What in the World Were You Thinking?

Thoughts–the invisible navigators that guide our days. It isn’t hard for negative, fearful thoughts to creep in, set up camp, and take over. Why is it that those things which make us feel depressed or angry or sad seem to be always at the door, ready to barge in without even an invitation? 

Scripture says that we should watch our thoughts, taking every thought captive, but, instead,  sometimes it seems our thoughts hold us captive. We must think about what we’re thinking about. It isn’t so much what happens that makes the day dismal or bright, it’s the way we react to and think about those happenings.

Ephesians 6 speaks of being sure we have on the whole armor of God. This includes the helmet of Salvation. In battle, a helmet was to guard the head; spiritually speaking, it is to guard our thoughts. We are to be assured of our salvation. The hardest battles we fight are those battles of the mind, our thinking. Hope, assurance, faith, and a positive attitude come from within. We can’t depend on circumstances or other people to bring us joy. It’s kind of like the sunshine: it comes from above, then saturates our being and dwells inside. Lasting gladness and a positive attitude are the inner sunshine.

Life, indeed, can sometimes feel like a battle, but by putting on the helmet of salvation and taking up the shield of faith, we can do battle with those negative thoughts. We are winners, not losers, and the victory is ours.