It’s so easy to complain about stuff, isn’t it? Even though we know it’s wrong…even though we’ve heard sermons about ‘staying in bondage’ when we complain…it’s still hard! Especially when you’ve prayed and prayed about a situation and it just flat out hasn’t changed – in YEARS!!!! Can you tell I’m writing from first-hand experience?! I recently found myself just mad, frustrated and complaining about a situation that appears to never get any better. I was so tired of it. Then, I was trying to fight off feelings of hopelessness, discouragement and just being in a bad mood!
I picked up a book Sunday afternoon that has been setting in my desk for 8 months now and I just started skimming through the pages. Suddenly, these words popped out at me: “If you’re constantly thinking on what’s wrong with your life, you’re going to get more of what’s wrong.” Wow! Then, I went down a few paragraphs and it said, “Finding fault and complaining is not conducive to receiving anything EXCEPT more of what you’re complaining about!” Isn’t that amazing? The more we think about and talk about how bad a situation is – the more we’re permitting it to not only stay that way but get worse! Or said another way: “thinking about what you don’t want in your life — will only bring you more of what you don’t want!”
It all has to do with our thoughts and our words. I felt like God was sweetly and firmly saying, “Terri, stop it! Get a hold of this thing right now! Clean up your thoughts! Clean up your words! And focus on what I AM doing in your life – not what hasn’t happened yet!” And I’m telling you, I have since that day. I didn’t say it was easy, but it has helped me so much. I want to encourage you to give more attention to reading God’s Word or a good faith-building book immediately — so you can get your thoughts off your problems and onto God’s promises for you.
What you think about expands! So – if you’re thinking about God’s promises to deliver you, heal you, protect you, restore you . . . you’ll get more of what you’re thinking about!
Terri
You got it in a nutshell. Thanks for reminding me about what I think about and how powerful our thoughts are. Thank you Terri.
THAT IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR. I’M GOING THRU SO MUCH AND IN THE NATURAL NOTHING SEEMS TO BE CHANGING. I’M NOT A BABY CHRISTIAN AND I’M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO. BUT IT’S THE FACTOR OF TIME THAT’S SO TROUBLING. GOD BLESS YOU TERRI. KEEP THE ENCOURAGEMENT COMING. YOU’RE SUCH A GIFT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
IN HIM,
TERRY
You are so right Terri. Our thoughts can be very powerful. I’ve been watching your podcast for almost a year and I feel a strong connection with you. I love you Terri.
Words are powerful. I’ve known this…yet I don’t always walk in what I know. Lately the Lord has been dealing with me regarding the words of my mouth. Especially about griping and complaining too. I will choose to speak the things I “want” not reiterate the things I “don’t want”. Thanks Terri for sharing your experiences with us.
Terri,
You are the most “relateable” (if that is a word) Bible teacher imagineable. This is a perfectly on target teaching and I appreciate it and YOU!
God bless you and yours…and keep it coming!
Terri, I have been listening to your dad’s webcasts all morning, then linked to yours. Thank you for your article I just read. Indeed you are on target with the message God wants me to be reminded of as well as others. I’ve known this, meditated on it but when pressure comes, which is where I am now, it isn’t as easy to put into practice. Again, thank you for your obedience to hear and share the words from the Father.
WOW, I FEEL LIKE YOU WERE DESCRIBING ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!