This week, I thought that I would include another poem in my blog. I wrote this a couple years ago, but it is very applicable to what I have been thinking much about lately.
It seems like bad tidings have been engulfing us for more than a year. We may feel like the world is topsy-turvy and ‘normal’ life is eluding us. We may have been affected by sickness, loss of income, or other anxieties. We may be confused, angry, or even depressed by what we see around us. We might be filled with worry or fear for our future. All these concerns seem to be commonplace in many people’s lives today, and perhaps for good reasons. But we cannot give-in to the negatives surrounding us. We cannot allow ourselves to be dragged down by circumstances that are designed for that purpose. We must fight for our peace of mind; and not give up on our positive expectations.
The Daily Decision
Every day we face a choice
To be unhappy or to rejoice
Every moment we must decide
What thoughts stay out or dwell inside
In our minds, the battles rage
Will good or evil take center stage?
Negatives thrive in the world today
Always seeking a place to stay
If in our minds, we let them come
They’ll do their best to make us glum
But when our minds, we closely guard
Evil influences can be barred
God’s Word comes as a brilliant light
Piercing through the darkest night
If to that Word, our minds will cling
God’s truth will make our hearts to sing
And when God’s Word is tightly held
Our fears and worries will be dispelled.
The choice is ours, our will is free
It’s up to us which thoughts we keep
Will God’s Word supremely reign?
Or worldly hardships consume our brain?
Determine now with God you’ll stay
And hurl those worldly thoughts away
God’s Word is the only thing I know that provides the knowledge necessary for us to live a more than abundant life. We can be genuinely helped, healed, and delivered from anything that the world throws at us by seeking God’s answers and applying His solutions in our lives. But in order to do this, we must not only put God’s Word into our minds, we must hold tightly to It. The Bible must be our only rule of faith and practice; and the benchmark to which all information is measured.
Here is a simple illustration of how to utilize the Bible in your daily thinking.
Let’s say you need a job. You go to the Bible and find a passage that addresses your need. In this case, we’ll use:
3 John 2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Read that verse. Repeat it to yourself. Memorize it, write it down, leave your Bible open to that chapter. Do whatever it takes to get that information in your mind.
Now, let’s say that you see the news and they announce that the unemployment rate is rising. Rather than dwelling on that information, remind yourself of 3 John 2. Maybe your neighbor tells you a story about someone not being able to find a job. Immediately repeat your Bible verse in your mind. You might even have a job interview and not get the job. Rather than getting discouraged, remember that God said it is His wish for us to prosper and be in health.
Have you ever dieted? We do this same process in our minds when we diet. For instance, when your tastebuds cry out for a donut but you’re avoiding sweets, don’t you have a wrestling match in your brain about eating the donut or not? And isn’t it very satisfying when you beat the craving? How much more satisfying it is when God’s Word beats the world’s negatives in our minds!
The battle in our minds is a continual process. The Bible calls it renewing your mind. It is replacing the old dusty thoughts of the world with brand new shiny thoughts from God’s Word. And it’s RE-newing because it isn’t a one-time deal. It takes a concerted effort and repetition. But the benefits far outweigh any effort that we exert!
So today, let your decisions be in favor of God’s Word and against the world’s negatives. Seize the truth. Claim the promises. Refute the lies. And live victoriously!
Note to my readers: I want you to know that I appreciate each and every one you. Thank you for sticking with me. I get super-blessed every week sharing my life with you and I hope you are as blessed as I am!