Never Mind Damaging Mind Conversations

Philippians 4:9  “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

A hundred conversations would play out in my head – not my conversations but other people’s conversations. I could hear every word that they were saying about me even before they were spoken.  The pressure to perform was tremendous because there was so much at stake – my reputation!

Photo courtesy of www.AngryJogger.com.

Regularly negative conversations used to run through my mind. Every encounter with an individual caused me to replay each word I had said. I was always analyzing every look and reaction to see if it meant this person didn’t like me or I had offended them in some way.

This is a very stressful way to live, but many people live this way every day. A day can rise or fall on an encouraging compliment or a critical word. The unfortunate thing is that it may take numerous commendations to overcome one negative critique. These thought patterns are very damaging to ourselves and to our relationships.

How can someone with these tendencies conquer their bad habit? Paul gives us an answer in Philippians. He tells us to focus our minds on the right things. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” 

Paul had real life experience with adversity and he encouraged his brothers in Christ to practice the things that they had heard him teach and seen him incorporate into his own life. He assured them that if they did, the God of Peace would be with them.

When we put thoughts into another person’s mind we are not being fair to the other person or ourselves. We have just conjured up a circumstance that may not be true at all. These distorted conversations create false hurt in us and many times unwarranted bitterness towards the other person.

I learned to deal with these crippling mind conversations by replacing them immediately with a more upbeat outlook. What I considered a sharp word from a peer turned from, “They are not nice” to “They are having a bad day.” “They ignored me,” became “They are busy and preoccupied.” “You are not wanted,” was replaced with God’s words, “I have chosen you.”

As I swapped negative conversations with positive ones I began to experience God’s peace in all situations and the truth set me free. When it comes right down to it no one really knows what someone else is thinking, so why not dwell on whatever is true, lovely or worthy of praise.  So never mind damaging mind conversations. Replace them with accuracy because a truthful heart is a peaceful heart.

Love,

Mama