I am the problem

I am the problem. 

The majority of my problems in life are caused by my thinking. When a thought pops into our minds we have two choices. We can either choose to dismiss it or to believe it. Depending on the thought, it will either make us feel good or bad. The bad news is that usually, we accept our thoughts as the truth without even analyzing them. 

I have been caught up in the lies many times. My mind is kind of like a toddler telling a story. Once it has my attention, the story continues to get bigger and bigger. And it is filled with drama. The story is always told from the victim mindset. 

When we feel hurt or angry by the story being crafted in our minds, then we need to examine it. Are the thoughts true? Do we know for certain each one is true? This is the tricky part because at the time it can certainly feel true. And we can feel justified for believing it. 

In my experience, I can tell you that my stories are very seldom true. Because the enemy always wants to take us to the worst case scenario. Satan wants to hurt us. He wants us to be mad at our loved ones. He wants us to turn away from those we love. He wants to steal our blessings. And sometimes we allow him to take them without a fight. 

One day I came home from work and my husband and son both snapped at me within minutes. I thought I shouldn’t have even come home today if they are going to be mean to me. Then, I realized that they were both having a bad day. It had absolutely nothing to do with me. So instead of fighting back, I became the safe space for them. I loved on them and tried to be there for them. 

The greatest thing we can do when we feel hurt is to go to God and ask Him to help us see the situation as it is—not how we perceive it to be. God knows the truth. And when we ask Him to reveal it to us He will. We might not always like the truth. Sometimes it does hurt our feelings and show us that we are wrong. But once we see the problem, then we can work to fix it. 

When we love people, right where they are in their lives, and give them the same grace that God gives us, then life is just better. I want to live from a place of compassion and have eyes to see the best in everyone. That’s how God sees us. He looks at us through the lens of love. Instead of condemning us for all of our mistakes, He sees the goodness in us. Every day I want to try to live in His perfect will for me and to treat others how He treats me.  

Romans 12:2 (KJV)

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 P.S. If you enjoyed this please share it so your family and friends can read it as well. :)