You Have A Choice
Whether you turn on the news, scroll through social media or even listen to your own self-talk, it can feel like constant bombardment of negativity. Everything seems and sounds bad, broken and hopeless.
But we sometimes equate a skewed perspective with truth. And the reality is (despite popular opinion), your (or someone else’s) experience isn’t the same as truth. Yes, personal stories matter but when we compile experiences and opinions with truth, we side-step the actual truth for a biased perspective.
Our perspective is something that can be shaped and molded. It can be shaped for good or for evil. It can breathe life into us or it can suffocate us in despair. Our perspective is influenced by what we think about.
And like it or not, you have a choice regarding what you think about!
So much so that Scripture tells us what we should think about:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Taking charge of your thoughts isn’t the same as burying your head in the sand, but it is taking charge of the way you view your circumstances, your relationships and the happenings of the world.
Andy Stanley shared a story that resonated so deeply with me about how we can choose our thoughts and perspective.
“Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of COVID, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this “new normal” is real life. Then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet is still enchanted with life.
He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. “No,” he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. “I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines:
“Husband loves wife today.” “Family drops everything to come to Grandma’s bedside.” He patted my hand. “Old man makes new friend.”
His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit and a new way to write my own headlines.”
I don’t know what’s on your mind or if it is edifying you or destroying you–but I do know YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
Choose today what you will think about and allow the Holy Spirit that lives inside you to transform your perspective.
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