For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. . .
— Proverbs 23:7 (NKJ)
Did you know that your life follows what you think and say?
You program your life by what you think and say and you get what you truly believe in your heart. I used to think that this was just the way a person was and you’re stuck with it. However, I don’t believe that anymore. Why not?
Well, as a born again believer, I am now a new creation. Old things have passed away. Jesus conquered sin and took away my sin nature. I am not that same old complaining, or anxious person. I may act like that old me at times, but God has made me a new person with a new identity. Isn’t that what “new” means? Did He patch me up? No, I am “new”. I just forgot who I am as it says in James.
Perhaps you used to be a complainer or worrier and spoke words of defeat and doubt because that was what was in your heart. You may still think of yourself that way, but that’s not the new you. Put off that old you and put on the new you. Plant good seeds.
What is the first thing that comes out of your mouth when you wake up? Do you speak words of encouragement and hope or words of defeat and worry? When faced with a challenge, do you say things like, “How is this ever going to work out? What a bummer! The flu is going around and I always get it. Not looking forward to dealing with this. Blah, blah”.
The kicker is this. You have to first really listen to what you are saying and be willing to take an honest look at yourself. If it is mostly negative, don’t worry, just be willing to “own” it, admit it. Speak good words about yourself and your future. Focus on God and His love for you. He wants to take care of you.
I used to have a tendency to want to look at both sides of the picture and I justified it by saying I was being realistic. However, being realistic led to worry, anxiety, fear and expectation of the possibility of bad. This view did not bring me peace or joy. Sometimes I would think, “I know God said he would take care of things but . . . I need to be wise”. Now where in the Bible does it say to trust God with a “but”?
Yes, we need to be wise. However, that does not mean looking at the worst. When we trust God, we trust him to give us wisdom to handle what comes our way. He may show us a plan or a move we should take, but it will come from Him and not from fear. Don’t panic! God has you and is working on your behalf. As you speak words of encouragement and remind yourself of the faithfulness of God, you are planting good seeds and you will reap peace and joy
We learn a lot about ourselves by listening to what we say. Pay attention today to your conversations. Jesus told us to open up our ears and “hear”. That means to hear yourself, too.
“Life doesn’t just happen. You reap what you sow.”
Hear – Take To Heart