Thought Control

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

DETERMINATION IS A KEY INGREDIENT in living out our dreams. But some days it seems everything goes wrong!

At those moments when bad news arrives or my plans come to a screeching halt, my natural reaction is anger, fear, or depression. If life were a movie, dark foreboding music would be playing in the background to heighten the already strong sense of impending doom!

At those moments it is easy to believe Satan’s lies: “You’re going to fail. This will never happen! What were you thinking?”

Instead, I choose to take the thought captive and put the bad news in perspective. What’s the worst-case scenario? Usually it is inconvenience more than failure. Then I also ask, “Is God still in control?” Looking to the many verses that declare God is sovereign Lord or supreme Deity, I can say the obvious answer is yes!

Then I ask, “What help is available to help me?” I don’t usually have a clue, but God is wise. I am afraid of failure, but God is perfect and never fails. I may be without resources, but God created and owns everything.

As I recall the truth about God and review his strengths, I am forced to think thoughts beyond my own. That process helps me think differently. New, better, and even creative thoughts and options begin to appear.

And peace comes—and with it the ability to think more clearly.