Thoughts, Labels, and the Truth

We all wrestle with things from time to time.

Fear

Shame

Doubt

Depression

Anger

The list goes on and on, doesn't it?

Some days I feel like I'm wrestling with all of those things at once!

On those not so good days, when I feel like all hell is breaking loose in my mind,

I can keep on thinking the polluted thoughts that will eventually lead me to a breaking point.

And I have chosen that path before.

It's not pretty, let me tell you.

I mean, I have a right to let my mind wander wherever it likes, right?

Sure. (If I want to deal with the results…)

But am I prepared for what those thoughts will inevitably do to the health of my soul?

Do I want to end up living (or not really living) a  fearful, shameful, doubtful, depressed and angry life?

If we look at our thoughts through the lens of God’s word we'll realize this little nugget of truth: 
Our thoughts are the labels we wear.

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good;

and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil;

for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”

Luke 6:45

Like a name badge stuck on our chest, we live out our thoughts in very public ways, whether we want to or not.

By the words we say, the actions we perform, the places we go, the people we hang out with....

These are our thoughts in action.

We might not actually say what we're thinking but our lives say it for us.

This doesn't necessarily have to be a negative thing.

In fact, it's a very good thing when our thoughts are fixed on the truth.

Focusing on God's love is a great place to start if this concept seems foreign to you.

Actually that’s the best place to start...and to stay.

Really, this is the meaning of life:

To let God’s love radically take over so that everything you say and do is a response to that amazing, transforming, life-changing love.

And when you put on love (Colossians 3:14), your thoughts become lovely.

When you truly let God’s love become your source of all that is good and true, you live love.

To be immersed in it- mind, body, and soul- is liberating.

Cause when you allow the power of God’s love to change you from the inside out,

to really get a hold of you,

you become free of the toxic thinking that held you captive,

you walk confidently with your real name on display 
- Hi! I’m LOVED NO MATTER WHAT-

And no one can take that revelation truth away from you.

Darkness is Temporary

"Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, 

but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you." Isaiah 60:2

Today is "Shine a Light on Slavery" day.  

It's a day devoted to telling those around us the shocking news that slavery still exists. 
In fact, there are more slaves on earth today than ever before in history. 
Over 27 million in fact. (Source: A21 Campaign )

That is some dark news, my friends. 
Sometimes, it seems like the darkness is overtaking us, doesn't it? 

But, you know what? 

Darkness is temporary. 
It can't stand the light and runs away from a single flame.  

It cowers at bright beams of hope and shrinks back at rays of grace.

FEAR is it's weapon of mass destruction.  

But don't be misled by this impostor of darkness.
It's all a lie. A ruse to try to distract you from the truth. 

And this is the undeniable truth: 
The Light always wins. (Isaiah 58:8)

The Light lasts forever and ever. (Isaiah 60:20) 
Eventually the things done in the dark are exposed by the Light. (Eph. 5:11-14)

And the Light's weapon is far stronger than that of the dark:   LOVE.

This is NOT the time to shrink back or give up or stay quiet. 
Fear can't exist in the presence of love. 

So, we have to keep fighting. 
We have to keep loving.
We have to keep shining. 

More needs to be said. 
More needs to be done.
So. Much. More.

And the love-light of Christ is a beacon to the hopeless, desperate, and forsaken. 
He's inside of us! 

Jesus is the Light of the world. 

He is the bright morning Star.
He is the Dawn at break of day.  

How can we keep quiet?!!

Jesus is the only way to fight the Darkness. 

Do you live with a knowledge that you carry His Light inside of you? 

This truth brings us courage to keep pushing back the dark. 

It's not just a cliche to say that we are here on earth to be the Light.

No, it's a calling to see things differently, a mandate to bravely act. 
It's a revolutionary way of living, a mission to live for the cause of Christ. 
Are you shining?

We have no reason to shy away from burning bright 

because His Love is our guiding Light.