It's funny the crazy ways God talks to me. But let me back up to this afternoon.
Katie, Kevin, Mary Beth, and I had time to kill between Church and lunch. The obvious place to waste this time? Walmart of course! Katie needed a few things anyway so we headed that way. First, we got the few things Katie needed. Then Kevin and I wondered off to the toys. Seems logical right? Well we were having a blast haha! Anyway, we goofed off there for awhile and then made our way back to the $5 movie bin. Now, I have had great luck in this bin many, many times. Did I walk into Walmart planning on buying anything? No. Did I walk out with something? Yes! A VeggieTales movie. Yes, I am an adult who loves VeggieTales. I have no shame :)
Now, fast-forward several hours. I'd been doing homework most of the late afternoon into the evening. I was ready for a break. I was looking for something to watch on Hulu but then I remembered. I had a new movie :) So I picked my favorite story of the three on my new DVD. Joshua and the Big Wall. I love the slushies! I was watching but I know I was partly distracted too. I was trying to share the movie with my sister 10 hrs away but the sound wouldn't work :( Anyway, there is this one scene where the French Peas aka the people of Jericho ask the "Israelites" why they were walking around their wall. The one Israelite says that its because their God told them too. Not because they were crazy or anything.
Lets step back from that scene for a second. God had given the Israelites some crazy instructions. They certainly looked silly and other people did not understand. How often are we the Israelites? Walking around, doing something that to people on the outside looks absurd but really is exactly what God wants? Well, we should more often then I am sure we do. And that alone is a powerful thing. If we just follow God's instructions, no matter how silly we look, AMAZING things will happen.
But my revelation didn't stop there. Lets imagine for a second that the Israelites hadn't been given a final result. They were just told to walk around a wall. That's kinda how I feel right now. God is telling me to walk around this massive wall over and over, for what seems like no reason. And do I feel stupid? Yeah! Are slushies being thrown at me? Yep! But I need to keep walking. I can't give up. This is what God wants me to do right now. I may not have the end picture and I certainly don't know that in 7 days my wall will fall but I do know that God has a plan. If I just stick it out a bit longer, my wall will fall.
Maybe you all have a big wall too that you are walking around. Maybe with a purpose or maybe without. Maybe with lots of purple slushies being tossed at your head. Just remember....keep walking! God will knock down that wall.
How powerful! I'm actually still in shock that this all came from VeggieTales! haha! But in all honesty, I shouldn't be. It's God's word. And God is awesome! I love when His word comes to life for me, especially in new and different ways. This is the first time I have ever seen this story in this light but I love it!
** I'll try to get a video posted incase you've never seen Joshua and the Big Wall or its just been awhile. However, it is really late and I have a feeling the file is huge. So keep checking back for a video when I have more time to export the file properly.**
January 24, 2011
January 21, 2011
My Heart Lies?!?!
Growing up, I've always been one to struggle with knowledge vs. my heart. My feelings have always been out of whack. I over process, over analyze, over feel, and over think EVERYTHING! It is something that has always bothered me and still a work in progress. I would not say that I have even come close to having a clear, content, and doubt free mind. However, lately I feel God working on my understanding of Grace. I have realized lately how little I understand that word and what it means in my life. But thats another topic for another blog. I want to focus on my feelings and my heart.
I am sitting in the coffeeshop, basically killing time until a sushi lunch with my Nanney girls. I decided, instead of doing homework, to read some older posts from that blog I mentioned in a post or so ago. I came across one that challenges the readers to pray for those who have taken a part of their heart at some point. I could totally relate to all that Shellie was saying. I've had my heart broken and a piece taken. But she challenges the readers to pray for these men. I know I have prayed a little for those "boys" in my past but I am going to take her challenge of a 7 day prayer concentration on these men, which if I remember, I'll blog about how that goes.
Anyway, as I was reading, she was saying how we let our past dictate the types of guys we look at now, which can I say HOW TRUE THAT IS! But Shellie was saying how we need to become free from that. Free from judging the men around us based on the idiots in our past. Okay so idiot was my word LOL!! Then she referenced Jeremiah 17:9. Have you ever read this, I mean really read this passage? Check it out
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?"
WOW!!! How freeing is this statement?! I mean really! My heart lies to me. It doesn't always tell the truth. How I feel isn't accurate. I don't have to be bound or afraid because of what I feel in my heart. It isn't the whole truth. Now I don't mean to say we should never listen to our hearts but to know that it lies to me, means that I don't have to be concerned with the negative thoughts flowing through me.
**Big Happy Sigh :) **
And as I reread this passage over and over, some lyrics from a Tenth Ave. North song popped in my head. Check out the full song on Youtube but for now I will just quote the part that relates.
"This is not about what you feel, but what He felt to forgive you,
and what He felt to make you loved."
-- You are More by Tenth Ave. North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA
So powerful! It is not about me, or what I do, or feel but its ALL about Jesus and the Cross and just having a relationship with my Savior, My Beloved.
Praise God!
I am sitting in the coffeeshop, basically killing time until a sushi lunch with my Nanney girls. I decided, instead of doing homework, to read some older posts from that blog I mentioned in a post or so ago. I came across one that challenges the readers to pray for those who have taken a part of their heart at some point. I could totally relate to all that Shellie was saying. I've had my heart broken and a piece taken. But she challenges the readers to pray for these men. I know I have prayed a little for those "boys" in my past but I am going to take her challenge of a 7 day prayer concentration on these men, which if I remember, I'll blog about how that goes.
Anyway, as I was reading, she was saying how we let our past dictate the types of guys we look at now, which can I say HOW TRUE THAT IS! But Shellie was saying how we need to become free from that. Free from judging the men around us based on the idiots in our past. Okay so idiot was my word LOL!! Then she referenced Jeremiah 17:9. Have you ever read this, I mean really read this passage? Check it out
"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?"
WOW!!! How freeing is this statement?! I mean really! My heart lies to me. It doesn't always tell the truth. How I feel isn't accurate. I don't have to be bound or afraid because of what I feel in my heart. It isn't the whole truth. Now I don't mean to say we should never listen to our hearts but to know that it lies to me, means that I don't have to be concerned with the negative thoughts flowing through me.
**Big Happy Sigh :) **
And as I reread this passage over and over, some lyrics from a Tenth Ave. North song popped in my head. Check out the full song on Youtube but for now I will just quote the part that relates.
"This is not about what you feel, but what He felt to forgive you,
and what He felt to make you loved."
-- You are More by Tenth Ave. North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwtcwQwgdsA
So powerful! It is not about me, or what I do, or feel but its ALL about Jesus and the Cross and just having a relationship with my Savior, My Beloved.
Praise God!
January 20, 2011
How are your friendships, Seriously??
For Christmas, I received two books from the Women of Faith conference I attended in the fall. Of course, this put my other book on hold, not because I do not love Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World but because I decided one night to preview Friendships for Grown-Ups by Lisa Whelchel (you know, the woman who played Blair in Facts of Life) and was hooked. Now granted, I haven't finished yet. This is not because I couldn't have read it in two days but because I am trying to take it slower so I can process more. There is so much in this book that floors me. If you would have asked me before I started how my friendships were. I probably would have responded, "I have great friends. Three which I would consider best friends because they know even my darkest secretes." I would have also probably admitted that those relationships aren't perfect because what relationship ever is. I'm not stupid. I am aware of the flaws. HOWEVER, this book has challenged me, reaffirmed me, and caused more tears to flow from my eyes than anything in a long time.
I can say without any hesitation that this book is already changing me, especially with my three closest friends. In the weeks following starting the book, I have had one deep, open conversation about one aspect of a friendship and am in the beginning stages of starting another open and honest conversation with another friend.
Now, let me say this, I am not someone who likes confrontation. I HATE IT!! However, Lisa put it so well in several places in her book about how if you care for a relationship you don't want any bricks to be laid, thus causing a foundation for more bricks to be laid and eventually a wall to be built between the two of you. So with a deep breath, I have approached these two issues.
But, its been more than just dealing with the bricks and coming to terms with some of the trust issues I have. Lisa tells so many stories in her book. Many of which involve a friend who is not in the same town. This is where she has gotten me most. So many of my friends are in other towns or states, hours away. This has been really difficult for me. I am such a relational person (yes even introverts love them some girl time LOL). It truly hurts me that I can't just pick up my phone and say, "Coffee?" Its been a challenge to learn how to be there for each other even when we are hundreds of miles apart. And we still haven't gotten the hang of it. But this book has given me so much hope that long distance friendships, even in the busyness of life, IS POSSIBLE! It can be AWESOME! This has given me such peace. Which is probably another reason why I have been brave enough to approach these touchy subjects. For one I want to keep my friendships healthy and second, due to the distance, a little extra work is needed.
There are so many great truths in this book that you just have to read it for yourself and see what God has for you specifically. But I'll end with this one lesson that I am still trying to learn but Lisa is certainly giving me one more person, one more perspective to the situation. Almost as much as I hate confrontation, I strongly dislike admitting when I need a friend. I can be as lonely as all get out but will NEVER pick up my phone and call someone. There are a variety of reasons for this, all of which do not make sense. However, Lisa has dealt with this problem too. She admits in her book that she struggled so much with picking up a phone for help in anyway, from picking up her kids to just needing a friend. But as she shows by example in her book (and as a few of my friends have told me over and over), I just have to ask. Its something I have challenged myself with since the beginning of the semester. I'm going to work on speaking up for myself and picking up my phone. Maybe once I start, my friends will follow my lead. There is no special cure or a step by step process. I just have to do it. So if you are like me, take heart. Your friends are your friends for a reason. They do want to hear from you and walk this journey with you. Take the step of faith and call them. If they reject you, well then they aren't someone worth having on this journey.
Wow...this has gotten so long and I could keep going LOL!! Seriously...pick up this book and watch how even great friendships can become amazing!
I can say without any hesitation that this book is already changing me, especially with my three closest friends. In the weeks following starting the book, I have had one deep, open conversation about one aspect of a friendship and am in the beginning stages of starting another open and honest conversation with another friend.
Now, let me say this, I am not someone who likes confrontation. I HATE IT!! However, Lisa put it so well in several places in her book about how if you care for a relationship you don't want any bricks to be laid, thus causing a foundation for more bricks to be laid and eventually a wall to be built between the two of you. So with a deep breath, I have approached these two issues.
But, its been more than just dealing with the bricks and coming to terms with some of the trust issues I have. Lisa tells so many stories in her book. Many of which involve a friend who is not in the same town. This is where she has gotten me most. So many of my friends are in other towns or states, hours away. This has been really difficult for me. I am such a relational person (yes even introverts love them some girl time LOL). It truly hurts me that I can't just pick up my phone and say, "Coffee?" Its been a challenge to learn how to be there for each other even when we are hundreds of miles apart. And we still haven't gotten the hang of it. But this book has given me so much hope that long distance friendships, even in the busyness of life, IS POSSIBLE! It can be AWESOME! This has given me such peace. Which is probably another reason why I have been brave enough to approach these touchy subjects. For one I want to keep my friendships healthy and second, due to the distance, a little extra work is needed.
There are so many great truths in this book that you just have to read it for yourself and see what God has for you specifically. But I'll end with this one lesson that I am still trying to learn but Lisa is certainly giving me one more person, one more perspective to the situation. Almost as much as I hate confrontation, I strongly dislike admitting when I need a friend. I can be as lonely as all get out but will NEVER pick up my phone and call someone. There are a variety of reasons for this, all of which do not make sense. However, Lisa has dealt with this problem too. She admits in her book that she struggled so much with picking up a phone for help in anyway, from picking up her kids to just needing a friend. But as she shows by example in her book (and as a few of my friends have told me over and over), I just have to ask. Its something I have challenged myself with since the beginning of the semester. I'm going to work on speaking up for myself and picking up my phone. Maybe once I start, my friends will follow my lead. There is no special cure or a step by step process. I just have to do it. So if you are like me, take heart. Your friends are your friends for a reason. They do want to hear from you and walk this journey with you. Take the step of faith and call them. If they reject you, well then they aren't someone worth having on this journey.
Wow...this has gotten so long and I could keep going LOL!! Seriously...pick up this book and watch how even great friendships can become amazing!
January 3, 2011
Deserving
One of the blogs I have been following for awhile now is directed toward single, Christian women waiting for God to bring them to their future beloved. I love this blog. So often it builds me up and encourages me to keep pushing forward. With so much that has happened in the last year, I felt God really trying to teach me so many new things in regards to relationships and marriage. I don't really know how to explain it but I know that every time I read something from this author, I am definitely challenged. However, along with that challenge, I feel so far behind and so below everything and anything she is describing. The more I read and self-evaluate, the more I realize that 22 is still really young. I have so much to learn and thats only in the relationship department. My spiritual walk in general could use so much work, but thats another topic.
Now, don't misunderstand me. Do I wish I had someone special in my life now? YEAH! Do I even have a crush? Possibly ;) Does my head understand why God hasn't brought that person into my life yet? You bet! But my heart definitely still longs to know and be known. I have that desire to be connected to someone. That desire in and of itself is not wrong. My current read Friendship for Grow-ups by Lisa Whelchel reminded me of this just yesterday. She quoted one of my other favorite authors, Angela Thomas, which basically said that God created us to be relational beings. So I know why I desire this but my head has to constantly remind my heart that God doesn't think I'm ready yet. He has more he wants to teach me, and my future beloved, before revealing us to each other.
This has been a challenge recently for several different reasons. One being that its the holidays. Second, that this time last year, someone I held dear walked out of my life (however, I think that was more God's doing than anything but thats also another story for another day). And also due to meeting friends new boyfriends and just being reminded of the awesome guys that I do have in my life that will one day make a woman very happy. Anyway, I was feeling up to the challenge and I was given encouragement from that blog today. I was reminded that I'll get what I deserve and so if God is my focus and I live for him, God will bring me an amazing man. I was doing great! I had my focus. I knew already, even before reading the current blog, that this year had to be different. That I needed to make a conscious decision to live for God every day. I had been learning that from every blog up until today. I knew that once I accepted the changed God had for me, life would change. However, then my human nature entered the picture and I got all discombobulated **side note: can I say how much I love that this is a word in the dictionary...at least the online dictionaries that I checked for spelling LOL** There is something you must know about me...when it comes to guys, I don't always think before I speak or act. I tend to insert my foot into my mouth more times than I would like to admit. I get kinda crazy and annoy myself even. I don't know where this alternate Amber comes from but she annoys the crap out of me! I don't like how she thinks or what she says or does. Its not with guy friends but with guys that I have some level of attachment to. So I was having a conversation this evening, which alternate Amber started anyway so I should have known it was doomed from the beginning, and I said something stupid. Now, whether or not the other person found it stupid, I cannot say but I know I have been replaying it in my mind for the last 2 hours. And as I have been thinking about it, all I kept thinking about was how would any guy put up with alternate Amber for long. I saw parts of the blog reading from today flash before me about being deserving and a woman of God will be rewarded. Now, did the blog author mean for her writing to hurt me? NO! that is totally satan. using what was meant for good, for evil. My mind has a funny way of flipping things around. I know that the blog was meant as an encouragement to be the best we can and to live for God and leave the rest up to him. But I tend to be so hard on myself that instead, I started seeing my flaws, thinking about how much I don't deserve, and forgot about God's power.
God's power. Have you pondered that lately? Have you been honest about what he can do? I have heard a lot of sermons this weekend due to a sister church having a weekend full of Grace themed preaching. So much of what I heard is running through my brain at such a rate, I can't seem to catch one thought long enough to really analyze it. But, I do remember an illustration from today. The basic idea was think about all the important people of history and all they accomplished on their own power. The Father who pushes and pulls his paralyzed son through marathons. The people who never give up on dreams that the world deems silly, such as someone who lost a hand learning to shoot with his other and then winning an Olympic metal or one who falls severely during a marathon but drags his beaten up leg across the finish line. To our knowledge, they did it by their power. But what if we let God do it. What if we let his power work in our lives. How much more could we accomplish. Now this has a double meaning for me (well probably more but there are 2 that jump out at me at this moment). One that I won't expand on right now because its something me and God are still working out. I have felt some working in my life but I don't know what it means and until I understand it more clearly, I'm going to leave it with God. But the second is me and, in applying it to what I've been writing about tonight, relationships. I can look at myself and analyze myself to death. I can say I'm screwed up or have so much that needs to be changed before any guy will give me a second look. I can clinch my fists and white knuckle goodness out of me. But really, I need to trust in God's power and really just focus on him. If I just look at him and just continue to walk beside him, then the rest will fall into place. God will deal with the crazy alternate Amber. He can make her lovable (as hard as that is for me to grasp). He will bring my beloved up, walking by my side. I need to stop searching for him. Stop trying so hard. Stop getting hurt when I feel that another relationship with a guy won't work out BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE ISN'T FROM GOD! I want and deserve the man God has for me. I need to stop trying to manipulate situations and just let things be. I know this is going to be a challenge for me but my prayer tonight is that God's power rests in me and in all of you so that we can be at peace and stop searching for our beloved and instead spend our time loving God and growing closer to him because thats what we deserve.
wow...the spirit definitely led me in that one. I didn't know where it would end (and if the middle even makes sense LOL) but I know I learned something today. I just hope it sticks.
Now, don't misunderstand me. Do I wish I had someone special in my life now? YEAH! Do I even have a crush? Possibly ;) Does my head understand why God hasn't brought that person into my life yet? You bet! But my heart definitely still longs to know and be known. I have that desire to be connected to someone. That desire in and of itself is not wrong. My current read Friendship for Grow-ups by Lisa Whelchel reminded me of this just yesterday. She quoted one of my other favorite authors, Angela Thomas, which basically said that God created us to be relational beings. So I know why I desire this but my head has to constantly remind my heart that God doesn't think I'm ready yet. He has more he wants to teach me, and my future beloved, before revealing us to each other.
This has been a challenge recently for several different reasons. One being that its the holidays. Second, that this time last year, someone I held dear walked out of my life (however, I think that was more God's doing than anything but thats also another story for another day). And also due to meeting friends new boyfriends and just being reminded of the awesome guys that I do have in my life that will one day make a woman very happy. Anyway, I was feeling up to the challenge and I was given encouragement from that blog today. I was reminded that I'll get what I deserve and so if God is my focus and I live for him, God will bring me an amazing man. I was doing great! I had my focus. I knew already, even before reading the current blog, that this year had to be different. That I needed to make a conscious decision to live for God every day. I had been learning that from every blog up until today. I knew that once I accepted the changed God had for me, life would change. However, then my human nature entered the picture and I got all discombobulated **side note: can I say how much I love that this is a word in the dictionary...at least the online dictionaries that I checked for spelling LOL** There is something you must know about me...when it comes to guys, I don't always think before I speak or act. I tend to insert my foot into my mouth more times than I would like to admit. I get kinda crazy and annoy myself even. I don't know where this alternate Amber comes from but she annoys the crap out of me! I don't like how she thinks or what she says or does. Its not with guy friends but with guys that I have some level of attachment to. So I was having a conversation this evening, which alternate Amber started anyway so I should have known it was doomed from the beginning, and I said something stupid. Now, whether or not the other person found it stupid, I cannot say but I know I have been replaying it in my mind for the last 2 hours. And as I have been thinking about it, all I kept thinking about was how would any guy put up with alternate Amber for long. I saw parts of the blog reading from today flash before me about being deserving and a woman of God will be rewarded. Now, did the blog author mean for her writing to hurt me? NO! that is totally satan. using what was meant for good, for evil. My mind has a funny way of flipping things around. I know that the blog was meant as an encouragement to be the best we can and to live for God and leave the rest up to him. But I tend to be so hard on myself that instead, I started seeing my flaws, thinking about how much I don't deserve, and forgot about God's power.
God's power. Have you pondered that lately? Have you been honest about what he can do? I have heard a lot of sermons this weekend due to a sister church having a weekend full of Grace themed preaching. So much of what I heard is running through my brain at such a rate, I can't seem to catch one thought long enough to really analyze it. But, I do remember an illustration from today. The basic idea was think about all the important people of history and all they accomplished on their own power. The Father who pushes and pulls his paralyzed son through marathons. The people who never give up on dreams that the world deems silly, such as someone who lost a hand learning to shoot with his other and then winning an Olympic metal or one who falls severely during a marathon but drags his beaten up leg across the finish line. To our knowledge, they did it by their power. But what if we let God do it. What if we let his power work in our lives. How much more could we accomplish. Now this has a double meaning for me (well probably more but there are 2 that jump out at me at this moment). One that I won't expand on right now because its something me and God are still working out. I have felt some working in my life but I don't know what it means and until I understand it more clearly, I'm going to leave it with God. But the second is me and, in applying it to what I've been writing about tonight, relationships. I can look at myself and analyze myself to death. I can say I'm screwed up or have so much that needs to be changed before any guy will give me a second look. I can clinch my fists and white knuckle goodness out of me. But really, I need to trust in God's power and really just focus on him. If I just look at him and just continue to walk beside him, then the rest will fall into place. God will deal with the crazy alternate Amber. He can make her lovable (as hard as that is for me to grasp). He will bring my beloved up, walking by my side. I need to stop searching for him. Stop trying so hard. Stop getting hurt when I feel that another relationship with a guy won't work out BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE ISN'T FROM GOD! I want and deserve the man God has for me. I need to stop trying to manipulate situations and just let things be. I know this is going to be a challenge for me but my prayer tonight is that God's power rests in me and in all of you so that we can be at peace and stop searching for our beloved and instead spend our time loving God and growing closer to him because thats what we deserve.
wow...the spirit definitely led me in that one. I didn't know where it would end (and if the middle even makes sense LOL) but I know I learned something today. I just hope it sticks.
December 8, 2010
Imagination - Stay!! Sit!! COME BACK!
My mind is a dangerous place to be. I know I am not alone in my feelings. Many people express negative feelings toward their imagination and their thought process. The Bible speaks about our mind's power many times. God is vary aware of our human nature and how quickly we can become trapped by our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 say,
"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."
Psalm 10:4 says,
"In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts
there is no room for God."
Psalm 139:23 says,
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts."
That's just to name a few. However, the other day I was reading in a book by Joanna Weaver entitled Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World. It is a great book that I strongly recommend to all women who are busy (oh wait...isn't that all of us?!) Anyway, she spoke of her thoughts and how she was held captive by them. She read Isaiah 26:3 in the old British Revised Version, which reads like this, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose imagination is stayed on Thee." WOW! There isn't much more that I can add to that other than confessing my lack of controlling my imagination. My imagination is forever running away from me. Sometimes in a very obviously bad way and some times in a way which does not seem harmful at the time but when I reflect back on those times, through God's eyes the best I can, I see how negative it really was.
**Let me interject something into this train of thought right here...by imagination, I don't mean your creativity. Christ doesn't ask us to give up our creativity. All he desires is that our thoughts and our imagination doesn't pull us away from him. When in doubt, ask if that thought is glorifying God, strengthening your relationship with him, and is showing your trust in him. Philippians 4:8 is a perfect scripture for guidance with this self-anaylsis. Ask God to show you what parts of your imagination are acceptable and what needs to change. He will show you.**
Over the last few years, I have really tried to control it more but upon looking back, really all I have done is tried to control the out of control thoughts, not ALL of my thoughts. After reading how Joanna explained her imagination and doing some reflecting, I am so much more aware of how careful I must be. I'm still not perfect, nor will I ever be until Christ comes back, but I am definitely spending more time in prayer over it. I desire Christ's power over my life, especially in my thoughts. I know he can change my thoughts but I also know that I need to focus on him when I find my imagination running away again. Our greatest battle field with satan is in our mind and our imagination is the biggest part of that.
Stay focused on Christ and when you feel your imagination running away again, find something to point your mind back to Christ (whether for you that is music, reading your Bible, praying, or fellowship with other Christians, etc).
Oh what peace awaits us when we control our imagination!
God Bless
"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."
Psalm 10:4 says,
"In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts
there is no room for God."
Psalm 139:23 says,
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my
anxious thoughts."
That's just to name a few. However, the other day I was reading in a book by Joanna Weaver entitled Having a Mary's Heart in a Martha's World. It is a great book that I strongly recommend to all women who are busy (oh wait...isn't that all of us?!) Anyway, she spoke of her thoughts and how she was held captive by them. She read Isaiah 26:3 in the old British Revised Version, which reads like this, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose imagination is stayed on Thee." WOW! There isn't much more that I can add to that other than confessing my lack of controlling my imagination. My imagination is forever running away from me. Sometimes in a very obviously bad way and some times in a way which does not seem harmful at the time but when I reflect back on those times, through God's eyes the best I can, I see how negative it really was.
**Let me interject something into this train of thought right here...by imagination, I don't mean your creativity. Christ doesn't ask us to give up our creativity. All he desires is that our thoughts and our imagination doesn't pull us away from him. When in doubt, ask if that thought is glorifying God, strengthening your relationship with him, and is showing your trust in him. Philippians 4:8 is a perfect scripture for guidance with this self-anaylsis. Ask God to show you what parts of your imagination are acceptable and what needs to change. He will show you.**
Over the last few years, I have really tried to control it more but upon looking back, really all I have done is tried to control the out of control thoughts, not ALL of my thoughts. After reading how Joanna explained her imagination and doing some reflecting, I am so much more aware of how careful I must be. I'm still not perfect, nor will I ever be until Christ comes back, but I am definitely spending more time in prayer over it. I desire Christ's power over my life, especially in my thoughts. I know he can change my thoughts but I also know that I need to focus on him when I find my imagination running away again. Our greatest battle field with satan is in our mind and our imagination is the biggest part of that.
Stay focused on Christ and when you feel your imagination running away again, find something to point your mind back to Christ (whether for you that is music, reading your Bible, praying, or fellowship with other Christians, etc).
Oh what peace awaits us when we control our imagination!
God Bless
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