Pastor's Ponderings, September 21, 2015

Arrest Those Negative Thoughts

When Pastor Zachary Hicks played basketball, he used to say to his opponents, “Not today.”  This meant that in spite of their previous scoring, titles, or wins, they were not going to be successful that day.  He was getting into their heads or making them consider the possibility of failure.  When it was successful, it was just enough to get them to lose the ball, miss the shot, or make costly mistakes. 

Many times, we will defeat ourselves when we allow ourselves to think thoughts of fear, doubt, and unbelief.  We may tell ourselves that we could ace that test but probably we would fail.  We could have a business but then the market may not be right and we will lose all of our savings.  We may desire a relationship with a possible future spouse but all of the good ones are taken. Since that person is not taken, there must be something wrong with them.  Some of us are thinking wrong thoughts.

The Bible says that we should take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  What does Christ say about your thoughts of failure, doubt, fear, and unbelief? The Bible says that you can do everything through Christ, which gives you the strength to do it (Philippians 4:13) and whatever those who love the Lord attempt to do will be successful (Psalms 1:3). 

What does God think about our efforts in life?  He knows what He thinks about us; He wants us to have a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  Therefore, He wants us to think true, honest, just, pure, lovely or admirable thoughts (Philippians 4:8). 

This week, let those of us who love the Lord closely monitor any negative thinking and remember that since God He is helping us and is thinking well of us, we should also think well of ourselves.  Also we must know that we are destined to be ultimately successful in all of our efforts.

2 Corinthians 10:5
New International Version (NIV)

5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

Philippians 4:13
New International Version (NIV)

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Psalm 1:3
New International Version (NIV)

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.