[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Get rid of those toxic thoughts

By Oke Chinye

Read: 2 Corinthians 10:5-7

Meditation verse:

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts (Proverbs 4:23, GNT).

Your thoughts are powerful; they can make or break you. Proverbs 23:7 says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. You cannot rise above the level of your thoughts. Toxic thoughts are harmful thoughts that poison your life. They activate the body’s fight or flee response- trigger fear, rejection, and low self esteem. They keep your brain out of learning modes of reflection, critical thinking and problem solving. Here are four toxic thoughts to watch out for.

Self-defeating Thoughts: “I can never be good at this”. “That will never be me”. “I have tried everything, I’m just not good enough”. These are thoughts and feelings of worthlessness that you hold about yourself. They prevent you from making the effort required to succeed, because you believe that no matter how hard you try, you will never succeed. Keep faith and keep trying.

Guilty Thoughts: “I wish I hadn’t done this”. “I regret doing this, now I everyone hates me”. Do you constantly condemn yourself because of your past mistakes? Guilty thoughts will keep you rooted in one spot. You cannot move forward if you have one leg stuck in the past. There is no error too big for God to forgive. Ask for forgiveness and move ahead.

Escapist thoughts: “I will not be this way, if you had not done that”. Do you constantly blame others for your shortcomings? You need to take responsibility for your actions.

Comparing Thoughts: “I am not as friendly as she is, so nobody likes me”. Do you often compare yourself with other people and feel you do not measure up? If you do, you are being unwise. Accept and celebrate your uniqueness.

Get rid of toxic thoughts from your heart, using the word of God. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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