If you can change your thoughts, you can change your life.

I am always fighting an internal battle with my thoughts.  Our nature is to over think, over analyze, and find all the answers.  Even though life is moving forward, our thoughts are focused on the past to the point it is consuming our future.  This is exactly what the enemy wants us to do.  Our thoughts shape our lives, they control how we speak to people, how our relationships are.  Unless we are struggling with a serious mental illness, we have the ability to change our thoughts and focus on what matters.  We are called to have the same mindset as Jesus.  If we fill our minds with the Word of God it will be easier for us to change the way we think by focusing on the promises of God.  “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” – Proverbs 4:23

I have several times a day where a thought about my son’s death pops up.  I begin to question how we didn’t know, what caused his choice to take his life, who is at fault, why did this happen, and so on.  I could allow myself to wallow in that pain and sadness but I am afraid if I do I would never come out of it.  Psalm 56:3 says “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you”.  I remind myself that none of that is going to change anything.  I focus on God’s word and his promises and move forward in faith.  I will not let the good memories and my son’s life be overtaken by negative evil thoughts.  Faith does not spare us from the pain but when life is toughest is when real faith shows up.