Are Toxic Thoughts Killing You?

“My head is killing me.”  People say that when they have a headache.  But it is true of the way most of us let just any little thought that pops into our mind move into our hearts, push us out of our favorite chair, prop up its feet, eat our snacks and totally make itself at home.

“You’re a loser.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll never amount to anything.  Why even try.”  Mr. Toxic Thought gives you a cocky grin that you want to smack off his face.  But you’re tired and just don’t have the energy to deal with this right now.

“Oh.  Uh, come in. I guess.”

Mr. Toxic Thought invades.  No, not just him.  When you open the door, he brings his relatives and his equally toxic friends – rejection, confusion, and depression.

Would you let some stranger push his way into your home and take over the sofa, change your TV channel and raid the fridge?

You wouldn’t even let him in the door.

Set a guard Over Your Heart.

Thoughts come into our minds.  They may be our thoughts or the toxic words of others. But we don’t have to entertain them, feed them and let them move into our hearts.

Put on your combat boots and kick them out of there!!

Your heart is the living room of your spirit. Your life is in your heart. Your beliefs are there. Your identity – how you see yourself, God, others and the world are in your heart. You can’t just let anything in.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

There are some unwelcome guests who have been camping out in your heart for far too long.  It’s time to do a little house cleaning.

Let righteousness, peace and joy be the guardians of your heart.

God has given us three guardians to keep our hearts healthy and pure.

For the kingdom of God is … righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 4:17 (NIV)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

1. In all of your thoughts, your words and in everything you do ask:

• “Is this right? Does it feel right?”
• “Do I have peace in this?”
• “Is there joy in this?”

2. With our hearts connected to Jesus, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us into all truth (John 16:3 (NIV)) He reveals to us the things of God. Listen. You will hear Him.

3. If something is not right we have a “check” in our spirit. It doesn’t feel right. We lose our joy. And we have no peace about it.

Look for the Lie

4. When you sense something isn’t right, go back and look for the lie. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. “What did I believe that led me to think, say or do something that resulted in losing the inner knowing of being right, having joy or losing my peace?”

Reject the Lie.  Embrace the Truth.

5. When you have found the lie, look for the truth. Then realign your thoughts, your words, and your actions to the truth.

Action Step.  Listen to your “self-talk” this week – the stream of thoughts inside you.  Look for the toxic thoughts and replace them with the truth.

You are going to have a great week.  That’s the truth.