What happens in your head leaks into your heart.
When I was teaching, I would tell my students, especially my middle schoolers, that the thoughts they had could be kept in their heads. They didn’t HAVE to come out of their mouths. If you have ever been in a middle school classroom, you know what I mean. The things that come out of their mouths can sometimes be insightful, but they can also be careless, rude, and lacking tact. My intent was to get them to think about what they were about to say and have a little self-control. Again, if you have ever been in a middle school classroom, you know that that is a hefty goal for a teacher most days.
But what about the rest of us. How many of us have thoughts that don’t leave our head? They stay in our minds and marinate. We think about them, we play them over and over, we stress over them.
I am not doing enough.
I need to be more like her. I would never do that.
I am not smart enough.
I want more. I wonder why I don’t get what I want.
I am not attractive enough.
I do more than he does. It’s not fair.
I am not confident enough.
I should say this. I should do that.
I feel left out. Hurt. Drained.
I am not enough.
When we have these thoughts and grip them so tightly, they have a tendency to seep out.
They trickle into our words.
They ooze into our actions.
They leak into our hearts.
We say things we don’t mean. We do things we regret.
We blame. We criticize. We judge. We assume. We suffer.
Because we live in a broken world, there is a very good chance that we will all experience these thoughts born in darkness from time to time. The enemy will fill our heads with all the “not enough” thoughts as long as we are making space for him to do so. And, it doesn’t stop there. The enemy will make sure the negative thinking, the rejections, and the pain find a way to our hearts and stay there. And, if he has his way, it all swells until our hearts are hardened.
However, God’s truth keeps us from filling our hearts with the enemy’s lies. As Christ followers, we become aware of how the things of this world will make their way into our heads. But when we keep Him and His Word close to our hearts, He will make His way, His love, His blessings evident to us. Those feelings, those ideas, those perceptions turn into things like compassion, understanding, grace, and gratitude.
They will then fill our minds and seep out.
They will trickle into kind words.
They will ooze into supportive actions.
They will leak into thankful hearts.
Being very intentional about what we allow to take up space in our head will guide our hearts into learning to live in His presence. Even if the enemy’s hold is strong, we know our God is stronger. Our faith in who He is and what He calls us to do will lead us into His blessings.
Centering our attention on our Lord and Savior’s commands will help keep our hearts pure and focused on His goodness.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Praying for His work to be done in us and through us will form the foundation needed to fill our hearts with His blessing.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[ spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
Reading and studying His Word will direct our thoughts and shape our hearts to live and love like Jesus.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Lord, help us to take our thoughts captive and turn them over to You. Teach us how to hold onto the things that bring you glory and guard our hearts from the things of this world. May we continue to learn to live and love in Your presence and in Your truth.