It's early morning. My coffee pot is dripping and the iron is warming up. Soon I will be heading out for a full day of adventure (more details to come...). But before I get dressed, today, once again, I am making a conscious decision to be intentional with every thought I allow in my mind.
Jennifer Rothschild's Bible study Me, Myself, and Lies (it's awesome!) encourages us to think of our thought life like a closet. And our thought closet is designed to host the mind of Christ. We cannot allow it to become cluttered with wrong thoughts or words or ill-fitting labels.
So, what's hanging in your closet??
For many years, my closet was filled with rags and hand-me-downs labeled "Not good enough", "Unloved", "Rejected". And then I met Jesus. He ripped down the old rags (that were never meant for me to wear), and traded them for beautiful, glorious garments designed just for me. "Loved", "Beautiful in His Sight", "More than enough", "Redeemed" now hung in my new and improved thought closet.
Unfortunately, every once in awhile, I pick up an old rag and bring it in. I walk past a magazine with a mom of 8 in a bikini on the cover (although she had a tummy tuck!) and add "not good enough" and "unlovely" to my closet.
When did I start allowing the world's standards to define who I am??
I must not allow that old rag to hang in my closet for even a moment. One smelly lie can start stinkin' up my whole thought closet. It must be removed. Confessed. And replaced with God's Truth.
Today I choose to fill my thought closet only with Truth. I will meditate on Colossians 3:12 and clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I will live on guard to the enemy and his schemes. I will ask God to help me keep my thought closet clean and orderly and pleasing to Him.
How about for you?? Are there any old rags hanging in your thought closet that need to be tossed out? Is it time for a new garment....or maybe a whole new wardrobe? What's hanging in your closet these days??
Let's pray...Oh Lord, please give us the mind of Christ. Help us to meditate only on Truth...the Truth of Who You are and the Truth of who we are in You. Reveal to us any old rags need to tossed out and fill our closets only with Truth. Protect us from the lies of this world and keep our eyes focused only on You. In Your Strong Name I pray. Amen :)
Jennifer Rothschild's Bible study Me, Myself, and Lies (it's awesome!) encourages us to think of our thought life like a closet. And our thought closet is designed to host the mind of Christ. We cannot allow it to become cluttered with wrong thoughts or words or ill-fitting labels.
So, what's hanging in your closet??
For many years, my closet was filled with rags and hand-me-downs labeled "Not good enough", "Unloved", "Rejected". And then I met Jesus. He ripped down the old rags (that were never meant for me to wear), and traded them for beautiful, glorious garments designed just for me. "Loved", "Beautiful in His Sight", "More than enough", "Redeemed" now hung in my new and improved thought closet.
Unfortunately, every once in awhile, I pick up an old rag and bring it in. I walk past a magazine with a mom of 8 in a bikini on the cover (although she had a tummy tuck!) and add "not good enough" and "unlovely" to my closet.
When did I start allowing the world's standards to define who I am??
I must not allow that old rag to hang in my closet for even a moment. One smelly lie can start stinkin' up my whole thought closet. It must be removed. Confessed. And replaced with God's Truth.
Today I choose to fill my thought closet only with Truth. I will meditate on Colossians 3:12 and clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I will live on guard to the enemy and his schemes. I will ask God to help me keep my thought closet clean and orderly and pleasing to Him.
How about for you?? Are there any old rags hanging in your thought closet that need to be tossed out? Is it time for a new garment....or maybe a whole new wardrobe? What's hanging in your closet these days??
Let's pray...Oh Lord, please give us the mind of Christ. Help us to meditate only on Truth...the Truth of Who You are and the Truth of who we are in You. Reveal to us any old rags need to tossed out and fill our closets only with Truth. Protect us from the lies of this world and keep our eyes focused only on You. In Your Strong Name I pray. Amen :)
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a wonderful, Word-filled day!!
8 comments:
Good Morning Cindy! This post was wonderful. Just a few months ago I cleaned out my long, and I mean long overdue closet; and as I go back to that project in my mind, I never would have thought to bring it to this place, because it just triggered what all I disposed of! Love It! thanks for sharing because when I get to another closet I want look at it the same way! Loved these thoughts! Have a Blessed Day:).
It's me again Cindy, i just read your testimony! WoW! I just love how God works! and He did a fantastic job! You have a beautiful family. God gave you His Best! By the way is Jeremiah 29:11 not the best! I Love that scripture, and use it quite often.Thanks for sharing Jesus!
Hi Cindy,
Your question: "When did I start allowing the world's standards to define who I am".
I have become so aware of this in my life and in the lives of people everywhere.
This is very destructive in so many ways. We tend to define ourselves by what others say and think. My last post on my blog,(Seeking Love and Acceptance), goes along with your question. It's not just how we look, it is also how we give and receive.
God is so much easier to please than people. He loves me unconditionally.
thanks
Connie
Yes, Cindy, I have a few old rags in my closet too. It's a great image to be reminded of. Yesterday I think I kept slipping on an old garment, as if it was hanging on a hook by the door to put on each time I went in or out. The trash went out this morning ... I need to remember that I put my old rag in the trash and not try to get it out again. :)
I hope your adventures today are great!
Thank you for sharing this post. I want to share this with two of my sisters that need to read this. They are always expressing negative about themselves. They are to hard on themselves because of their image.
Great post! I love the closet analogy! Blessings to you!
Cindy, I LOVED your post. I always seem to need these reminders. I want to share a poem with you that a friend of mine gave me. It's called the
"Heart Garden"
The heart is a garden
Where thought flowers grow
Each thought we think
Is a seed we sow -
We must plant loving thoughts
So thick in a row,
The weed thoughts
Have no room to grow.
Hope you enjoy it :-)
Love ya, Jenny C.
This is great...it reminds me of the book I got to write...I posted the introduction and the first chapter on my blog..would love for you to check it out.
This is a great post...a great reminder!
http://triumphantvictoriousreminders.blogspot.com/2010/08/god-is-enthralled-by-your-beauty.html
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