Power!
Is there power in our thoughts? And if there is power in our thoughts how powerful are our thoughts? I am not an expert in this matter by any means but over the years I have learned different things. I have also learned from my own experiences. Our thoughts can play a major part in whether we are sick or well, happy or sad, a winner or a loser, successful or a failure, etc.
I have told the story before about how one day I couldn’t breathe. My husband told me later that I had started to turn blue. This was due to some physical issues I was dealing with at the time. I am still not immune to having this happen even today. So what made the difference in how it plays out today versus then. It all has to do with my thoughts. Believe me when you can’t breathe you go into panic mode and your thoughts are not thinking anything pleasant.
At that moment…
When I couldn’t breathe and I was in the panic mode my husband came beside me and calmly helped me work through it. I don’t remember what he said at the time but it calmed me and helped me get my breath. When I had another occurrence sometime later it was at that moment I realized the power of my thoughts. I realized that if I didn’t think about the fact that I couldn’t breathe but focused my thoughts on breathing, and realizing no matter how I felt I was getting air, I was able to get passed the difficulty. At that moment I took control of my thoughts and every time I have had this breathing issue since that time I keep my thoughts focused. I even was able to help my father-in-law multiple times when he could not breathe due to his congestive heart failure.
So how powerful…
So how powerful really are our thoughts. Some say that our thoughts make up 75-95% of physical and emotional issues others say nine-tenths. The bottom line is that our thoughts play a big roll in our health, whether emotionally or physically. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 7:23a.
It is so important not to allow how we feel to control how we think. Now, this a lot easier said than done. We have all been there. We wake up feeling a little down, angry, discouraged, sick, etc. and we follow how we feel. But we should not follow how we feel because it will destroy our day.
Moral Character
For me, I believe that our thoughts and our feelings make up our moral character. How our thoughts go our feelings go and therefore we respond in kind. If someone does something to us or someone we love, we may feel angry about it. And there may be a good reason. Maybe your kid got bullied at school or you were falsely accused of something you did not do, etc.
The Bible says, “Be ye angry, and sin not.” And I think a lot of us stop there. But we need to keep reading. “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath” Ephesians 4:26. So when something initially happens we may be angry and for a good reason but we should not allow that anger to stay with us, otherwise, it becomes sin. And it has an effect on our behavior, besides destroying our health. This may be so difficult if you are living with an abusive spouse, parent, child, boss, friend, etc. But it is imperative that we do this if we want to have our characters prepared for heaven. If there is abuse involved we may need to physically separate ourselves from it.
Anger never affects the other person it only effects us. Worry doesn’t help the situation or the person you may be worried about, it only effects you. As we continue to dwell upon the negative we will have a negative response. But if we dwell upon the positive we will have positive responses and it will transform our lives.
…Our health
Not only does the thoughts affect us negatively or positively emotionally but the same is true for our health. Unfortunately, we live in a world of sin and death. We are bombarded each day with things that can affect our health. And if we have done all we can to keep the laws of health we may still get some sickness. But our thoughts can play a roll and we can choose to control our thoughts.
I have seen and heard stories of people that have destroyed their health by their thoughts or gotten better by their thoughts. When you are sick with something simple like a cold do you wallow in self-pity? Or do you keep a positive outlook? Those that keep a positive outlook get well sooner than those who do not. Two people may be both doing the same things to get well but they are thinking different thoughts and there will be a different outcome.
Believe me, we all have been there. When things are not going well it is easy to get discouraged and not be able to look on the positive side of things. So I am not saying that this is an easy task. But I believe it is possible with the help of our Saviour. And the truth is that even if they don’t get well and end up dying they have lived a happier life.
I believe…
I believe that the Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing happened to Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. This was Christ source of comfort. I believe that this can be the same for us. If we are choosing to walk with Christ we will be filled with Christ through the Holy Spirit. The blow (crisis, health issue, trial, etc.) that is aimed at us falls upon the Saviour, who surrounds us with His presence. Whatever comes to us comes from Christ. We have no need to resist all the blows, Christ is our defense. Nothing can touch us except Christ gives permission. And we know His promise which says, “All things,” which He permits to happen, will “work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28
The key is to be abiding in Him. We can’t be doing our own thing that is going against God’s laws whether they are health or civil laws and expect His blessing. But if we are fully surrendered to Him everything that comes to us is for the purpose to refine us as gold that has been tried in the fire. He wants us to see our need and come to Him and lay all our burdens upon Him and allow Him to carry us through. And in the process, our characters are being refined. This is not easy but it all boils down to trusting God. How much trust do we have?
The Red Sea…
I think of the children of Israel when they were at the Red Sea and the Egyptian army was behind them. Have you ever felt that there was a trial or crisis before you that was as insurmountable as what the children of Israel faced? I sure have. Even as I write I am in the midst of a crisis. I don’t just write this only for you but it helps me to see what I need to be doing during the time of crisis and how I need to trust God.
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” Exodus 14:13-14. I love these verses. This is a promise that as I am surrendered to the Lord He is there to fight my battles for me. I need to follow His direction and trust Him through every circumstance.
This goes back to our thoughts. We need to keep our thoughts on the promises of God. And as we do this our feelings will fall into place, which will form a character that reflects Christ. If we allow our feelings to be at the forefront they will be controlling our thoughts and our characters will be reflecting self. A life of self is miserable for ourselves and those around us. We need to keep things in the right order and God is the one that can help us do it. He is the one that will part the sea.
Dear Father,
We need You so desperately! We struggle with trusting You through every circumstance. Lead us to Your promises as we see You. We lay our plans and our circumstances before You asking You to take them and lead us through on the dry ground. You have never promised to take the “sea” away but You have promised to walk us through the mist of the “sea” on dry ground. You have promised to never leave us or forsake us. We cling to those promises today. Help us to keep our thoughts in tune with You. Thank You for Your unfailing love.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Surrender your thoughts to Christ today. Your thoughts are so powerful!
Love you all!
Have you seen the power of thought and how it affected you? I would love to hear your story. Share below.