Taking Every Thought Captive
Today, I've been feeling... I don't know.. not quite depressed, not quite angry... maybe more like something restless in my spirit. I've struggled today with thoughts like "he never does what's he supposed to" or "if only he would do this or that". (He of course being honeybear and my best friend). I wrestled with myself trying to reign in those thoughts. I'm reminded of the analogy I gave Rosenburger yesterday. She's my "stuck in the middle" daughter. She's been struggling with feeling left out and unloved. So I told her that she needed to change her perspective. Our emotions, thoughts and feelings are driven by what we perceive. If we perceive that we are unloved, we will feel unloved. Our feelings though are NOT an accurate measure of truth or reality. The Truth is that my daughter is loved. She is loved by One who loves her more than I could ever love her. He is faithful and true and will never leave her nor forsake her. She is, of course, loved by her family but she is loved oh so much more by the One who gave His life for her.
As we talked about her feelings being based on her perceptions, we examined her perceptions to see if they were based on reality. She perceived that her twin sister received special treatment that she did not receive. As I asked her questions, she began to see the reality that she is treated just as special. Maybe not treated exactly the same but treated as the special, wonderful daughter that she is. She began to see that her perceptions lead her feelings.
Our perceptions are like a team of horses and our feelings or emotions are the cart that follows behind. We need to reign in and redirect those horses or our carts may be dragged into places we do not intend to travel.
Today I had to focus on reigning in my horses and not feeling sorry for myself. I needed to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" I needed to consciously and continually correct my thoughts and bring them in line with His truth so that my cart (feelings) could be directed on a new and better path.
As we talked about her feelings being based on her perceptions, we examined her perceptions to see if they were based on reality. She perceived that her twin sister received special treatment that she did not receive. As I asked her questions, she began to see the reality that she is treated just as special. Maybe not treated exactly the same but treated as the special, wonderful daughter that she is. She began to see that her perceptions lead her feelings.
Our perceptions are like a team of horses and our feelings or emotions are the cart that follows behind. We need to reign in and redirect those horses or our carts may be dragged into places we do not intend to travel.
Today I had to focus on reigning in my horses and not feeling sorry for myself. I needed to take "every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" I needed to consciously and continually correct my thoughts and bring them in line with His truth so that my cart (feelings) could be directed on a new and better path.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5
YEA!!!!! I'm so excited! Not only do you have a blog we can follow, but you posted that wonderful analogy of the horse and cart I loved the first time I heard it from you! You are wonderful, special and I wish I could give you a huge hug!!!
ReplyDeleteMama Reilly