If we do not fix our thoughts, they usually are pushed along by gentle undercurrents of doubtful thinking and striving, which negatively fuels our emotions.

We give our emotional angst a story, usually one that is not true. We make sense of inner turmoil with explanations like “I am not liked, loved, or good enough,” “God or people are out to get me or never help me,” or “They think such and such about me.”

To cope with bombarding thoughts and painful feelings, we strategize to win an argument or to secure worth—all in imaginary conversations. In doing so, our mind is completely preoccupied with hurts, offenses, and circumstances, therefore churning out more fear and anxiety.

When thoughts continue to generate unwanted emotions, it can easily become a vicious and undetectable cycle. Often these small but consistent thoughts rehash hurts, shortcomings, and lies instead of the truth and God’s promises.

I learned the truth about the damaging effects of strategizing, formulating, and trusting in my understanding while watching my son play video games. It occurred to me that he never actually overcame anything after hours of fighting. He never moved off the couch, and I was doing the same thing.

I was giving my emotional pain a story, then meditating on it and thereby agreeing with the lie or seeming impossibility of my situation. I realized I could not win a spiritual victory by fighting and meditating on the offense, the problem, or my response. I needed to agree with the truth and then fight to keep my mind on that truth in obedience so that God could form the mind of Christ in me.

Our minds are also like a windmill because any greater wind gust from above can overrule the lower ground breezes. Rather than providing a story from past offenses or lies to make sense of anything, tell yourself the truth.

Tell yourself the Easter story.

• You were crucified with Christ and raised and seated in heavenly places.
• You are loved, accepted, and valued because you belong to God.
• You have access to God to confidently ask for help and grace in your time of need.
• You are never on your own. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
  are all for you.
• They are your adequacy, strength, shield, defense, and strong tower. 
• God says, “My child, look at Me when you doubt. Your worth, acceptance, and love are secured by Christ—not others, life, behavior, or acrobatic mind games.” 

There are times in life when we are living in mental and emotional storms. Our feelings and thoughts are pushed around by painful words, failures, losses, relationships, or life. You have noticed in times like these that the mind never wanders to the truth. While our mind will never wander to the truth, it can be set on the truth.

Windmills have protective brakes to stop and prevent damage to the turbine when wind gusts are over 50 miles an hour. It stops the blades and fixes the head of the windmill in place until the gusts have passed.

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit,
fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you.
1 Peter 1:13

A key to victory is mentally remaining fixed in God’s love, especially when life, words, and setbacks hurt. We put the brakes on worldly and faithless thoughts by putting on Christ-centered thoughts and actions. Rather than aimlessly traveling fruitless pathways in our minds, we can choose to set our minds on Christ, who watches over His word to perform it in our life. 

It’s so simple yet hard to believe that setting our minds on the truth leads to peace and contentment. But, it does. It will also quickly teach us that setting our minds is not an event but a lifetime practice. We must intentionally continue to chaperone our thought-life. My favorite reset phrase is “Theresa, mind your mind.”

Here is an encouraging truth: Like a windmill, you cannot simultaneously fix your mind on both north and south. You cannot agree with God and doubt God in the same thought. When you agree with God, you simultaneously put off the old stinking thinking, and God establishes you with steadfast hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Happy Easter from the entire team at Life Center,

Theresa