What types of thoughts are controlling your mind?
Do you spend most of a day’s quiet time arguing in your head? Do you talk to yourself with the same or greater kindness than you afford others, or do you belittle and demean yourself with your thoughts?
My uncle Mike and I recently posted something on meditation on his blog: basically, everyone meditates. So what do you meditate on? What’s controlling your mind?
If your mind is being controlled by the parts of your life that you feel are destroying you, those things will win out. Addictions that are causing you pain; behaviors that leave damaged people in your wake; choices that send you reeling, hurt, confused: if these parts of your life control your mind, then an emotional or physical death is not far off.
Another one of my uncles, Jonas Beiler, told me of how his childhood taught him to embrace one idea of himself: stupid Amish man. You see, he was dyslexic before learning disabilities were diagnosed, and since he attended a school with non-Amish classmates he often heard teachers or fellow students refer to him as the “stupid Amish man.”
As he grew older, he started referring to himself that way, partly in jest. Then someone helped him to understand that a person often becomes what they tell themselves they already are.
There are other forces that can control our minds, forces that won’t lead to death: love is one. Joy, peace, and patience are others. Being kind, good and faithful are options. How about gentleness or self-control? It takes discipline. Often times it takes a good counselor (or psychologist, or psychoanalyst), but if you can allow these forces to control your mind, they will lead you to life and peace.
What’s controlling your mind? Have you discovered practices that allow forces like love, joy and patience to take over your mind?
Rom 8:6; Gal 5:17-26
“finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,” paul.
i think he was onto something. he goes on to say that whatever the philippians had learned from him, they should practice those things. i think there’s a lot to be said for thinking good thoughts — and there’s even more to be said for carrying through with making those good thoughts practical in everyday life.
as for your dyslexic and amish uncle (there’s a good book title in there somewhere), i’d agree that we’re able to curse or bless with our words. we often curse, while attempting to joke. i believe, in some way or another, we have the power to actually bring about bad in our lives or in the lives of others through words.
mind your mustache area.
great verse James.
had no idea you were such a huge biking enthusiast.
My parents’ pastor showed me a verse and encouraged me to commit it to memory when some thoughts I was having were taking over and causing problems for me. I pull it out whenever I sense that happening again:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
thanks Aymie. my wife really appreciated that verse. taking thoughts captive is an interesting topic.
Thoughts like this are definitely a slow, silent killer. I’ve been working to unravel ideas that have killed my self-esteem over the years.
Perhaps one of the better things to do in this case is keep a small journal during the day of what you concentrate on. Sometimes so much of our time is taken up with destructive thoughts without our even realizing it.
keeping a journal is a great discipline. i’ve looked back over mine at times and it’s insightful, being able to see where i’ve been and the things i’ve been through.
Thoughts like this are definitely a slow, silent killer. I’ve been working to unravel ideas that have killed my self-esteem over the years.
Perhaps one of the better things to do in this case is keep a small journal during the day of what you concentrate on. Sometimes so much of our time is taken up with destructive thoughts without our even realizing it.