If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you know I’m very honest about the mental struggle I fight. Though I consider myself to be a positive person, once in awhile Eor overtakes my subconscious, and I find myself stuck in “poor me” thoughts. Really it’s more like, “I want to be…instead of….but oh well…..”
But the Lord was gracious and revealed a very powerful truth. Are you ready? It might be offensive to some. But if you study the Scriptures, I think the Lord will lead you to the same conclusion. This is it: “Jesus never entertained self-pity.”
He healed people.
He asked people if they wanted to be healed.
He made faith a prerequisite for healing and salvation.
But He never entertained self-pity for Himself or for others.
He asked for God to remove His cup of suffering three times, but when He got His answer He got up with strength and conviction to go forward. He knew and trusted God’s good purpose even in the pain before Him.
A few weeks ago I heard two messages in a row about the importance of what we speak. We use our tongue to speak life and we use it to speak death. Our tongue is a powerful weapon that can affect both our own life as well as the lives of others.
The fact that I heard the same message spoken by two different speakers two days in a row caused me sit up and listen. It also made me decide to turn my negative thoughts into positive spoken words.
So, the other day when I found myself thinking negatively, “I wonder if tomorrow will be a good day or a bad day?” I heard myself saying, “It’s gonna be a good day!” Immediately the shadow disappeared. I got excited. These words totally changed my outlook and the possibilities of the next day. It indeed was a good day.
This is my new mantra. I say it when I feel my wayward emotional thinking go South. I even say it when I see a chore to do (like cleaning the bathrooms). It helps! “It’s gonna be a good day!” The bathroom doesn’t magically clean itself, but my attitude changes. (If you find the magic words that clean the bathroom without actually getting out the sponge and Comet, let me know!)
Mike has a new mantra too. His is: “Want what you have.” We didn’t discuss mantras or changing our thoughts; God is simply renewing our minds as we grow closer to Him.
This is an exciting revelation in our family.
Romans 12;2 makes it very clear: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.
I would love to hear your thoughts and the new “mantras” God is giving you.
“It’s gonna be a good day!”
Grace and Peace,
andy
