Day 13: Striking A Tumor So It Never Rises Again:
"Hit their enemies where it hurts the most; strike down their foes so they never rise again."
—Deuteronomy 33:11
When I first read through today's lesson, I thought, eh, this doesn't really apply to me, but when I thought about it, it most assuredly does. Dr. Anderson spoke of a man who had been coughing up blood for weeks and when he finally went to get checked, they found that he had a spot on his right lung. Luckily there was "no metastasis," and they were able to use a CyberKnife to remove the spot. "If this had happen before the invention of the CyberKnife, the diagnosis would have been an almost certain death sentence." I may not be a smoker or have a spot on my right lung, but I do have some unhealthy habits. I'd say one of my most unhealthy habits is negative self-talk and negativity in general—not finding the good in situations and being grateful. While typing that I couldn't help but hear voices from my past knowingly laughing at my conclusion because they understood that I had and have more unhealthy habits than that, spiritually unhealthy habits. When I was studying the Bible with the first church I attended in Bakersfield, California, the gals I was studying with asked me what sin I thought would be the hardest to give up. What did I think I would struggle with the most? I remember saying, cussing. Not that I would swear all the time, but it was a great release for me to do so. They giggled, knowing full well that, in actuality, that would probably be the easiest. The toughest sin to combat is really the sin of pride and with that selfishness. As Proverbs 16:18 warns, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride can lead us down a very dark path. According to C.S Lewis, Pride is the most deadly sin because it allows us to tolerate and even dismiss the other 6 (lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, envy, sloth). Without pride we would never be so arrogant as to disobey God and commit any of the other sins. Our actions are mostly motivated by pride. If we are not open to correction, pride is at the root. If we get angry and lash out, pride is at the root; we think we have a better way or know more. If we are envious, greedy, gluttonous, slothful, pride is at the root; we think we are more deserving and we become ungrateful. So how does negative self-talk stem back to pride? As Josh Blount author of Speaking Truth To Yourself said, "a me-centered conversation can only go so far before it derails into pride or despair." God calls us to "take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). We should focus on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent and praisworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). When I am steeped in negative self-talk, I am obviously not following these scriptures. As a man thinks, so he is. We become what we think, so the negative self-talk is not in keeping with God's precepts, nor is it pleasing or helpful to anyone. There is nothing excellent or praisworthy in my negative self-talk or in my negativity in general. It is not to say that I should not examine myself and question my behavior, but I shouldn't dwell on my mistakes and beat myself up with statements that are not true. Instead, I should do as the scripture says—take every thought captive.
It's one thing to say that, but how does one really do it. Below is a link to 6 Ways that I can take my thoughts captive. It's helpful to have a guide, right? 😃
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers/take-your-thoughts-captive-509888.html
No comments:
Post a Comment