Stop, drop, and roll when burning with anger or any other thought you wouldn’t want to act upon.
You probably heard it said this way, “You can’t do anything about the birds flying over head, BUT you don’t have to let them build a nest in your hair”. The thing is, thoughts are like seeds. They can develop into possible actions, which could become dangerous.
Who hasn’t had great zinger’s in the argument within our mind’s eye, while doing mundane chores? Harmless mental pass time, right? Wrong. They can become deeply imbedded, well rooted so-to-speak. Then in the heat of emotions those past thoughts could result in actions or words most regrettable. Ever have something come out of your mouth that you felt bad about the moment the words left your tongue? As children we may have said, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me?*” I read once that our self worth requires many more kind words spoken to us in order to replace a hurtful word.
We need to stop any unwanted thought(s) “nip it in the bud”, as the old saying goes. Take them to the Cross, leave them with the Lord, asking for His help to move us past whatever emotion, be it anger, resentment, jealousy, unforgiveness … a cry of help not to “nurse” the issue any longer. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36 KJV), (Luke 4:17-19 KJV)
Thoughts can be the rope tying us in bondage.
“… you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 KJV) and the “truth” is “… Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV) What does that mean? Jesus came and paid the price for us. Payment for our (sin) debt was paid for with His Pure Blood Sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. “… through the Blood of the everlasting covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20 KJV) “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” (2 John 1:3 KJV) He was our substitute, taking upon Himself the punishment for our sin(s). (Isaiah 53:5 KJV), (Matthew 8:17 KJV)
We humans simply can’t grasp ALL He has accomplished for ALL who will believe, but then He doesn’t expect us to. (Romans 3:23 KJV) What father expects a toddler to get out and mow the lawn? Ridiculous? That’s about the sum of it when taken from Father God’s perspective. (Isaiah 55:8 KJV)
Ever get tired of being the adult in the room? Burdened by all those cares of this world? The price of admittance has been paid for us, including YOU! Leave the cares, upset feelings’, anything and everything that has thrown thoughts dominating our mind(s). (1 Peter 5:7 KJV), (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
It isn’t the original thought that is sin, it is allowing the thought to “nest”, and acting on it. Perhaps that is what Jesus was addressing when He said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Matthew 15:19 KJV) If you were to act on a thought, it would be obvious those thoughts had laid a path to somewhere (fill in the blank) that you do not want to go.
We have a choice. Choices are made every minute of every moment of the day. So, if we find ourselves asking, “how did I ever get here?” We should think of all those thought moments that led to our actions.
Instead … Stop, Drop (to your knees a position for prayer) and roll your cares onto Jesus. (1 Peter 5:7 KJV) He will forgive us if we ask for the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)
Then forgiving ourselves, replace the thoughts with, “… whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 KJV)
*The Christian Recorder of March 1862
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV)
“And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:17-19 KJV)
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 KJV)
“… Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting covenant,” (Hebrews 13:20 KJV)
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:17 KJV)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23 KJV)
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8 KJV)
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)
“… the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Matthew 15:19 KJV)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8 KJV)
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