Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear
Good Afternoon Ladies!
What did you find on your list? How many positives vs negative thoughts were there? Were you kind to yourself or harsh? If your list was anything like mine was, there were way more negative thoughts than positive ones. Why are we are so hard on ourselves? We would never talk to other people this way? We are our own worst critics. You ever notice when your best friend says they are having a bad hair day, it really looks the same as it did the day before?
How do you speak to yourself on a daily basis? Do you harbor negative thoughts or are you a positive thinker? For years I struggled with a thing called Fear of Man. I worried so much about what people might think about what I said, or not knowing something, that I never talked when we went places. I was scared of sounding dumb, or didn't think what I had to say was important. I struggled with my appearance, thinking I was too heavy, and I was too embarrassed to ever try anything on. I began a downward spiral into depression, I was so unhappy, and blamed others for it. I began to resent my husband, and didn't understand why he didn't make me happy. Most of all I was angry, tired and exhausted.
LIES LIES LIES! The enemy uses these lies to push you down, to tear relationships apart and to leave you stripped of any joy and peace you may have left. So what changed for me? I had a big wake up call one night. I was scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees and began sobbing. I decided it was time for a change. I needed something, I didn't know what it was, but is was one of those aha moments.
I made a decision to start making time for myself. I didn't know at first how it was going to work, but I knew I needed it. I began getting up an hour early in the morning to get myself ready. I wanted to spend some quiet time before chaos set in for the day. I also bought myself a workout program online and couldn't wait to get started. I began doing it after the kids went to bed. It was MY time. At first I cried. I started and told myself it was too hard. My husband was a huge supporter and told me to keep trying. As I continued, I began to get more self confidence, and feel better about myself. Most importantly, I had more energy. I started eating better, gave up pop and the energy drinks which I lived off of. I realized I didn't need the caffeine and sugar as I started to live a healthier lifestyle.
I also decided to make my faith a priority. I had been kind of on the fence for years and had an overwhelming urge for more. I began to grow spiritually which has given me loads of joy and peace in the fears I've had to overcome. This verse speaks volumes to me:
Proverbs 29:25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.
When we begin to put our trust in the Lord and realize that we are important and we are all here for an important purpose, and those negative thoughts are from the pit. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by a Man that seeks your closeness every minute of everyday. Don't let anyone or any negative thoughts take that away from you. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE AWESOME, YOU ARE STRONG, YOU ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE. If you can't fathom that to or believe it at this point, it's okay. But when the negative thoughts start creeping their way in, I want you to begin with this. Post it on your mirror, write it on your hand, or put it as a reminder your phone. I want you to say this to yourself. Say it though out the day.
"I accept myself unconditionally right now. I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
Don't let those negative thoughts take hold. It can begin to spread like a virus and will begin to become reality for you. Our mood can also have an effect on our kids too. The good news however, is happiness is contagious too :) As you begin to meditate on positive thoughts, you will grow spiritually, it will affect you physically, and your mood will begin to change. My stress levels also began to subside. I'm not so uptight about things, because I'm not as worried about what people may think. There was and is a new freedom that comes when that cloud isn't hanging over your head.
This doesn't happen overnight. It is still a work in progress for me and I continue to pray about it and I learn more and more everyday. I have come to know this for sure. We cannot find happiness, joy and peace without Him. We cannot expect to find it in our husbands or significant other, we cannot buy it with money, although our children are wonderful, we cannot find it in them. It is not their job to make us happy or to fulfill us. That hole or puzzle piece that we are missing is a choice for us to find in Him. He designed us that way.
This took me 28 years to figure out, but slowly but surely I am starting to get it :)
Dear Father-
Guide us, help us to meditate on the fact that you made us perfect in every way. Thank you for loving us just the way we are, unconditionally. Help us to begin to make time for you, to make time for ourselves so that we may begin to grow spiritually and let go of our fears. Keep negative thoughts and lies away in your name, Lord Jesus. Help us to live in freedom the way you wanted us to live to fulfill the purpose in which you created us for. All these things we pray Lord, AMEN
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