{"id":32339,"date":"2021-06-22T03:30:18","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T10:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=32339"},"modified":"2021-06-21T21:45:27","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T04:45:27","slug":"june-22-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/06\/22\/june-22-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"June 22, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cFor who knows a person\u2019s thoughts except their own spirit within them?\u201d<\/em> 1 Corinthians 2:11a NIV<\/p>\n

The Loudest Thing<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I\u2019m part of a big, noisy family. We aren\u2019t shouters, but when we\u2019re all together, the noise is constant and loud. I love loud music and going to concerts, the theatre, and movies. The joyful, chaotic sound of kids playing makes me smile.<\/p>\n

There is one sound, however, that often drowns everything else out. Sometimes it is so overpowering I can\u2019t concentrate on anything else. It will be louder than the movie I\u2019m watching, a conversation with my best friend, or even my favorite song. The funny thing is that the loudest thing in my life is something those around me don\u2019t hear.<\/p>\n

I am talking about my inner voice. From the time I was tiny, I developed the habit of an inner dialogue with God, and that\u2019s how I would \u201ctalk\u201d to Him. I still do it. And there is always, always<\/em> a song running through my mind. My brain is busy!<\/p>\n

Far too often, though, the monologue is bad. If I have a confrontation with someone that doesn\u2019t resolve well, I am overpowered with thoughts, reliving the conversation non-stop. I, of course, think of everything I wish I would have thought to say, but beyond that, I will even create scenarios that didn\u2019t or won\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n

I have a family member who isn\u2019t making good choices, and I am sometimes amazed at how much time I\u2019ve spent having a good inner rant. It will start as a plea to God, but before I know it I have spiraled into hopelessness, thinking mean things and even judgment toward this one whom I love so dearly. My mind is sometimes the worst space to be in.<\/p>\n

Does anyone else struggle with this? I have written about my battle with my thought life before, so I clearly don\u2019t have a handle on it yet. Since I know that allowing myself to have such a downward spiral in my thoughts is unhealthy, I have found that bringing to mind Philippians 4:8-9 helps: \u201cFinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable\u2014if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2014think about such things.<\/em> Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me\u2014put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you\u201d <\/em>(NIV).<\/p>\n

Will you share with us the tools you use to get your thought life in order?<\/p>\n

Father, thank You for hearing me even when all I do is \u201cmake noise.\u201d Please help me to honor You from my innermost being, so that every part of my life is pleasing to You. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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