“Inside of me there are two dogs. One is mean and evil and the other is good and they fight each other all the time. When asked which one wins I answer, the one I feed the most.” -Sitting Bull
This same story is told in The Energy Bus. We have to think about what is going on with our thoughts. Thinking about our thoughts sounds kind of silly at first, but we have way more power over what goes on in our minds than we realize. Our thoughts don’t have to run loose and untamed. They can be captured, shaped, molded and taught truth.
Thoughts flit through our minds like insanely fast hummingbirds. I can be working on one thing and the next thing I know I’m on a totally different subject. Or then there are the times that the most random things pop out of my mouth for what seems like no reason. And because thoughts are so quick, it is so easy for the lies and negative thoughts to attack us from seemingly nowhere. You are in a good mental place then boom, you are attacking yourself. “I’m so…”
So now you have a choice. Are you going to listen to your negative thoughts? We all know that the more you dwell on the negative, the more negative you will get. When I talk to my kids I call it the spiral effect. Simple mistakes can turn into major attacks. Stop it. Bring it to a complete stop if you need to and readjust your mind in the right direction.
I don’t believe that negative thoughts are completely avoidable. The devil is real, sin is rampant, and we are not immune. But when we know God’s truths we can quickly turn from those negative thoughts and focus on what He wants.
God tells us how we need to be thinking. In Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
I love Ellie Holcomb’s song Fighting Words. It’s fun and upbeat and speaks a powerful message. We can fight off the lies that threaten to overcome us. God gave us His truth and in that, there is power. The chorus says…
Fight the lies with the truth, Keep my eyes fixed on You
I will sing the truth into the dark, I will use my fighting words
Fighting words
Ooo
I’m so tired of forgetting what I’m worth, So I will use my fighting words
So here is a plan for us. You can use your fighting words (God’s truths), to starve out your “mean dog”. Then, think on the things that are pure, honorable, and true. Dwell in the love of your Heavenly Father.
itsonpurpose.org 