Thought Battles
Matthew 6:25-32 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
The other morning I woke up for work, walked into the bathroom and took a glance at myself in the mirror. Within 3 seconds I told myself “I look horrible”. I had been awake for all of 3 minutes and already I was telling myself negative things.
There are enough negative statements and comments we have to evade every single day subliminal or not- it’s a living game of dodge ball- that we have to avoid, ignore, and press-on. I have become so accustomed to telling myself what’s wrong with me rather than what’s right. I had woke up on time for work. That’s good. Why did I automatically focus on something negative? Sleepy eyes, hair disheveled, breath reeking of some sort of morning.
As soon as that statement left my mouth I noticed the negativity I spoke over myself. That is no way to start a day- I continued to think :
These thoughts we battle everyday are definitely not the kind of thoughts that God speaks over us and our lives. It's the enemy. Just like a bully in school putting someone down to make themselves feel bigger. The devil will kill steal and destroy any thoughts that he can to take away your positivity, love and joy that you hold in your heart.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT
Why would he come at you in a voice you could battle and recognize as the enemy he is. It's way easier to fight knowing right away you're up against someone out to get you. That's not what he does though. The devil -crafty and mischievous as he is - will make you say it to yourself. As if you are the one who believes these things.
Worrying about my appearance, worrying about my finances, about my relationships, my health all of it comes like a domino effect after the first negative thought is allowed to penetrate my mind and escape my mouth.
My weakness is worry, And I have taken a stance on allowing Jesus to claim victory in this weakness. With his guidance and love I will hold on to key promises that God has given to me and challenge my own mouth to speak life instead of death. To uplift and encourage even when I may be the one who needs it, And to keep my battle armor on for the swings the enemy.
