Freedom? Do you live it? It depends on how you think. Think right and you’ll live free in Christ and experience real hope.
Allie, a 20-something Christian woman, thinks wrongly about herself. “I don’t measure up,” she confided in me. “I never have.” Yet God sees her as a saint, as someone who possesses every spiritual blessing in Christ now, present tense. (Ephesians 1:1,3)
She measures up in the most important way. As a believer in Christ, she has become God’s child, can live victoriously, and is heaven-bound. Insistent that she doesn’t measure up, depression and anxiety stalk Allie, a pretty, accomplished young woman.
You may relate to Allie’s comment. Or you may know someone who does.
One of their her needs: To stop negative thinking and replace it with God’s truth. When negative thinking halts, so do negative emotions and ungodly behaviors.
This is how it works.
Let’s say I think, “I’m a horrible mother.” What’s my likely resulting emotion? Probably I’ll feel anger or frustration, sadness or fear, or self-pity. However, I may feel nothing at all.
Now what’s my likely behavior? Many possiblities exist. I could clam up and seek refuge before the TV or in my bedroom. Perhaps I seethe or snarl at the kids. I may use an irritated voice to tell them to pick up their toys or clean their rooms or do homework.
My dear hubby may become the target of my frustrations. He could be in an affectionate mood at bedtime, and I say, “No way, Jose!,” turn my back on him, and fall into a fitful sleep punctuated by nightmares.
I may find a way to numb my feelings: shop, spend hours on the Internet, or drink alcohol.
The list is endless.
What’s worse: Ungodly behavior spirals down into more bad thinking, negative emotions and nasty behavior.
Take a moment, grab paper and a pen, and try it yourself.
Make three columns. Label the first column “thought,” the second “emotion” and the third “behavior.” Now jot down a negative thought you had in the past week, then the resulting emotion and how it showed up in your behavior. Think about how bad thinking spiraled into more bad thinking.
Yes, thoughts are powerful.
Thankfully, you can choose godly thoughts and turn things around, dramatically.
When Allie replaced her thought “I don’t measure up,” a belief held since childhood, with “I am perfect in God’s sight because when he looks at me he sees Jesus,” her depression dissipated and she stopped looking to food for comfort. (Pigging out had led to more negative thoughts, like “I’m ugly” and “What a loser!” and “You’re never going to find a boyfriend.”)
When she learned to choose to think right — using biblical principles and Scripture to expose Satan’s lies — she felt and acted better immediately. However, changing one’s thinking is tough! It takes time. But God empowers us.
Look at this familiar Scripture on right thinking.
“Do not be 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” (Romans 12:2, NIV).
And this one.
“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” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
An important principle to note: Right living follows right thinking.
One of the messages of James, one of the books of the Bible, is when a believer thinks rightly about God and about herself, she wants to choose well because she wants to please Jesus, not to earn her salvation (this is a gift of God) but to express love and gratitude to him. God places this desire in every believer’s heart. James 2:26 reads, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
A hurting woman doesn’t need a check list of do’s and don’ts. This is legalism. Jesus ushered in the new covenant of grace. However, she needs to consider her thoughts. Are they true? If she is unsure, she should hold them up against Scripture.
If they turn out false, she must accept the help of the Holy Spirit and choose to believe God over lies. As she does this, her emotions will improve and she will live right.
Your emotions and behaviors are tied to your thoughts. Steer clear of negative inputs (some music, movies and other media) and to think about whatever is true,
right,
noble,
pure,
lovely,
and admirable.
Heavenly Father, you know that I struggle with my thoughts, and sometimes I believe lies. I admit this mistake, Lord, and choose to replace negative thoughts with right thinking. I know right thinking leads to right living. My heart desires to please you always. Amen.
