While speaking with a patient and family member last night, we got into a discussion about how we reap what we sow with our thoughts and words.  I got to thinking about how Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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 . . . And the God of peace will be with you.”

We are made in the image of God.

He is The Creator, and we are too—co-creators with Him.  God has given us the ability to, in part, create or influence our reality by the things we think and say.  When we focus on the negatives and especially when we rehearse them over and over, we invariably find our lives getting more chaotic, stressful, and more things pop up throughout the day that create problems for us—all of which give us more reasons to complain.  It is a vicious cycle, and we only break out of it when either someone does something kind to us, or when we make a conscious choice to do so.

Likewise, when we focus on positive things, giving compliments, holding gratitude in our hearts for even the simple things, and more, we attract positive feedback into our lives.  After all, what we sow, we will reap, and I personally want to be on the receiving end of good things!  Furthermore, when we engage the positive, we can infect others with our joy and cause the happiness to spread.

In reality, whichever way we choose to go with our thoughts and words, it is infective and it gives us more of what we are asking for, which only gives us more reasons to keep saying the same things, whether good or bad.  I encourage all of us this week to pay extra attention to the things we think and say.  Are we constantly complaining, or releasing it to God and letting the frustration go?  How can we expect something better for this week than we did last week?

Let’s pray a simple prayer this week, echoing the words of David:

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)