Change your thoughts, and it can change your life

• By candidasullivan
• September 20, 2024
• No Comments

The enemy tells us we need something from the world to be happy. He has us looking for what we need from material things and people. Any time we limit our lives by expecting others to fulfill our needs, we create hardships for ourselves.

I used to think that something external had to happen to create the life I wanted. As a little girl, I prayed for God to heal my hands because of how it would make me feel. I wanted to feel strong and whole, but most of all, I wanted to feel loved and accepted. And I thought that my body had to change for me to be able to feel this way.

In reality, the only thing I had to change was my thoughts. When I changed my story about my scars, then the way that I felt about them changed. For so long, I had viewed myself as a victim. Therefore, I acted like a victim. I walked around with my head down and my hands shoved in my pockets. I was the one who caused myself pain. When I accepted my scars, then I felt the love and acceptance that I so desperately needed. All of my broken pieces healed, and I felt strong and whole. No one else could make me feel that way.

Most of the time, we want something because we think it will make us feel good. We forget, however, that we are in charge of our thoughts. Therefore, we get to decide how we are going to feel. Amid our hardships, we can choose to feel gratitude and joy.

I’ve had a challenging day because my thoughts were wrong. The story I told myself was from a victim’s perspective. Completely overwhelmed, I decided to stop focusing on the heartaches and start listing everything positive about my day. A few minutes into this practice, I realized it was not a hardship but a blessing. The enemy is so sneaky this way. He will have us complaining about the very things our hearts desire.

My circumstance is neutral. It doesn’t cause me grief or joy. It is the story that I tell myself about my circumstance that has the power to cause me grief or joy. Therefore, I must work on changing my story and my feelings about it. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I need to ask God to give me the proper perspective and open my eyes to see the goodness in every situation.

If we allow it, the enemy will trick us into feeling completely miserable. He will take one moment of doubt and uncertainty and turn it into something huge and overwhelming. When we feel this way, we need to draw closer to God. Nothing can overwhelm our God. He knows our situation and how to help us with each moment.

I am thankful that He is my Shepherd and leads and guides me.

Psalm 23 (KJV)
23 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.