stay. Refuse to 'take' those thoughts! How do we 'take' thoughts? Matthew 6:31 starts with this:
31 Therefore take no thought, saying,
Refuse to speak those thoughts that do not line up with the Word of God and with His plan and purpose for your life. Remember, the enemy is going about AS a roaring lion (pretending to be something that he most defiinitely is NOT), seeking someone who will allow themselves to be devoured by his toothless self (1 Peter 5:8)! YOU have control over what he can do in your life! 1 Peter 5:9 tells us to resist him! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with the perfect song to use against this liar! "Not Today":
Shalom in Him!
