I listened to my then four year old as she declared in total exasperation and defeat, “I will NEVER be able to do it!”
At the time, she was trying to learn to whistle. She was actually pretty close to achieving her goal but was getting frustrated with trying.
Me: “Keep practicing. You are so close.”
Four year old: “Why bother. I am not good at anything.”
Seriously. She had progressed from not being able to do one task to not being good at anything at all? How had she gotten to this point? And at four years of age?
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV)
It is so easy to let a thought weave its way through our minds, festering until it has grown to an entirely new level. There were many times in the past, when I have not only allowed a thought to grow, but let it grow to epic proportions, no longer recognizable from my original thought ….
- Walking the floors at night with a colicky baby becomes, “I will never get a good night’s sleep again.”
- A visit to our primary for an ongoing migraine headache … “I probably have a brain tumor.”
- Relationships which change can bring on … “No one truly cares about me.”
- Being a bit on the quieter side can foster the thought … “I will always be the outsider.”
- Looking at finances .. “There is no way.”
- Prolonged circumstances start the whole … “If God really loved me ….”
Our minds contain powerful thoughts, able to convince us they are true, when in fact, they are not. How do we handle this:
- We need to pull back, taking control of our thoughts before they dominate our actions.
- Recognize the lie.
- Fight back with the truth of God’s Word.
- Keep the thought captive, again and again.
For the record …
I have since had many nights of wonderful sleep.
I have not had a brain tumor.
There are many in my life who care about me.
I am not an outsider.
God provided abundantly.
God loves me more deeply than I could have ever imagined. And …
She became a great whistler!
We have the power within us to wage a war on our thoughts.
Not only power, but divine power.
Not only wage a war, but win the battle.
And it all starts with taking hold of that very first thought.
Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Wedded Wednesday and Women With Intention and Three Word Wednesday .
Poor Rabbit! Your words perfectly describe the struggle we all have when we allow a thought to grow, “but let it grow to epic proportions, no longer recognizable from my original thought ā¦.” Your advice is spot on and Biblical. Thanks for this well-written encouragement. And for the nice visit back to the Hundred Acre Wood! š
It is amazing, Karen, how far a thought can grow at times. May we remember to take the very first thought captive. Thank you for encouraging me.
I was so excited to see we were neighbors on 3Word today, as I always love reading your wisdom … and seeing what you are going to do with a HundredAcreWoods story š This piece speaks to me on so many levels. Spurgeon said something about the worst evils of life are those that do not exist except in our own imagination and I have reflected on that many times. I love your battle strategy and appreciate being reminded of so much truth. Thanks for this!
I like the thought from Spurgeon which you shared. It is so true. Our imaginations will do us in every time, if we let them.
Yes…every first thought…again and again. Such truth in that.
Thank you for sharing. š Happy to be neighboring you at the women with intention Wednesday linkup today. ~ Best to you ~
Our first thought can do us in if we let it. But if we take control, oh the strength we will find. Grateful you stopped here.
Oh, I know the fear of not trying because I may not master it the first time. (And for what it’s worth, I can’t whistle!) My 8-year-old girl and I have had MANY conversations about trying and doing your best. It’s a lesson I still catch myself needing to grasp. I’m always encouraged here. xoxo
So grateful you were encouraged here. Those are amazing concepts for your 8YO to learn now as they will take her far as she grows up. You are a wise mom, Kristen!
Looking back to all we worried about that never happened is hindsight turned into insight when we know the Lord. When I think of all the ones who influenced my life I am grateful they did not give up on me and that makes me want to encouraged others, try one more time, don’t quit, trust His. Great post, encouraging.
It is so true. As we remember those who encouraged us & never let us give up, may we desire to do so for those around us. I am grateful you shared!
that darn inner scared voice that trips us up each time. Great use of the cartoons too and good thoughts
It truly is that inner voice that will bring us down IF we let it. But we can quiet that voice if we but speak God’s truth out loud. Grateful you brought that out.