Managing Your Thoughts

Managing our thoughts These past couple of weeks at work were a battle trying to manage and oversee several projects that all hit at the same time. Trying to keep up with the crazy pace and the long hours challenged me in a way I had never had before. I kept thinking why this year is so different from all the other years.

I usually have the same challenge with all the projects hitting at once, but why did this year seem like such an uphill battle that never let up.I discovered why just last week, which is the title of this blog, “Managing our thoughts.”

I learned that if I wanted my circumstances to improve, my thoughts had to improve first.Somewhere along the way, I allowed negative thoughts to creep in. Rather than stay focus on the projects at hand, I allowed myself to get swept up with discouragement and frustration.

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Negative emotions wanted to pull me down and depressing thoughts kept relentlessly playing over and over in my mind. Before I knew it, it was all that came of my mouth. I noticed I lacked the ability to concentrate and stay focus; pretty soon I had no energy and what would take a few moments to accomplish, took what seemed like forever.I certainly had reason to be dragged down. My plate was definitely full. But God’s Word declares a different kind of perspective.

Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”This scripture in Jeremiah kept coming up all last week, on my Bible app, in my prayer journal,in a card someone sent to me in the mail, on social media.

Over and over God kept giving me a lifeline of hope, to encourage me to shift my thoughts to His promises that assures me that His plans are not for evil, but for peace to give me hope in my final outcome.God reminded me I was battling not flesh and blood (see Ephesians 6). I have spiritual weapons to tear down strongholds, to cast down all wrong thoughts. With the help of God’s Word, I am able to take captive every thought and emotion and begin to manage these thoughts rather than have the thoughts manage me.

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The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth.…We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. —2 Corinthians 10:4-5 VOICE Once I pulled down these strongholds and began to declare I have the mind of Christ, and that I hold the thoughts, intents, and purposes of His heart! 1 (See Corinthians 2:16 AMPC).God’s promises began to flood my soul.The devil will try to put evil and life-destroying thoughts into our minds, but we can choose to be selective with our thoughts. If the thoughts are not positive, then we can choose to think on something else that is (see Philippians 4:8).Choose to be mentally assertive and proactive with your thoughts. Allow the Word to renew your mind to God’s plan for your life. Meditate on the Word. Confess the Word. Be doers of the Word.I found my attitudes shifted when my thoughts shifted.

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I found strength and vision returning and before I realized it, I began to experience hope and confidence. The projects are now behind me. I am grateful for God’s blessings and assistance each step of the way. I appreciate that in my weakness His strength is perfected. Below are the scriptures that carried me through to the finish line of this crazy-busy final week. I pray these declarations inspire you to manage your thoughts and keep them focus on God.I put my trust God and He will help me.Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5 NLT I give God my burdens and He will take care of me.

.Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalm 55:22 NLTI take comfort knowing God will not leave me without support.[God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let[you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:5-6 AMPC Remember that if you want to make better use of your time, you need to better manage your thoughts. Blessings,Cindy

Finding Strength for the Journey

This past week was loaded with challenges and expectations that were beyond my ability to handle on my own. I found myself on the borderline of feeling overwhelmed and knew I needed to get recharged or I would burn out.

During my prayer time, the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 15:5 that says, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), I sensed God was inviting me to come to Him so I could experience refreshment, renewal and freedom from all the worries, frustration and burdens of this season. It was an invitation I got to choose. Do I want to fully trust God to get me through and provide me strength for the journey or do I allow frustration to riddle my thoughts and words?

Matthew 11:28 (MSG) kept nudging my heart to trust and come to Jesus: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. —Matthew 11:28 MSG

Have you ever found yourself wanting to fulfill a goal, but then not having the strength for the journey to reach it? Even when we are pursuing something that is God’s will, we still need to lean in and rely on Him and trust Him to be our strength each step of the way.

God’s Word reminds us in Psalm 84:5 (VOICE) “Blessed are those who make You their strength, for they treasure every step of the journey.”

I want to treasure every step of the journey rather than have the attitude of “I can’t wait until this is over.” Seeing how quickly my little grandchildren are growing, it reminds me what a treasure each step, each moment, and each season can be.

One of the best ways to treasure each step is to start your day with God! Form the habit of beginning to talk with Him before you even get out of bed. Commit your worries and concerns over to Him. Ask God to help you enjoy the journey and grant you with the wisdom and ability to accomplish all that is on your plate.

I have made my decision to welcome each day as a gift, to do the most I can with it. I urge you to do the same.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. —Ephesians 6:10 AMPC Blessings, Cindy

Don't Get Distracted

So many favorite memories growing up in Southern California were shared with the Bradford family.

Their children were more like cousins and the parents Bud and Penny, were like a dear aunt and uncle.

Holidays, spring and summer breaks were constantly filled with adventures. I always loved the water and so did they, so it was not uncommon to be doing something fun on or near the water year after year.

Going to Catalina Island was a special treat. The two hour boat trip offered spectacular views especially as we neared the Catalina Island coast line. Swimming in the cold Pacific water was always a thrill and occasionally we would be visited by a black seal. Memories of Catalina Island got me thinking about Florence Chadwick who also loved to swim in the ocean.

At age 34 she attempted to become the first woman to swim the 21 miles across the Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verde on the California coast. On the day she set out to achieve this goal, the weather was challenging because not only was the ocean freezing cold, the fog was so thick she could barely see ahead of her. The tides and current were against her and to make matters worse; there were sharks in the area. She attempted anyway and swam almost 16 hours, but when the fog never lifted it caused her to doubt her ability to finish. The fog made it impossible for her to know where she was.

When she asked her support crew to take her out of the water, she discovered she was less than a mile from the coast. She could have reached her goal if she had just stayed in the water a few minutes longer. Two months later she tried again, and though the fog was just as dense, this time she kept going and reached the shore.

We have all experienced foggy times when trying to achieve a desired goal. We have left like we are going nowhere and the journey seems so long. It might be trying to lose weight, or overcoming feelings of inadequacy, or finding a new job.

We are reminded in Proverbs 4:25 (VOICE) to “Keep your head up, your eyes straight ahead, and your focus fixed on what is in front of you.” Successful people are average people who stay the course and maintain their focus to finish the goal. They aren’t quitters.

We all need to fix our focus on the desired goal, instead of being so easily distracted by our surroundings. Distractions bring on discouragement and cause us to no longer know where we are heading. Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE) says we are to “Stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.”

Your distractions might be your past hang-ups, hurts and habits. Philippians 3:13-14 (TLB) encourages us to “Bring all our energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.”

You distractions might be others around you, especially through social media. If we are not careful, it will cause us to be become discouraged enough to believe we are not talented enough, energetic enough or smart enough as everyone else.

Your distractions might be hectic schedules, unhealthy comparison with others, and the opinions of others. These will cause to lose sight of what’s important. But if we are going to enjoy life and accomplish the purposes and goals God has for us to accomplished, it is important that we learn the art of keeping our focus on Him and on the plans He has for us to achieve.

So no matter where you are in your life, choose to keep moving forward. Decide to stay in the race and stay focused on the finish line rather than the distractions around you. “In a race everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win.”

—1 Corinthians 9:24 AMPC Blessings, Cindy