Uprooting Negativity

My Proverbs 31 devotion running today talks about the importance of guiding our thoughts, so that we don’t end up somewhere we don’t want to be. In the devotion, I mentioned a situation that happened to me as a child, but this lack of direction has happened in my adult life as well.

For example, just a few years ago I was traveling to a small town in Virginia to speak at a women’s event.  I put my luggage in the car, carefully typed the destination address into my GPS, and set off on my trip.

I had full faith in where my GPS was taking me for several hours …… until I found myself on a dirt road in the country on the top of a huge grassy hill,  surrounded by a bunch of goats who were as confused at my presence there as I was.

Apparently, I had been so caught up in my own thoughts, that I had not given any thought to where I was actually headed. I was simply following the instructions that my GPS was blurting out, instead of consciously choosing my direction or paying attention to my surroundings.

The Bible has a lot to say about controlling our thoughts. For example, Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”  (NLT)

This verse reminds us not to think like the world does, but to allow Him to make us new and change the way we typically think. Why is that important? Because doing so pleases and glorifies God, but also because it helps prepare our hearts to hear from Him.

When our mind is swirling with thoughts fueled by bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, sadness, frustration, and stress, it becomes so clogged up with gunk that positive thoughts of God become harder and harder to focus on, making it near to impossible to hear God’s voice through the noise. When that happens, we may inadvertently travel farther and farther away from the person we want to be, and from God, and eventually end up in a place about as smelly as a goat field.

One of my favorite scripture verses is Proverbs 4:23 which says “Guard your heart above all else,  for it determines the course of your life.”   And I love how a popular website explained this verse when it said,  “The “heart” includes the mind and all that proceeds from it. Someone said that every sin we commit, we commit twice, once in our thoughts and again when we act upon those thoughts. It is easiest to rid our lives of sin if we attack it at this fundamental thought level rather than waiting for it to become rooted in our lives by our actions and then try to pull it out.”

Such a profound way to look at this concept. We think our thoughts are okay because they are silent and private. But they give life to sin which can eventually become action, and end up with negative results – or take us to a negative destination.

Let’s pull our thoughts up by the roots today and start planting some fresh seeds of love and grace in our hearts by spending time in God’s Work and seeking His power to direct our thoughts.  When we rely on our heavenly GPS (Guidance of a Personal Savior) we will always end up in a good place. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

My new book Stressed-Less Living: Finding God’s Peace In Your Chaotic World, challenges readers to begin taking control of where their thoughts  are taking them, especially when it comes to managing the stressful situations that we are faced with each day.

As promised in today’s devotion, I would love to give away a free 50 page Stressed-Less Living Companion Journal which accompanys the book!

For a chance to win this free journal, just copy and paste the below Tweet or Facebook post and share it with your friends! In 15 seconds flat, you can be entered to win. Winner will be announced on my blog on Wednesday so check back then!

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Do you ever struggle with controlling negative thoughts, which make u more stressed?Check this book out https://tinyurl.com/9aplvmv @traciewmiles

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Do you ever struggle with controlling negative thoughts which lead you to a place of stress or unhappiness?  Check out Tracie Miles new book Stressed-Less Living at https://tinyurl.com/9aplvmv

 

(Plesae be sure to include my linked name in either post so I can keep track of all entries. Good luck!)

8 Comments

  1. Cindy on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 8:33 am

    This was just The Encouragement For The Day I Needed! It seems when I am at my “Lowest” God always sends me to Encouagement Dor Today for the Devotional. It always “hits the Nail on the Head” on how I am feeling. I was not even planning on even getting on the computer today but had not checked my email for 2 days and decided to go ahead. There was my Encouragement For the Day Devotional. I click it on and started reading and immediately realized it was “God Sent.” I had to print it so I could read it several times today and later. Thank you for your devotion



    • tmiles on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      Thanks for your message Cindy! So blessed to know that God used the devotion to speak to your heart today! God bless.



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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