Just Stop

I woke up today and Satan started in on me.  Over and over I went over comments made at a meeting the day before; how I should have replied, chastising myself for my silence.  Feeling I had let my students and my convictions down.  Over and over I rolled in these negative thoughts, poisoning my day, poisoning my outlook, poisoning my attitude upon my return to school on Monday...  Poisoning me from inside.  

Suddenly, I said 'STOP'!  I refuse to allow these thoughts to dominate my time and ruin my three day weekend!  I had to push the thoughts out- there is a beautiful sunrise - free and there for the enjoyment every day.  There are praises to the Lord singing in my heart.  There are wonderful kids awaiting good morning hugs, a loving husband to embrace, yummy coffee to be made, adorable chickens clucking in the yard waiting for their morning treat, there is a life that God gave me, there is work for God that needs to be completed.  Those annoyances from my day job are just tools of Satan, trying to kill my time and keep me away from God's work.  They will not even be memories at this time next month, not even significant enough to remember.  Most of our problems and issues that take up our time are that way.  Even the giant ones are only a memory as our lives move on, most of them won't even make it into long term memory...  So why spend time obsessing over something that is not even going to qualify for long term memory.  Do you know what will log into long term memory?  A day spent goofing off with your kids!  A picnic on a sunny day!  

I have a very dear friend who is 5 years sober! (Way to go!  God has blessed you!)  She told me the other day that she went through a period of complete self-hatred.  That she could not get past what her life had been like, that she could not love herself so she did not see how God could love her either, how any one could love her.  A dear friend of hers made her stand in front of the mirror and say "I love you." over and over.  It was very emotional and took a long time before she could get through it.  Believe it or not the same process will work here.  When you catch yourself and realize that Satan has control of your mind and is directing your thoughts, go to the mirror and repeat the verse below, over and over until the negative thoughts are gone, you can even repeat this process whenever the same thing pops up until it is gone from short term memory or no longer has any power.  Because it is our choice whether or not Satan's arrows have power, we can choose.  Try it:

Isaiah 12:2 (NLT)

"See, God has come to save me.  I will trust in him and not be afraid.  The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory!"