During trials of life you need to ask what is your head telling your heart? It is cliche but true that whatever you feed is what will grow.
Heartache and drama
This year has been a series of ups and downs for me. If you have followed along with my story you know from my writing that it has been a difficult year. To be perfectly honest I am ready for this year to be over. Yet I fear it dragging it’s heartaches and drama into 2018 with me and that I do NOT want.
This season has found me only making a handful of posts this year as it has been hard to just get through my days.
Hard to breathe. Hard to put one foot in front of the other. Hard to think.
What are you thinking?
Which brings me to today’s post…what is it that I am allowing myself to think on? God’s word tells us in Philippians 4:8 that we need to think on the following:
- Pure things
- Lovely things
- Admirable things
- Praiseworthy things
Unfortunately, this world we have live in is often far from true, noble, honest, just, or pure.
While it is sometimes lovely, it could be said it is rarely commendable. We rarely hear about excellent things and thinking about what is worthy of praise becomes a difficult task indeed! Even more so when you are walking through a valley.
It is hard to see the light through the shadows of darkness that seem to envelope you.
Are you an Eeyore?
What I have found this year though is that it is absolutely necessary to realign my thinking if I am to realign my life. When I allow myself to remain in the negative thought process than life truly becomes overwhelming.
If I allow my head to tell my hurt things are bad,they will be! It is a bit of an Eeyore mentality…take a look here if you are not sure what I mean…Life as an Eeyore
Can you relate? I’ll be honest, I can! I have felt that “Woe is me” feeling.
Even when I know others have it far worse than me. Even when I know in my heart God is in control.
In my humanity, I am still prone to throw a pity party. To get down in the dumps. Call it what you will…the root of it many times is a wrong thought process.
Focusing on the positive
Whatever you allow in your thoughts is what you will feel in your heart, your soul. When I got this into my way of thinking then I was better able to implement the beauty of Philippians 4:8. I could more easily find positive things to dwell on instead of the dark negativity I had let reside too long.
Mind you my circumstances have not necessarily changed. I am still walking through a season that I wish I could shake off. Yet, I am working each day to think on things that are praiseworthy. That call to mind God’s goodness, greatness, and grace.
Exchanging the negative for the positive is changing me from the inside out. It is putting joy and hope in my heart even on days when I have every reason to curl up in the corner and cry.
I’m an overcomer because HE overcame
It is reminding me that because He overcame, I will too. It is allowing me to rest in His strength instead of trying to rely on my feeble efforts.
Some days I still find it hard to breathe. I have a hard time making it from dawn to dusk.
But now I have thoughts I can pull from that raise me up, instead of dragging me down further. Thoughts that remind me there is always something better to dwell on than my circumstances and situation.
Always something to be thankful for. There will be beauty from ashes.
Don’t be an Eeyore…find some happy thoughts to root out that negativity!

Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty. That takes courage and I just wanted to say I appreciate what you have written here. It is sometimes very hard to focus on the good, especially when the self nature inside of us is screaming out the bad. I can relate, all too well. If I could suggest though something that is a little more powerful and and simple than Philippians 4:8. You may want to try this when things get a little more overwhelming. When it gets bad force yourself to find things you are thankful for. Whatever you do keep coming up with things you are grateful for. Recite them one by one. Add to the list. Expand it and really enter into the spirit of thankfulness and you will find the Holy Spirit bringing even more things to mind. I know it may sound simple but we have found it to be immensely powerful in beating back the dark thoughts that self throws up. Thank you and bless you for this post.Homer Leswww.homerlesandwandaring.com
Love this! Thank you for sharing these powerful truths on #BVN!
I appreciate your insights and I;m glad you were touched by this post. I'm also sorry for a crazy late reply…
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!