Praying To Change Our Thinking So We Can Change Our Day

We are not shaped so much by our environment as we are by our perception of our environment.  The way we think is the most important motivation for how we face life each day. If we are not thinking correctly, it will be reflected in our emotional life and then in our speech and our behaviour.

In the Bible is the story of a man named Jeremiah. He expresses despair and bitterness as he wrongly perceives that God is against him and that God is the cause of his suffering and his difficult time.

I remember how I suffered and wondered. I remember how bitter my life was. I remember it very well. My spirit is very sad deep inside me.

Lamentations 3:19 - 20

Blaming God does not fix anything. Even though Jeremiah was having an awful time, God wasn’t the cause of his problems. Jeremiah wasn’t thinking rightly or truthfully assessing what was happening, so he did not respond correctly.

But then, thankfully, things changed – not so much in Jeremiah’s circumstances but in how he looked at things.  Jeremiah remembered the goodness of God and his whole way of thinking changed. Listen to these words

But then I think about this, and I have hope: we are still alive because the Lord‘s faithful love never ends every morning as he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal! I say to myself, “The Lord is my God, and I trust him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him. He is good to those who look for him. It is good to wait quietly for the Lord to save them. Lamentations 3:21 to 26

What a turnaround! Did God change? No. Did Jeremiah circumstances change? No. What changed? Jeremiah’s perception of God changed, and his emotions followed suit.

Let’s pray today and ask God to help us have his perception of what is going on in our world and in our lives today.

Heavenly Father, we’re so grateful that life events don’t determine who we are. We can’t control people, places, or things. But what we can do in the power of your spirit is choose how we interpret and respond to what we are facing today.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.  Proverbs 16:3

We need our minds to be filled with this truth so we can respond well to whatever circumstances arise.  We thank you for the presence and the guidance of your Holy Spirit who is more than willing to show us how to walk one step at a time through our day so we successfully do those things we should do and avoid those things we should avoid.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

And so God, when life is difficult, when we have moments where things seem to overwhelm us, help us to remember that with You any difficulty can be worked out and overcome. As we walk with You we know that You will fill our hearts with peace and joy.  Thank you.  Amen