Controlling Your Thought Life
Dear Friends,
I believe man’s chief end is to glorify God. I’ve shared several messages about how to glorify God through our actions. Just as important is how we glorify God in our thoughts.
Do you appreciate God? Really, truly appreciate Him and His provision? You do if you set God highest in your thoughts. Maybe upon awakening and before getting out of bed, you thank God you will live to see another day. Maybe you approach each day with a cheerful heart, even in the worst of times, no whatever challenges you may face you throughout your busy day.
Secular and Christian thinkers alike have paid much attention to the power of positive thinking. The common belief is that our thoughts sow the seeds of everything that exists in our lives. That’s an incredibly empowering realization because it tells us that if we glorify God in our thought life, we have set the stage to receive all His blessings.
In today’s challenging times, advisors cannot afford the luxury of negative thoughts. If you are consumed by worry and fear about what will happen with your business or the economy or the financial markets, you do not have any room in your thought life for practicing the presence of God. Instead, you have placed these worldly concerns above Him and are giving them too much power.
That’s why practicing the presence of God requires you be disciplined in continually placing thoughts of Him above all else. Once you get into this habit, you will strengthen your expectation, belief and trust that God is indeed your provider and protector, and His blessings on your life will follow.
As advisors, we can share this vision with our clients, helping them experience the sense of peace that comes from the knowledge that we do not need to be focused on laying up treasures here on earth. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 5:16, "What profit hath he that laboureth for the wind?"
You can glorify God by simply having a song on your heart, perhaps a hymn or psalm that’s meaningful to you. If you can’t think of one, open you Bible and God will reveal one to you! Also remember God can see our deepest thoughts so tell Him, out loud or in your thoughts, how much you appreciate Him and His provision in your life. Finally, stop complaining and worrying. We may want to believe that we are in total control of our lives, but we aren’t – He is. Make a determined effort to look at the bright side of things, and stop focusing on the negative. Pray about your worries and trust that God will take care of you.
Practice these suggestions and share them with your colleagues and clients. Then visit us here again with your story and inspire others to practice the presence of God by keeping Him foremost in your thoughts.
Blessings,
Ron
Thanks so very much for your very inspiring thoughts. May all of us see His glory in all that we do or say
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Perfect timing on this one. As I agonize through all the changes in my profession (real estate & lending) I was discovering through meditation that I truly need to control my thoughts and emotions for the benefit of my clients and to really dig deep enough to get to an appropriate solution (maybe never tried before) -- appropriate for all parties. Old solutions might create more problems.
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It is so true. One can get caught up in all the negativity and fear, especially in the environment here in Michigan where the economic times are the worst in the United States with the highest rate of unemployment. I am reminded of the movie clip in "Facing the Giants" that is said by the coach: "When we win, we will praise Him, and when we lose, we will praise Him." Try praising Him when you feel like you are in a losing battle. It is very difficult to do but it is transforming as well. That is where the flesh meets the Spirit in the battlefield. Through Prayer, Praising Him, and the Power of the Word of God, I am able to defeat the enemy of the mind!
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Great wisdom in times of challenge! God is good all the time even in those times that we are stressed. It is these times in which we gain our greatest growth in Christ Jesus.
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Thank you very much for the encouraging words and reminder on God's grace. I am currently disputing with 40k Exchange for their poor service and refusal to refund my payments. I am consumed by matters which I have no controls with. I am reminded by your message that God is our protector and provider. So true. Thank you. In His Name, Annie Hung-Scanga
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Along the path of difficult experiences of my adult life, I have been exhorted to choose my attitude and to focus on gratitude. It is amazing how much more positive I naturally am at 56 than I was even in my 30's. I realize now that one of my primary and Godly influences with my wife, children and grandchildren, clients, fellow church family members and the community at large is to speak up with affirmations of truth and encouragement. Hard times are extremely beneficial, even a blessing, if they cause one to get back to the right track with God and His wisdom for our short lives here.
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