Our mindset is a CHOICE

Our thoughts are so very important. They are difference between Joy or anger, gratefulness or bitterness, truth or a lie. Often what we think on is who we become. All day I’ve been meditating on the verse:
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” Psalms 119:11

Years ago I understood to hide God’s word in my heart was to memorize it. I remember rotely memorizing verse after verse. However as I’ve gotten older that’s become harder. Now my ‘memory’ work comes in other ways. Scripture songs that I can sing put lots of verses in my mind. Decorating my home in verses. Wearing the tshirts you sent me. Basically surrounding myself with God’s word.

Some may wonder why that matters? Because when faced with a trial or life stressor, what is in your heart will be what comes out of your mouth. For some it will be a curse word or even taking God’s name in vain. For others it will be a complaint or murmuring of heart. For me I want God’s word readily available as my first line of defense. It keeps me fully aware of how not to ‘sin against God’.

I read Psalms 78 this morning. It gave the history of the children of Israel. It told how rebellious they were. I underlined their actions, paraphrased
...they continued to sin (17)
...rebelling against the Most High
....willfully demanding (18)
....spoke against God (19)
....did not believe in God (22)
....<<did not>> trust in his deliverance
....In spite, they kept on sinning (32)
....they did not believe
....flatter him with their mouths(36)
....lying to him with their tongues
....hearts were not loyal to him (37)
....were not faithful to his covenant

God’s actions:
....Yet he was merciful (38)
....he forgave
....he restrained his anger
....he remembered

Again they:
....put God to the test
....rebelled against the Most High
....did not keep his statutes
....they angered him (58)
.... aroused his jealousy

Over and over the Children of Israel acted like spoiled rebellious children. Over and over we too act like rebellious children to our father. I know how that makes me feel as a parent when my children rebel....It helps me understand how God must feel.

So back to my thoughts and them keeping me from sin, each ACTION they did was a thought put into motion. What we believe we live. I have to CHOOSE Joy. I have to decide to not be angry. I must CHOOSE gratefulness. I have to decide I don’t want to be bitter. I have to CHOOSE truth. I can’t believe the lies of the enemy.

To take that one step further, I can choose to be joyful that God left Millie with us a year after her cancer diagnosis. I have decided I can’t be angry she died. I choose to be grateful that God allowed me to be her mommy for 3 years and 7 months. I will not be bitter that we didn’t have 4 years or 40 years. I choose the truth that God is a good loving father. I decide to ignore the whispers of the enemy “if God loves you, he wouldn’t have taken her”. Our mindset is a CHOICE.

Do you surround yourself with God’s word? Do you CHOOSE to hide his word in your heart (and mind)?

Miss A shared these sweet photos off her phone tonight. One benefit of having teens with phones is they love to take photos. I had never seen these and they thrill my heart. The joy on Millie’s face as SJ embraces her....that will be the joy on my face as I embrace her one day in heaven. 🦋💖

Praises:
💕 Daddy is readjusting to his Work schedule.
💕 Ady’s day 2 of Immunotherapy is done.

Prayers:
🔹 We have two weeks left until our school year starts. Pray that all the preparations come together quickly.