Saturday, January 17, 2015

WHAT DETERMINES WHO WE ARE?

You are what you eat is a statement slung here and there; I guess intended to urge hearers to better health.  I would assume there is much truth to be evaluated about this.  I do know that there is yet another factor that is absolutely the truth of how we become who we are.

You are what you think.

Sure.  Even this statement requires monitoring.  A person can think they will get a part in a play and find that another received the assignment.  One can think a vacation will go without a hitch, only to find out differently.

But we are what we think when it comes to the spiritual side of our walk.  Our moods.  Our attitudes.  Our dispositions.  These are quite often subject to what we decide to ponder.

If we think happy, this doesn't mean sadness will never appear.  Yet, to think happy will find ways to see joy in the very difficult moments.  To think success doesn't promise that everything will go as we had planned.  It does, though, cause us to see hope; even in the trying times which would ordinarily pull a negative thinker down.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!  Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things--Philippians 4:4-8.

This text has moved me from fierce insecurity to a new level of confidence.  Tough stuff still goes on.  But God has taught me to see value; even in moments where matters don't seem to be going well.  

God isn't fooling us.  The way we think about anything determines whether we have peace or whether we shuffle through life frustrated, whining, and blaming others for our seeming demise.  The way we think....is always a choice.

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