Devotion #52

Hi, Everyone.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated May 30, 2007, and it reminds me how much my life and personal walk with the Lord have transformed, by correcting my thinking and my speech.
I read so many posts on OH, where precious people say things like, "I'm so stupid," "I can't get this weight off," "It will never happen for me," "I'm so afraid of having WLS," etc., and I just want to tell them how detrimental is that kind of thinking and speaking. So often, those words become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

     It has been one of those battle days. The enemy has been whispering negative thoughts to me, and I have spent much of my day analyzing those thoughts. While Satan wants me to let those thoughts in, Jesus wants me to take them captive.
     I was reminded of II Corinthians 10:3-5. Today I have focused on reminding myself that "the weapons of [my] warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. [I am] destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and [I am] taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..."
     I used to obey a food thought, giving in to the craving, indulging my flesh. I don't want to do that anymore. I can't do that, not if I want to present my body a living sacrifice. Even though that is my desire, I know that I can overcome only through the grace and power of God.
     Every action begins with a thought...every one, without exception. While the Holy Spirit will help me guard my heart and mind, He will not do it for me. I must do my part, put on the full armor of God, and wield the Sword of the Spirit.
     With every thought, I must line it up with the Word of God. It helps me to ask myself, "Would Jesus think this thought?" It is so important to be in the Word daily, if I want to be equipped to "take every thought captive to the mind of Christ."
     Sometimes the enemy is so sneaky and whispers a seemingly-positive thought. For example, today he whispered to me, "You're going to lose all your weight, and be the only person to teach others about how to get their weight off." Hmm...I like the first part, but the rest?
     Galatians 6:14 says, "The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging." That thought did not point to Jesus, so it's a thought that needs to be taken captive. I spoke the Word out loud, and the thought disappeared. I was ready to speak the verse as often as needed.
     I must guard my heart and mind. Otherwise, negative or falsely-positive thoughts will become a stronghold. To avoid that, I must think, dwell on "whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8).

Today, pay attention to your thoughts. Ask yourself, "Would Jesus think this thought?"  If He wouldn't, then rebuke and rephrase the thought. Doing that will transform not only how you think, but how you speak and what you do. God is ready to help us do that, if we ask Him to. Listen to this song called "Renew Me," as sung by Avalon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvrQeTwJj0c

Blessings,
Mary