Quit Wasting Your Thoughts!

For all the time I've spent worrying and doubting.

For all the time I've spent feeling worthless and without hope

For all the time I've lost wondering how my bills were going to be paid...

For all the wasted minutes I've spent wondering "where my husband was"...

For all the precious time that I have spent believing lie after lie about who I was/am…and who God is…I'm done.

I think the more I get to know Jesus through spending time with him in prayer and in His word, the more I realize my need for Him above anything else.

All of the time I spent on thoughts that were not His thoughts - I could have been accomplishing so much for His kingdom.  Of course all of these things matter to God - He created us!  

But I often wonder how much more I could accomplish in His name if I were to deliberately and intentionally direct my attention - my WHOLE attention to Jesus.  

I love Psalm 121… here's a great reminder when you start to feel overwhelmed by the things of life: 

(The Message (MSG)

121 ^1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

^3-4 He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

^5-6 God’s your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

^7-8 God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.

Not too long ago, I started to write something that I had been wanting to write for awhile - on the subject of relationships/dating.  But as soon as I sat down to write something...ANYTHING, the words never came.  I had all of this "experience" that I wanted to share to help people not make the same mistakes I made, etc…and not a single word would come out.  

It was at that point when I very clearly felt the holy spirit say, "Why don't you write about me?" 

He got my attention.  My heart sunk in that moment when I realized that I spent so much time on a subject that wasn't intended for this season in my life.  And immediately, my heart redirected back to Him.  It's not that the subject matter was wrong, or that it didn't matter to God (because He cares about healthy relationships!), but because my attention was not on Him.

No matter how beautiful or how difficult my life may seem at any moment, if my eyes are not fixed on the "author" of my life, then I will forget who He is - and in the end, forget about His goodness.

I am without a doubt - a hopeless romantic (deep down).  I think there are times when I pretend that i'm not, you know... I play it "cool."  I DO dream about the man of God that will hear from heaven and win my heart. But... that time is not now. 

For all of us singles - perhaps our time could be better spent on how we can be better followers of Christ? Or what if we placed more of our time into serving the people in our city?  What if we spent more time getting to know the words of God (by reading the bible), then we did on reading blogs about how to be a more "datable person?"  I know, that might have dug hard at someone - my aim is not to offend you. I guess, I'm realizing how time is so precious.  I actually think it's interesting - if we place more focus on knowing God, we will automatically be a better husband or wife one day. :) 

One of my favorite lines from a movie is from 'Hitch.' One of the main characters- Sara, says to her best friend who is struggling with the fact that she hasn't met the "right" man yet: "Casey, you're not sick. You're single. You just have to relax and enjoy the ride."  

Simple, yet profound.  Please remember this when you feel pressure to be in a relationship "because everyone else is…"  

I will still say the exact same things I'm saying now when I'm in a relationship - it's OK that you are single, people!

And I DO realize that there is a time and place for learning more on the subject of relationships and dating - if you feel that this is your time to learn more - then feel free to dismiss my opinion.  

I'll finish this very "touchy" subject with the message version of 1 Corinthians 7:17 - It has kept me from thinking silly thoughts more often then not:

1 Corinthians 7:17 (Msg)

^"17 And don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life. Don’t think I’m being harder on you than on the others. I give this same counsel in all the churches."

What about those "freak out" moments when we wonder how we are going to pay our bills? I have done this more than I would like to admit.  But what does worrying accomplish? Really…how does it actually move us forward?  

IT DOESN'T. You just end up with ulcers and physical ailments equivalent to that of an 80 year old.  NO THANK YOU.

So what if our response to those "freak out" moments was: "Lord, I thank you that YOU alone are my provider. Not my job, not my tax return, not my friends or my family…YOU.  So give me wisdom on how I can better spend and save my money so that I can serve your Kingdom with more purpose. Thank you for faithfully taking care of me every single day."

I don't know about you - but I am so challenged to let God have full reign over my time.  What takes most of our time? Shockingly enough - our thoughts do.

So if I spend most of my time thinking and evaluating situations before I make decisions - then I'd better learn to fill my spirit with thoughts from Heaven - not thoughts that my brain conjures up when I'm having a bad day! Good LORD, I can think up some pretty ridiculous thoughts on my own - forget the devil. Ha!

Philippians 4:8 (msg)

^"8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

How good is that last part?!  When we choose to mediate on thoughts that are spurred on by our Loving God, his word says: "Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."

COME ON! That's a good promise!

I'm writing this on a day when I need this reminder for myself.  God is so incredibly gracious and faithful to remind me of these kinds of things BEFORE I need it, and WHEN I need it. 

I don't want to waste any more of my time on thoughts and ideas that are not for me to explore just yet - or ever.  I'll let God open those doors when they need to be opened.  Until then, I'm going to keep looking Heaven-ward for my perfectly ordered steps.  

Remain faithful where you are - you don't need to go somewhere else with anyone else because you aren't "seeing your promised promise."  If God spoke to you about something, trust that He will fulfill it in HIS timing.  Don't try to make it work in your own ability.

There is a peace in "waiting"…no need to worry, fret, doubt, or get weary.  He will be faithful to complete what He started.

Spend yourself and your time on things that are moving the kingdom of God forward - which will, in the end, move you forward into the PERFECT will of God for your life.

That's a very exciting thought! 

Let God help you remove the unnecessary thoughts, ideas, and habits from your mind - "declutter" your thought-life! Love that idea!

It's Spring cleaning time - EARLY!