Addicted to Peace

A brisk spring day always gets my adrenaline pumping. Well, that and the large Chick Fil-A coffee on the table beside me. They're working in tandem this morning. When I feel good, have energy and know that I'll be able to accomplish some things throughout the day, my mood is considerably brighter. I suspect that's the case with you, too.

It's fun to be optimistic. I think we can become as addicted to optimism as we have been addicted to negativity, doom-and-gloom thinking and anxiety. It's a matter of putting the Holy Spirit at the doorway to our minds. Think of a burly doorman at an elite social club. "Credentials? I'm sorry, you're not on the list." This person wouldn't care what ruse you tried to pull. You're not on the list, you're not coming in. The Holy Spirit knows what thoughts will lead you to your purpose in Christ, and which ones will knock you off of the wagon. He knows you better than you know yourself, and even better than Satan, who has watched you for weaknesses your entire life. He "gets" you.

Okay, you say, I'll do it. Where do I begin? How do I hire the Holy Spirit? Well, first you must accept Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life and acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you need and accept the sacrifice He made for your sins when He died on the cross. All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit is alive inside of you. But you must take this one step further. You must actively pray to God all day long, asking Him to direct your thoughts, to keep life-giving, peace-filling thoughts flowing through your mind. It's also a good practice to put scriptures that apply to your challenges on notecards and carry them with you, praying them back to God throughout the day. Be aware of what you are thinking about. Continually ask God to take your mind and make it holy. To guide you continually.

Lastly, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you away from articles, websites, books, television shows and PEOPLE who fill your mind with things that are contrary to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Be zealous about your mind! What you think about becomes what you do! It can lead you into greater fellowship with Christ, or it can lead you into sin. Bottom line!

Second Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (Holy Bible, New International Version, emphasis mine.)

The EXCEEDINGLY good news is that we are not to try to do this on our own! The Holy Spirit is our blessed helper. Call on the Lord when your mind becomes confused, fearful, or riddled with sinful thoughts. Simply ask him to set it in order in a manner which is holy and pleasing to him. He will do it!