Lately, things have been pretty loud, huh? And I don't just mean in the media, the grocery store, or family group chats with hour by hour updates, I mean it's been pretty loud in my own head. The modern world is facing something we haven't seen before, and while the world has seen epidemics and pandemics, these kinds of things haven't yet happened within the parameters of the 24/7 news cycle. But what if I told you, you can turn down the volume? Maybe even press the mute button for a little while? We weren't created for this. We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning, and to destroy false arguments. - 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 Right now you may have two thoughts. One being, "Really Alyssa, an analogy of war in times like these?" or the other being, "I don't need a sermon right now." To both I answer, just hang with me for a second. God is good, and peaceful, and just, and right, and sovereign, and He is so much more than the adjectives listed above which is why He's not the one in question right now. There's an age old battle, that was waged long before any of us were even a thought, and long before this pandemic, and will be still be fought long after this is over. Want to know what the war is for? You. It's for your attention, and your body, and mind, heart and soul. Because ultimately, what you think about is who you are. Where has your attention been this past week? Has it been glued to the news? Has it been glued to your social media channels? Has it been focused on the politics of this all? Where has your body been? In sweat pants all day? Have you left the couch? Have you gotten fresh air? Have you drank water? And finally your heart? Where has your heart been? I'll let you fill in that blank. There's a better way to get through this, and a better way to get through whatever else life throws your way after this is all said and done. So take captive your thoughts! Take them back and own what you're thinking about. Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praise worthy, think about such things - Philippians 4:8 How does this change the narrative? Your attention- is it on truth? Is God who He says He is right now? Yahweh the compassionate and gracious God who is slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love for the thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin? Is that what we are thinking about? Our bodies. Are our eyes seeking goodness, are our hands helping others, are our mouths speaking true, noble, and just words? And your heart? Well... Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows through it.- This. This is what I'm clinging too like a buoy in the middle of the sea.
This is not to say we stick our heads in the sand. We don't ignore trials and tribulations, and we don't pretend that reality isn't what it is. Instead, this shapes our thoughts to help create a more quiet reality, one with peace for ourselves and compassion for others. It helps turn down the volume when things get too loud. Thoughts are our volume knob, and truth is the mute button. So take captive your thoughts because life is what you think it is. Comments are closed.
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Purpose:To express, explain, and exclaim the lessons life continually throws at me, and my take on how to deal. Archives
December 2021
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