I recently read a book titled, The Magic of Thinking Big. The author, David J. Schwartz, discussed how we have two foremen in our brains. Mr. Triumph who supports us towards faith and success and Mr. Defeat who leads us down to depression and despair. As I read this book, I contemplated how this works with Christianity and faith, as I want all that I do to be based on the Word of God and succeed.
I found myself thinking of the Bible passage, found in Philippians 4:8 which says, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute (report), if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
So, I am to think on truth, honorable things, what's right, what's pure, what's lovely, what's excellent and of good report and what is praiseworthy? So, that's what my brain is to think about?
Then, I read Proverbs 23:7, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...." So, what am I learning here? I'm learning that what comes out of my heart is what I am and will be and what I think about is extremely important as this will also affect my heart.
I can hear Mr. Defeat saying (and it's very easy to hear him say the following words even if only in my brain), "What a lousy dinner." "Who taught that person to drive, they should be shot!" "This won't work, nothing ever works out for me!" "I can't do that." "I don't believe I can do that...I don't believe in me," and so on and so on. Eventually, telling myself that I can't, convinces me that I can't and then I don't attempt anything new, take risks and walk defeated. This leads to a continual downward spiral.
Conversely, if I went along with Mr. Triumph and applied Philippians 4:8, I would intentionally train myself to take all negative thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ") and push them out of my brain and heart. Instead, I'm to find pure and lovely things or items of good report to think about and intentionally train myself to think on these things. That way I can lead to triumphant living.
But there is a better way.
As I contemplate on Mr. Triumph in my life, I see him being rooted in me by faith and belief in God and that the God of the universe loves me & has a plan for my life. Armed with this knowledge and belief, it is easier to shed the tentacles and shackles of Mr. Defeat who was my lifelong friend! Easier because I believe and now know that I am loved. Therefore, I can love and look with understanding on myself and others as I experience being understood and loved.
The thoughts we listen to, win.
As I contemplate Mr. Defeat, I see him as the enemy of my soul, my life, and everyone's enemy that is presently living. Faithless, loveless, defeatist living is a walk of the living dead. Many in the world live like this and they don't know how to get out. And God doesn't want it this way. He sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again so that we may have LIFE and have it more abundantly. He has a purpose for each of us!
The bottom line is I have come to understand that God doesn't want me or any of us to speak OR think ANY lies, negatives, or derogatory utterances. NO NEGATIVE at all. I'm not to put anyone down, ever. No Mr. Defeat in my life. So, I FIRED him! I only want one foreman in my life and it's not Mr. Defeat.
Now, this doesn't mean not addressing issues that may come up in relationships but HOW we address them is very important. PEOPLE (all of God's creation) are most important, and we are very fragile, so I get to interact with His children with care. He wants me to love. That's it. To BE love to and for others. To love others and myself. I'm to be supportive; a lifter of men. I'm to walk with them, think the best of them and hold them high with no negative. Ever. No negative over anyone.
I'm seeing that the world and forces of evil tears down but we don't need to participate in that. We get to be the antithesis of that and fight for each other no matter how hard. We get to believe in each other. Believe the best of and for each other regardless of the choices that others make because it's true that God has a plan for their lives, too. They just either don't know it, believe it, or haven't found it yet.
We all get to have someone believe in us and also believe in ourselves.
So, who are you going to listen to?
Enjoy the Journey,
Nancy