Heart Wide Open

Our thoughts dictate our feelings and let’s be honest, our thought life is often not very nice. I tell my children all the time that the only thing they can control is their own thoughts, choices and behaviors. That can be a tough one when living with an abuser because often the abuser will manipulate and ridicule our thoughts and behaviors. This is why so many women feel lost when they escape the cycle of abuse, because their sense of self has been chipped away at in a malicious and meticulous way. The word of God offers instruction on how to reclaim our thought-life.

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us , “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

When we shift our thoughts to the true love that flows freely from Christ to us, we can capture those negative thoughts and measure them next to the truth. In my early days after leaving my abuser, I would write down every negative thought, thoughts about myself, my abilities, my failures, the echoes of the words my abuser would say to me, and in the column next to those lies, I would write the truth about myself as a child of God.

Romans 8:16, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”

In the darkest hours, it can be hard to counter the negative thoughts, but I encourage you reader to speak life over yourself and those you love. Another strategy that has worked for me is to make a list of the things that scripture tells us to think about in Phillipians 4:8 and when I am struggling to reframe my thoughts, to read the list.

Phillipians 4:8-9, “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….and the God of peace will be with you”

So think on this, what is lovely? Gentle falling snow, a warm summer breeze, the first flowers of spring, a babbling brook in the woods, a warm hug. What does lovely look like, sound like, smell like to you and as you think on this, give God the glory for His lovely creation.

Peace,

Angela K