I thought about calling this post, Can I Expect Good Things to Happen? Because it seems I am always anticipating living my life in a state of fear and anxiousness. The phrase, waiting for the other shoe to drop, came to mind, so I had to look that up to find out why people say that, but before I did two other things confirmed what I would write about today.

First, a point made in the reading plan I picked on Friday to start today:

Our emotions were leading us to thoughts, and those thoughts were dictating our decisions, and our decisions were determining behaviors, and then the behaviors were shaping our relationships, all of which would take us back to either healthy or unhealthy thoughts.

YouVersion Bible Plan Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen

Next confirmation. I had signed up for the Word of the Day app to help with my writing and this was my word today.

It turns out I cerebrate all the time, sometimes to my own detriment.

So how do I fix my thinking? The scriptures Jennie Allen referenced included two of my favorites. One was about taking our thoughts captive, 2 Corinthians 10:5, but I want to look at this next one.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This one addresses the problem of my thoughts always turning to what brings me anxiety. My focus is always on the wrong things, my inexperience, my lack of self-confidence, my past mistakes, my embarrassing moments… I could go on but I’m going backwards. I want to start anticipating that good things can happen. To me.

Looking at the bookends of this verse was also enlightening.

Before:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV

This gives me more instructions and more help dealing with my doom-and-gloom thoughts.

After:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

That one was a fresh revelation.

Paul led by example so we could learn by his example, writing it all down to help us know how to get more of God’s help to change our old way of thinking, which then helps transform us (Romans 12:2).

I wish I could say I’ve mastered this, since I’ve been brought to these scriptures before, but I would be lying. I guess that’s why the NLT translates practice in this verse as keep putting into practice.

So as my writers conference draws closer and I experience panic for all my various reasons, I’m going to attempt to follow the example Paul has so generously provided in his letters.

Are there anxious thoughts you want to change? Are you ready to believe good things can happen to you? I’ll be right here believing with you.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image composed in Canva.