Situations often happen in life that leave our minds overwhelmed with questions. "Why did this happen?", "How did this happen" and "What am I going to do?" But in order to keep our self walking in God's peace, and receiving God's peace, guarding our thoughts and avoiding excessive reasoning is a must! After all, we complicate our life when we're not focused on the right things, when we're fixated on the problem rather than the solution.
This is what I learned after I went through a very difficult time when I found myself going through an unwanted divorce. I had only been married two years and my ex-husband and I were even both serving in the ministry together. But one day, he went on a long fast. At the end of the fast, he told me that he didn't want me to go home for a while. I couldn't talk him out of it. I felt like I had entered the Twilight Zone and I was devastated. He never once called me again or returned my calls. He just sent me divorce papers in the mail and that was the crushing blow. My world was spinning out of control. You can imagine the tormenting thoughts I was dealing with 24 hours a day. My thoughts were fixated on the fact that I had been rejected and put away with no explanation or closure. I felt like I lost in life. And because of all these tormenting thoughts, I couldn't sleep well, I couldn't eat much and I didn't even leave our house for 6 weeks.
I was depressed and drained trying to figure it all out, but as I was crying out to God for help, He spoke to me and said, "Lisa, quit trying to figure everything out in your head. The fact is that you have an enemy and he is trying to destroy you. Resist him in the Name of Jesus!"
I forgot for a moment who my God was and that I was in a spiritual battle and had to use my God-give weapons. I had to change my way of thinking. So I began to fix my thoughts on God and His Word. "No weapon formed against me shall prosper!", "God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" and "I know the plans that God has for me-to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future."
As I replaced my anxious thoughts with God's Word, healing and restoration came. God healed my broken heart and today, He has restored everything to me. He has truly given me double for my trouble. I now have the greatest husband and children ever and I'm in the ministry despite of what the devil tried to do!
Worry, fear and anxiety could have destroyed me, but God's thoughts brought healing and peace into my life. Isaiah 26:3 says, "God will keep your in perfect peace if you will keep your mind fixed on Him."
Philippians says, "I want you to think on these things-whatever is true, right, pure, excellent, and praiseworthy." One version says, "Fix your mind on these things."
During stressful times where peace feels far away, ask yourself, "What are my thoughts fixed on?" The fact that you have
problems or the truth that God is your Problem-Solver? Are you fixated on the fact that you are addicted to drugs or lust, or on the fact that God is your Source and Deliverer? Are you fixated on your sin or failure, or on the fact that God truly forgives you? Are you fixated on the sickness or on your Healer?
Train yourself to stop dwelling on the wrong things and to fix your mind on the right things. Fix your mind on things like this: Psalm 46:1 says, "God is your refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, I will not fear." The Bible is filled with faithful promises. Whatever you're facing, search the Scriptures and meditate on what God says about the situation. We have to choose what we are going to dwell on. A negative thought can come, but we don't have to dwell on it.
Are there situations in your life where you feel like I did? I encourage you, try God's thoughts. Think like He does and speak and dwell on His Word. As you saturate yourself in God's faithful promises, you will find yourself like I have, prospering in spite of that storm that the enemy sent to keep you from your destiny. God has a big plan for your life! Stay strong and always, always, always keep your mind fixed on Him! As you do, the perfect peace of God will be with you guarding your heart and mind.
Lisa Comes
The oldest daughter of John and Dodie Osteen, Lisa was healed at birth of a crippling condition similar to cerebral palsy, and as an adult, she miraculously survived the explosion of a pipe bomb in her office at Lakewood Church. Actively involved in outreach ministry since 1983, Lisa has been a Bible teacher for over 20 years. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and is married to Kevin Comes, Administrator of Lakewood Church. Lisa and Kevin are the parents of three children: twin daughters Catherine and Caroline, and son Christopher. For more articles, thoughts and notes from Lisa, please visit LisaComes.com.