Do you ever listen to yourself?

What are you thinking?

You should do it sometime. You might be surprised at what is going ’round and ’round in your head!

Recently, I was listening to myself think. I didn’t like what I heard. Negative thoughts had taken over in my mind, and I wanted to change that.

I was prayerful about the situation because I knew that if my mind had been on God, not the things going on in my world, it would be a more positive place!

My go-to when I want to change my thinking is

Philippians 4:4-9.

Especially verse 8 —

” . . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”

Dwelling on each quality can be very helpful. For example, what does “true” mean? Is my self-talk “true?” What do I find lovely? Beautiful, bright flowers immediately come to mind. What is something I can think about that is excellent or praiseworthy?

Turning around my thoughts, with the help of the Holy Spirit (He was sent to be our “helper,” right?), can be such a relief.

Backing up to verses 6-7 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This verse has always been a favorite of mine because releasing anxious and negative thoughts to the Lord, in every situation, gives me peace.

As I pondered these verses and asked God to help me think in this way, I glanced to the side table beside my chair. On it, I had placed a jar of Bible verses my sister-in-law gave me. On the jar it says, “Read me when . . . I’m happy, thankful, anxious, etc.”

I picked up the jar and plucked out a verse. Guess what it said?

“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:7

God cares about what you think. Just listen . . .