Control Your Thoughts

Do you have a habit of thinking crazy thoughts? In other words, some of the thoughts that run through your mind may leave you freaked out, annoyed, paranoid, or down right confused as to how something so strange can occupy your mind. I don't care who you are, all of us have something going through our mind at one time or another that shouldn't be there. Let me ask you this question. Were you thinking something crazy this morning, last night, or last week? Without learning to control your thoughts, you'll end up messed up from the floor up. One of my minister friends told me, 'unless you learn to control you, you'll act on stuff that has no bearing on your growth.' Simply put - don't allow the enemy to gain control over your mind because once he controls your mind, he'll control your actions.

In this life, I've discovered that everything around us must be monitored. From the television, radio, and even the internet, we must be cautious. What you may think is insignificant will eventually turn into something major. The enemy is trying to plant seeds of insecurity, doubt, confusion, rebellion, and anger in your spirit. That's right; with so much hell going on around us, it's easy to get caught up and lose control. While you need to know what's happening around you, you must be prayed up, anointed, and have a solid foundation on which to stand. Wherever you go and whatever you do, stay connected to God Almighty.

In this spiritual journey, I would like to offer you a few ways in which you can control your thoughts. The first thing you need to do is remove negative and crippling words from your vocabulary. Once you remove condemning words and replace them with uplifting and empowering words, you'll find yourself projecting a better image from the inside out and from the outside in. The second thing you need to do in controlling your thoughts is to socialize with people who are positive. Always remember, the more you associate with negative people, the more likely they'll influence your thinking. Either they'll feed off your energy or you'll feed off theirs. I want you to get into your spirit that God doesn't want you to think thoughts that are harmful to your growth. In a real sense, God's Spirit in you provides you with the strength to overcome anything that's trying to bring you down. Just ask God to help you and have faith that all things are possible.

The writer of Proverbs tells us to "Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." Please don't miss this last lesson. Stay busy in doing the will of God for your life and you won't have time to entertain crazy, ridiculous, and mischievous thoughts. The mind is a powerful weapon when it's used for good. Here's an assignment for you. Everyday for at least 15 times a day, tell yourself that it's going to be a positive day. No matter what's happening on the outside, continue to speak words of encouragement. That's my word for you. If you want to get ahead in life, change your thought pattern which will in turn change your behavior which will lead to a better attitude. You have the power to do it. Start doing it today.

Controlling Your Emotions

Life would be so much easier for people, if they learn not to panic. Let me say that again. Whenever people start tripping over people and things, they lose all rationale and begin acting out of character. Becoming too emotional will cause you to make the wrong decision. When emotions take over logic, you'll wonder why you're in the mess you're in and lose sight of what makes sense. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with being emotional about things, but the key to being emotional is to keep it under control and to never allow your emotions make you leave your faith at the door. Let me ask you this - do you know people who lose control over their emotions? In other words, before they start reasoning, they start tripping.

In this life, I've discovered that you have to remain in control so that you won't lose control. Losing control isn't cool and when you lose control or should I say, start tripping, you've added unnecessary stress to your life. As one who deals with people everyday, I can't tell you how important it is for you not to trip out, freak out, and lose your mind. If you stop to think about it for a moment - what's the advantage and/or disadvantage of tripping? Well, in case you don't know, the more you trip, the less likely you're able to hear from God. Understand that the enemy wants you in a state of tripping because tripping takes your eyes off God and places it on the person and/or situation. Remember, you're better than anything that's trying to interfere with your relationship with God.

In this spiritual journey, you need to know that God has everything under control. That's right; when you feel out of control, always know that God's in control of the situation. One of the reasons why people lose control is because they're trying to do things by themselves instead of having their steps ordered by God. Here's a hint - when your steps are ordered by God, you'll rise above the natural and focus on the spiritual. Yes, it may seem hard in the beginning, but when you make up your mind to not have people and things cause you to trip out, then you're taking the first step to staying in control. I want you to get into your spirit, God can take away your tripping behavior and teach you how to be patient, calm, and at ease with people and things.

The writer of Proverbs tells us, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." Please don't miss this. Failure to control your emotions will cause you to be messed up from the floor up. In a real sense, when you start tripping on people and things, you're inviting chaos, disaster, and foolishness into your life. As any parent would say, 'you don't want that to happen.' Your life is too important to give people and things control. Simply put - when people and things make you trip, they play on you and will do you great harm. As the youth say, 'don't fall for the okie doke.' That's my word for you. Tripping ain't cool nor is allowing people and things affect who you are, whose you, and where you're going. Stay connected with God and allow Him to direct your path.  

Rev. Grey