“Redirecting Our Thoughts”
It was my typical weekday commute to work; a straight shot on a two-lane highway that I often enjoyed as I listen to music, but today was different. My mind was heavy and running hard; silence filled the car as my thoughts echoed in my head.
Have you experienced days like this? Days that all you can think about is the problem at hand or a big decision. Maybe someone has deeply disappointed you and their actions are on replay, or perhaps you are fearful of making the wrong decision with a heavy-laden circumstance. We weigh the pros and cons, dissect the angles and attempt to set our thoughts to the side, yet an eerie feeling of the unknown or ‘what if’ can linger.
As the wheels turned on my car (and within my head) I glanced beyond my speedometer to the index card with Scripture I had written and placed there a few weeks ago. The Bible Study I attend had challenged us to memorize verses from Revelation 21 for an upcoming study this fall. Sometimes I would read the words aloud on the index card as I drove, sometimes I made up dance moves with them (that always seem to turn into a rap song), and sometimes the index card blended in with my dashboard.
But, on this particular day the Scripture seemed larger than usual. These are the words that slowly began to fill my head as I shifted gears and began to read His words…..
“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne. Look, God’s dwelling place is among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eye. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” Then he said, “Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:3-5.
Talk about a shift in focus. My thoughts began to imagine the amazing promise God gives us that one day all things will be made new. The hardships will disappear, pain will cease, and disappointment won’t exist. Then I was reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit that already dwells among believers today as Ephesians 1:13 tells us, “In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.”
As my mind followed my Father’s trustworthy Words, I realized this was a real-life example of Ephesians 4:23 unfolding before me, “to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” By shifting my focus to God’s Word and believing in it, the heaviness of my thoughts ceased and were replaced with peace, truth and light. Did my problem go away? No, not necessarily, but being reminded of a day when there will be no more problems was a breath of air and being reminded that God’s gift of the Holy Spirit was ever present brought perspective and perseverance.
The next time your wheels are turning in the wrong direction, remember who’s words you can trust and redirect them to His words.
