Replacement Therapy With Your Thought Life
Are you undergoing replacement therapy for your thought life? Wendy L Macdonald shows us how we need to change our way of thinking.
Haunting Words
Recently, I was struggling with negative thoughts regarding the past, and I worried they were affecting the present. I tried to steer away from the haunting words weaving a sticky web of sinking and stinking feelings. But the more I tried to get away, the more I got entangled in the fibers fear spun around me.
So after a lousy day and a lousy night’s sleep, I opened my bible and read until I found the peace I was craving. I found refreshment for my spirit in Psalm 119:81, which says:
“My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.”
God whispered to me that I may want to revisit another verse too; I’ll share that one in a moment.
Replacement Therapy
Back in the 1980’s, while I was recovering from eating disorders, I learned how important it was to change my thinking pattern. I call this “Replacement Therapy”. I had to replace the skinny thinking with healthy thoughts.
Replacement therapy is needed in all areas of our mind if we desire to walk with peace rather than turmoil. But sometimes I get sloppy and allow my thoughts to slip into stupid places.
Thankfully, I’m rarely tempted to engage in my old eating disorder ways; because, frankly, I like eating foods I used to consider forbidden. However, sometimes I starve myself of tranquility by gorging on negative thinking.
My morning quiet times are my source of sanity. God can also meet me at the kitchen sink or as I drive in my car—but mornings are when I’m still enough to really listen—to really hear—what He has for me.
And it’s in these moments I hear Him whisper things like the verse I alluded to earlier; here it is:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Implementing Replacement Therapy
I’m endeavoring to implement replacement therapy through this verse. God’s Word is alive. It penetrates any pride, pain, or fear coating my heart. God’s Word moves in and rearranges things and sweeps stuff out so His joy can fill the space instead of foolishness.
I’m happy to report this verse has been blessing me abundantly as I savor it in my thoughts instead of the fearful words knocking on the door of my mind.
Before I’d finished composing this devotional, I received an e-mail from a writing friend telling me she had prayed this verse over me. Wow, I’m supposed to be focusing on this one—big time. And sure enough, before I’d finished editing this post, I received some sad news about someone I love. Once again I see God’s loving hand and perfect timing.
He wants to strengthen me so I can be a better blessing to those around me.
Philippians 4:8 and Replacement Therapy
Meditating on Philippians 4:8 will be the perfect replacement therapy for the worried thoughts that will try to take over the peace He’s placed in me. Instead I can bring my burdens to Him, and then I can think about whatsoever is wonderful. The enemy of my soul may try to derail my sanity, but as long as I heed the Lord’s reminder to think about His goodness, I’m good to go tell of His love over the mountains of trouble trying to stop me. For He is with me and nothing can prevent me from doing and saying what is His will for me to do.
I don’t have to sink into the stink of my enemy’s wishes for me, I can rise up on the Wings of God’s Word.
You can too, dear friends. Dig into your Bible and see what verses God wants to strengthen you through, for this is the best way to unravel yourself from a web of toxic thoughts. However, you can’t think your way out of a funk—you need to believe your way out of it. Believe in He who holds hope… and is hope—the God of hope. God and His Word are the essence of the one true and effective replacement therapy for the mind, body, and soul. And since He created us in the first place—this makes perfect sense.
I’d like to close with a short poem I wrote.
Sometimes
Sometimes the enemy is me
My thoughts bombarding
Until peace is shattered
And my soul can’t sing
So I long for God’s arms
To surround and draw me near
With the hope in His Word
Until Love has slain my fear.
How has God changed you? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Wendy Macdonald
Wendy is writer, poet, photographer, and contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio.
Read and hear more from Wendy L. Macdonald on the contributor’s page or on her personal website.
Wendy’s show, “Walking With Hope” airs on HopeStreamRadio, providing observations and insights from both her life experience, and her knowledge of God.
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