How Do Your Thoughts Affect Your Actions?

We often read and hear that the battlefield is in the mind. The thoughts that we receive in our mind work two ways. When we experience happy or good thoughts they bring us pleasure. For example if we think we are getting a promotion or salary increase before we physically receive it if we think that it is coming  we anticipate and expect it.

Contrariwise when we hear bad news it also affects our mind. If we are told it’s possible our services may no longer be needed, we may be in jeopardy of losing our job or income it has an adverse effect on us. We begin to worry. We are concerned about our financial obligations, our family, how long it will take before we are employed again. If we believe this will happen and choose to take the opportunity to start a business of our own we wonder if we will be successful or how long it will take for our business to become profitable.

Neither of these are facts only thoughts. But both statements come with expectations. What happens if the outcomes are not what we expect?

What happens if in the first example rather than the expectation of receiving a promotion or a salary increase you are told you may be in jeopardy of losing your job?  Suddenly what you expected has been turned upside down. Rather than planning how you would spend a possible salary increase you begin to worry about making ends meet as well as how long it will take before you are employed again.

What if rather than the expectation of a possible job loss you are told a new position may be coming available? Rather than trying to determine how long your savings will last and how quickly you must find employment you feel safe, comforted, no longer worried.

The change of a thought can change your mental and emotional state. Of course the thought of losing a job will adversely affect you but it’s a thought. Neither of the statements were facts.

Too often we allow thoughts rather than facts to alter our thinking. There is nothing wrong with thinking about how you would spend or save extra money if you were getting a promotion but you wouldn’t actually do it without having the money in the bank, or at least you shouldn’t.

If there are rumors that you may lose your job they are only rumors. Of course you should always be budget conscious and have an emergency fund when possible but you should not panic based on a thought.

We read in Matthew 6:31-33 therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink: or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father Knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If the only person that knows everything told you not to worry would you still worry? Well that is exactly what God is telling you. Don’t worry about rumors or things you cannot control. In other words meditate or think on things that you know are true and speak of those things as Asaph said in Psalm 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.