Think about what you’re thinking about.

 How many self defeating thoughts do we have that sabotage our day before we even leave the house? Sometimes before we even get out of bed. What if we realized we had the power within to control what we think about? To not let every negative thought or complaint take root in our mind.  The greatest truth and revelation in this has changed my life. 

What if each one of us walked around thinking we already have everything we need to get through our day? What if we left our houses loved, healed and whole beings instead of looking to people, places and things to make us feel loved, healed and whole? What if we already posses all that we need to fulfill our purpose and calling? 

The good news is we do. We have all we need on the inside of us for healing and wholeness. We are loved. We are made right. We are whole. We are chosen because of the love found in  Jesus Christ. He is your healing. He is your wholeness. Will you allow him access to all your hurts, hang ups and disasters? He makes broken things beautiful in his time. He has mended me back together in ways that I never dreamed possible. He lifted me out of the mud and the mire, the pit. He put a new song in my heart but the one thing I had to do was give him access to it all. No hiding,  I had to come before him bare, uncensored, vulnerable. Uncomfortable, yes. But oh so worth it. 

The greatest command is this, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. 

The thing is, when you give him access to your heart, he gives you his. He shows you who he is, which is kind, compassionate, tender, full of mercy. This was the easy part for me, experiencing all his goodness. The hard part was renewing my mind from all the lies I’ve been told. Unpacking years of what I told myself about myself or what I believed other people said I was or  thought I was. Also the  lies of who I thought God was.  Needless to say I was tangled up in a web of lies, until God started to renew, restore, transform my mind and my heart. He restored my identity and in that restored my soul. He taught me who I am in him. If you do not know who you are in him, I would say, start by asking him to show you and search the scriptures, like Galatians and Ephesians, he will meet you where you are. If you are like me and the Bible sometimes seems to be too hard to read, then find the YouVersion App on your phone and look for a version that you can understand. For me, it is the Amplified version, it explains the text and puts scripture in context. Another great one is the Message version.  Trust him, he is trustworthy and true.  

Romans 12:2 states that we need to renew our mind. 

”And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

This battle in my mind for years has been one of the toughest to fight.  It has been by the grace of God and his Holy Spirit working in me to accomplish this peace and rest in my mind. It truly is a work in progress and most days it is a moment to moment decision to take every thought captive and make it obedient to  Christ. To take hold of what He has already taken hold of for me. He wore on his head a crown of thorns so that my mind can be free. Free from judgment (myself and others ), free from accusation, from torment, guilt, shame, fear… all those negative thoughts that cause negative emotions which all lead to unhealthy behaviors. 

What this has meant for me in my journey of faith is that what I think about affects what or how I feel. If what I think changes how I feel then how I feel will affect how I act. For instance, when I think on things that are pure, trustworthy ,true and  praiseworthy, my feelings will follow more positive pathways that lead to peace, joy, stability and calm.  It’s said there are 7000 promises in the Bible that God has for his Sons and Daughters. What if claiming these promises by faith and speaking them into our lives , praying them over ourselves and our loved ones, occupying our minds instead of fear, worry, doubt or dread? I will reap a harvest of what I’m planting . So if I’m sowing seeds of discord or strife this is what my harvest will look like. But if I’m sowing seeds of faith in God’s promises, or praises instead of complaints then this is what I will harvest. An apple tree doesn’t produce oranges. In the same way, my life won’t produce the good and perfect will my Father has for me if I’m not sowing the seeds that will grow the right fruit in my life. The fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness and self control. Galatians 5:22. I know for me, these are qualities I long for in myself and I know it is God who grows them, He is the Gardner who cultivates and plants, my part is to remain with him the garden of my mind and heart and continue to grow until the fruit is mature and ready for His use and safe keeping.  He is a good, good Father who desires to give good gifts to his children.

With you and love you dear friends.

Tracey Hanko