Danger of Thoughts
Pastor Ryan and Cathy Story
Have you ever caught yourself in an out-of-control thought pattern? One word, one action, and one thought, can cause our thoughts to completely unwind. Sometimes all it takes is one statement from our spouse and we find ourselves pondering, analyzing, and fuming over that thought the rest of the day. In the same way, sometimes those statements are good, uplifting, and helpful. Then we spend all day thinking about those statements in a positive way. In the situations where the statements we stew over are not positive, edifying, or uplifting, we can allow our thoughts to begin tearing down ourselves again and again. Our minds have the ability to create situations that have never happened. Our minds have the ability to take something that has never been spoken and portrays that as the most absolute reality.
When the bride in Song of Solomon says, “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me” (Song of Solomon 1:6), she may have created a false narrative in her mind. Her darker skin may have been attributed to working out in the fields, which at the time would have indicated lower social standing. The bride may have questioned if she would be able to be loved in return, or questioned if she was worthy enough for the one she loved. She could have insecurely thought through scenarios of how he may respond to her if she tried to approach him. We get a brief glimpse of how her thoughts may have unwound and caused her to question herself in his eyes.
This glimpse into the mind of the bride is like a glimpse into our minds as well. We question ourselves, we end up doubting ourselves, and we wonder what others will think, or how they will respond to us. We follow the rabbit trails in our minds of what someone else is going to think, and how they are going to respond or react to us, and we then speak and live based on these assumptions. Just as the bride seemed to feel a need to preface her words to her beloved, we often feel the need to preface and explain our words and actions to others. We sit on others’ responses to us and rerun those situations through our minds.
In marriage, parenting, and life in general, keeping control of our thoughts and minds is so important. We are reminded in Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We keep control of our minds to help us live confidently in the way God has created us.
Pastor Ryan and Cathy Story
Have you ever caught yourself in an out-of-control thought pattern? One word, one action, and one thought, can cause our thoughts to completely unwind. Sometimes all it takes is one statement from our spouse and we find ourselves pondering, analyzing, and fuming over that thought the rest of the day. In the same way, sometimes those statements are good, uplifting, and helpful. Then we spend all day thinking about those statements in a positive way. In the situations where the statements we stew over are not positive, edifying, or uplifting, we can allow our thoughts to begin tearing down ourselves again and again. Our minds have the ability to create situations that have never happened. Our minds have the ability to take something that has never been spoken and portrays that as the most absolute reality.
When the bride in Song of Solomon says, “Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me” (Song of Solomon 1:6), she may have created a false narrative in her mind. Her darker skin may have been attributed to working out in the fields, which at the time would have indicated lower social standing. The bride may have questioned if she would be able to be loved in return, or questioned if she was worthy enough for the one she loved. She could have insecurely thought through scenarios of how he may respond to her if she tried to approach him. We get a brief glimpse of how her thoughts may have unwound and caused her to question herself in his eyes.
This glimpse into the mind of the bride is like a glimpse into our minds as well. We question ourselves, we end up doubting ourselves, and we wonder what others will think, or how they will respond to us. We follow the rabbit trails in our minds of what someone else is going to think, and how they are going to respond or react to us, and we then speak and live based on these assumptions. Just as the bride seemed to feel a need to preface her words to her beloved, we often feel the need to preface and explain our words and actions to others. We sit on others’ responses to us and rerun those situations through our minds.
In marriage, parenting, and life in general, keeping control of our thoughts and minds is so important. We are reminded in Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We keep control of our minds to help us live confidently in the way God has created us.
Posted in The Talk
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Giving • Devotion 1Giving • Devotion 2Giving • Devotion 3Giving • Devotion 4Giving • Devotion 5Giving • Devotion 6Galatians 1Galatians 2
February
Galatians 3Galatians 4Galatians 5Galatians 6God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 1God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 2God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 3God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 4God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 5God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 6Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 1Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 2Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 3Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 4Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 5Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 6Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 1Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 2Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 3Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 4Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 5Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 6Delights • Devotion 1Delights • Devotion 2
March
Delights • Devotion 3Delights • Devotion 4Delights • Devotion 5Delights • Devotion 6Final Class • Devotion 1Final Class • Devotion 2Final Class • Devotion 3Final Class • Devotion 4Final Class • Devotion 5Final Class • Devotion 6A Place for You • Devotion 1A Place for You • Devotion 2A Place for You • Devotion 3A Place for You • Devotion 4A Place for You • Devotion 5A Place for You • Devotion 6The Helper • Devotion 1The Helper • Devotion 2The Helper • Devotion 3The Helper • Devotion 4The Helper • Devotion 5The Helper • Devotion 6True Vine • Devotion 1True Vine • Devotion 2True Vine • Devotion 3True Vine • Devotion 4True Vine • Devotion 5
April
True Vine • Devotion 6The World • Devotion 1The World • Devotion 2The World • Devotion 3The World • Devotion 4The World • Devotion 5The World • Devotion 6Peace • Devotion 1Peace • Devotion 2Peace • Devotion 3Peace • Devotion 4Peace • Devotion 5Peace • Devotion 6Focus on Jesus • Devotion 1Focus on Jesus • Devotion 2Focus on Jesus • Devotion 3Focus on Jesus • Devotion 4Focus on Jesus • Devotion 5Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 1The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 2The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 3The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 4
Categories
Tags
no tags