The Power of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ – Is It Affecting You?
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 12:29 — VictorLogan
- The Power of Stinkin’ Thinkin’ – Is It
Affecting You?
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By Joyce Meyer
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- During the early years of our
marriage, when Dave and I would have an argument, I would drag up
things from the past that he had done wrong. Dave would respond
with, “Where do you keep all this stuff recorded? How do you
remember this?” He really didn’t remember any of it, but I did.
I was keeping accounts of things people did that I didn’t like.
And I had this attitude, “Now you hurt me, so you owe me!” The
more they hurt me, the more they owed me, and I would try to make
them pay me back.
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- The root of my problem was in my
thought life. Jeremiah 4:14 says, “O Jerusalem, wash your heart
from wickedness, that you may be saved! How long shall your
iniquitous and grossly offensive thoughts lodge within you?” (The
Amplified Bible). In this scripture, it’s like God is saying,
“Your stinkin’ thinkin’ offends Me!”
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- Why is it so much easier to
think about and talk about the things we don’t like – the
offenses – than the good things? It’s appalling how we can look
at someone with our sweetest smile and at the same time be thinking,
You are a jerk!
When we keep negative records like this, it causes bitterness,
resentment and unforgiveness, and it opens the door for Satan to
work in our lives.
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- But love doesn’t keep a mental
list of the things people have done wrong. Love believes the best of
every person and keeps no record of wrongs. Love wants good things
to happen to people and rejoices with them when it does. Love never
gives up on people. (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.) So if we really want
to walk in love, we have to let God transform our thinking, our
hidden thoughts – the hidden man of the heart.
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- When we believe the best of
people, we let go of each thing they do that is hurtful to us. And
we choose to think things like, I
don’t believe they meant to hurt me. Maybe they’re having a bad
day or don’t feel well. They probably don’t even realize how
they sound. This changes
the whole context of the situation and keeps us from holding on to
an offense that the person may not even know exists.
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- We need to give each other a
break sometimes and show mercy. We also need to decide what we’re
going to believe and think about how love behaves: Love believes the
best!
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- Let me give you an example of
this. I can choose to think about all the things Dave does that bug
me, or I can make a list of all of his positive qualities, such as…
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- Dave is quick to forgive me when
I behave wrong toward him.
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He always picks up after himself and
doesn’t leave messes for others to clean up.
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He tells me every single day of my
life that he loves me, and quite often, several times a day.
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He compliments me on my clothes and
appearance.
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He buys me anything I want, as long
as we can afford it.
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He takes me anywhere I want to go and
rarely tells me no when I ask him to do something.
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He is stable with his moods.
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He takes care of himself and
exercises. I like the way he looks!
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Dave is protective of me and makes me
feel safe.
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- Thinking about the positive
things helps me to appreciate what I have, rather than thinking
about the things I don’t have. And if all we do is think about the
things people do that we don’t like, we’re going to have
problems in our relationships. The only way we’re going to get
along with others is to learn to let stuff go because love covers
people’s faults and failures – it covers a multitude of sins!
First Peter 4:8 says, “Above all things have intense and unfailing
love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives
and disregards the offenses of others]” (The Amplified Bible).
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- Remember that resentment builds
walls, but love builds bridges. We all need to come to the point
where our love takes no account of the evil done to it. The benefits
include improved quality of life, less pressure, and increased peace
and joy. That’s a record worth keeping!
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- For more on this topic,
you may order Joyce’s CD series “Walking
in Love” by
calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org.
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- Author/teacher Joyce
Meyer has been helping people overcome life’s problems through
biblical keys to practical Christian living since 1976. Her radio
and television programs are broadcast throughout the United States
and much of the world. For additional information, you may contact
Joyce Meyer Ministries at P.O. Box 655, Fenton, Missouri 63026 or
visit www.joycemeyer.org.
