“We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.”
- Santosh Kalwar
If you know me you know that one of my greatest struggles is my own thoughts. And if you didn't know now you know... My own thoughts are my absolute worst enemy. Fear, sadness, anxiety, stress, etc. all constantly encompass what's in my head. And something my wife always says, and will probably say again after reading this, is "does worrying change anything?" And the answer is all but certainly NO. But.....I still do. So, today's blog is just as much for me as it might be for you.
We are the keepers of our own destiny because God gave us a free will. So when thoughts start creeping in, it's ultimately up to us to decide what thought deserves attention and what thoughts can push us towards our destiny. But at the same time, if you're anything like me at all, those thoughts didn't just appear...they stem from something. Trauma or hurt or lack of trust. So your life becomes almost like a math equation.
Past hurt or trauma or whatever + some situation later in life = crippling thoughts
And that could go on and on and on for as long as you let it.
But going back to what my wife always says...."does it change anything?" NO. If we are the keepers of our thoughts and those thoughts lead to turmoil or success then that makes our minds the most powerful tool at our disposal. God made us so complex and the ways our minds work are still such a mystery. But, what we do know is how unbelievably powerful they are. Your mind and your thoughts have the power to direct where your life goes, how successful you are, how much you worry, etc. That's crazy to me. It's crazy how a single thought can change the course of a situation which could change the course of history.
We live in a very odd time. Everyone wants to change the world but no one wants to first change themselves. We're unwilling to budge in how we think. Disagreements turn to fights. Old habits turn to permanent lifestyles. Poor thoughts turn into poor decision. Our first step should ALWAYS be to evaluate our thoughts and decide if they're worth our time. James 4:14 says - How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. We simply don't have time to clutter our minds with fear, and anxiety, and depression not to mention that those type of thoughts give us even LESS time.
We cannot change the world without first changing our minds. God gave us all a purpose...to be fishers of men. Does that mean you have to be a pastor or work for a church? Absolutely not. But, what it does mean is that you have to be an example of God and His love for humanity as much as you possibly can. You cannot love others without loving yourself. Your mind and your thoughts hold the keys to your life, your destiny, and the change we need in the world. So grab hold of them, decide what deserves time, and release the rest of them to God. He is bigger and greater than all your worries and so is His plan for you.