This is Where I’ve Been Living

Where in the world have I been? Right? Well obviously I haven’t been at my desk typing out blog posts!

But honestly, other than a quick trip to Pennsylvania to speak at the Iron Sharpens Iron Greater Philadelphia Women’s Conference, I’ve been right here at home, sorting through laundry and tired summer clothing and my disheveled office and…life. It’s just that the “sorting out”of life has been such a personal and, at times, tiring process that I’ve had little inspiration to tap the computer keys.

No. That’s not entirely accurate.

I’ve been quite inspired. God has been filling my ears and heart full. I guess I’ve just been keeping all that He’s taught me close to the chest, like a Rummy hand I’ve not been quite ready to lay down.

But I’m ready now. And maybe, just maybe, you’ve been waiting…and you’re ready for me to share the cards the lessons I’ve been dealt, too.

So starting today I’ll be going back to sharing from my personal Soul Satisfying Menu of scriptures from which the Lord has been graciously feeding me for the past few months. Hopefully I’ll be posting at least two or three posts per week. (How many times have I said that?!?!)

Your Assignment, 
Should You Choose to Accept It!
Philippians 4:8

My thoughts have gotten the best of me more days than I care to admit in the past 12 months. In fact, my thought life has been at the root of most of my troubles. Due to some significant (but not overwhelming! PTL!) changes in my life, my thoughts have drifted toward anxiety, fear, doubt, bitterness, self-pity, and other such toxic, emotional cess pools. Yeah, I’ve been swimming in the stinky stuff.

So the first scripture I’ve been meditating on each day is one that directs me to lift my thoughts to a higher plain.

Truth is, foul thoughts feed something in us, do they not? Sure, they feed our pride. They justify our behaviors and vilify the other person. They pacify our insecurities and nurse our hurts. They placate our fears and heat our anger to a boil. They irrigate our bitter roots and fertilize our self-centeredness.

But I noticed that when I spent hours thinking my stinky thoughts I began to smell, too. My words were putrid, my expressions were sour, and my attitudes wreaked!

Do you ever have problems getting a hold of your thoughts and lifting them to a higher level? Do you ever feel like your thoughts are controlling you rather than you being in charge of your thoughts? Sure you do. We all do. Especially when we are wrestling with something overwhelming, new or fearful.

Philippians 4:8 reminds me that my thoughts will not just automatically default to the pure and lovely, the admirable and true. I will have to conscientiously put them there. I will have to take each thought that comes into my mind captive to Christ and His Word. And I will need to toss many a rank thought and decisively replace it with one that is based in truth and godliness.

Memorizing this verse has compelled me to be more intentional about taking charge of my thought life at the beginning of each day. And it’s challenged me to stay in control of my thoughts throughout the day as surprises and words and people contribute to my day.

What helps you to control your thought life? I’d love to know!