The following are notes I am taking while reading Elizabeth George's wonderful book, Loving God with All Your Mind. These are from Chapter 2, Taking Every Thought Captive. Each summer I pick a book of hers to read again. I think I've read this book 3 or 4 times. It never gets old. I need to read it more than just once a year, especially when I start having thoughts of "What if" or "If only."
"Whatsoever things are true... think on these things." Philippians 4:8 KJV
This is a command of God. The God who created me. The God who wants me to have an abundant life. (John 10:10) Events in the future, are not real. They are in our imagination. They are not true. "What if" questions rob us of our peace and joy. They keep us from loving God. The future is in God's hands. We don't need to waste energy worrying about what is not yet real and therefore may never come to pass. Today is real and God will enable us to deal with what today holds.
"We accept and thank God for what is given, not allowing the NOT-GIVEN to spoil it."
Elisabeth Elliot
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Nothing will ever happen to you that God does not already know about.
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Nothing will ever happen to you that you cannot handle by God's power and grace.
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Nothing will ever happen to you that will not eventually be used by God for some good purpose in your life.
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And nothing will ever happen to you apart from God's presence.
"If only" robs us of our peace and joy in the present as well. It breeds remorse, regret, and sorrow. When we succumb to "if only" thinking, we are ignoring the fact that God was there with us. Acknowledging God's sovereignty over every event of your life-past, present, and future-is a vital step toward experiencing His love and toward responding by loving Him with all your mind. He will redeem even the worst, the most painful, and the most perplexing aspects of your past and use it all for some good.
How to train your thoughts
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Recognize the command in Philippians 4:8
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Respond in Obedience. Ask Him to replace any fears and doubts with truth of His Word.
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Reap the Benefits, when we choose wrong kind of thinking, real life slips by, unused and unenjoyed. Taking captive unproductive thoughts will have the opposite affect.
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