The past two Sabbaths, I have been tempted to fall into a trap of
negative thinking. A small thought will begin to creep in. If I
don't address it and throw it right back out, it starts multiplying.
If I let this happen, I can end up in an awful mood! I thought this happened last Sabbath because my family had been
passing around sickness for three weeks and we were all tired and
cranky. This Sabbath, however, we were feeling well. The weather was
beautiful and the girls were playing happily (for the most part!).
While listening to a sermon, something a pastor said triggered a
negative thought. I didn't check it right away, but mulled it over in
my head for awhile. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I remember wondering
why I was even thinking about it. Did I REALLY think it was true? I
didn't stop to see if it lined up with God's truth. By mid-afternoon,
my husband could see I was out-of-sorts and suggested I go lay down.
I went back to my bedroom and decided it was time to turn this thought
over to God. I felt like Jesus could have been addressing me in this verse.
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were
thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking
these things? (Mark 2:8 NIV) After prayer, I felt back to my right
mind and I kept hearing the word edify. I thought about the definition. Edify- to instruct especially so as
to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement; to uplift,
enlighten, or inform. Sabbaths are definitely intended to be a time
for edification. I have known this to be true for me on so many
Sabbaths. But that is when my heart is in the right place and my mind
follows. 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. (Philippians 4:8 NIV) I have heard this verse so many times, but have never applied it
specifically to my Sabbath. That is amazing because the two go hand
in hand! Sabbath is a day filled with fellowship with God, family,
good food, rest and so many more things that are excellent and worthy
of our thoughts! Why waste even one moment of my Sabbath (or any day, for that matter!)
on a thought that is untrue and unedifying? Until next week,
Lisa G.
negative thinking. A small thought will begin to creep in. If I
don't address it and throw it right back out, it starts multiplying.
If I let this happen, I can end up in an awful mood! I thought this happened last Sabbath because my family had been
passing around sickness for three weeks and we were all tired and
cranky. This Sabbath, however, we were feeling well. The weather was
beautiful and the girls were playing happily (for the most part!).
While listening to a sermon, something a pastor said triggered a
negative thought. I didn't check it right away, but mulled it over in
my head for awhile. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I remember wondering
why I was even thinking about it. Did I REALLY think it was true? I
didn't stop to see if it lined up with God's truth. By mid-afternoon,
my husband could see I was out-of-sorts and suggested I go lay down.
I went back to my bedroom and decided it was time to turn this thought
over to God. I felt like Jesus could have been addressing me in this verse.
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were
thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking
these things? (Mark 2:8 NIV) After prayer, I felt back to my right
mind and I kept hearing the word edify. I thought about the definition. Edify- to instruct especially so as
to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement; to uplift,
enlighten, or inform. Sabbaths are definitely intended to be a time
for edification. I have known this to be true for me on so many
Sabbaths. But that is when my heart is in the right place and my mind
follows. 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. (Philippians 4:8 NIV) I have heard this verse so many times, but have never applied it
specifically to my Sabbath. That is amazing because the two go hand
in hand! Sabbath is a day filled with fellowship with God, family,
good food, rest and so many more things that are excellent and worthy
of our thoughts! Why waste even one moment of my Sabbath (or any day, for that matter!)
on a thought that is untrue and unedifying? Until next week,
Lisa G.
