What are you thinking?

          Some or many of you are probably familiar with Nick Vujicic an inspirational speaker who has ministered to thousands of people around the world. Recently, this past week, I was looking for some Christian inspiration to share with a group of teenagers to inspire them in their walk with God. I came upon one of many videos by this speaker and decided to share that with them. I shared some background history on him because for the most part they knew very little or nothing at all about him. I wanted them to see that he had no arms or legs but that that was not stopping him from giving his all to God. He was using what he has to glorify God and was not choosing to focus on his limitations. 
            As I looked at another video with him in ministry, what caught my attention was not his handicap but the large crowd I was seeing waiting to hear what he had to say. This man could have chosen to stay in a corner and hide, and sulk and complain about all that God had not given him, about how imperfect he was and above all, the fact that he had nothing to share, nothing to offer to anyone far more the world. But he didn’t. He lived his life and continues to live it to the full in spite of limitations.
            Many times we try so hard to hide our flaws, our limitations, afraid that we would be rejected, afraid of being told that we have nothing to offer, that we are not qualified to do great things. But as I looked at that vast crowd in front of Nick, who appeared even smaller because he had no legs to elevate him, he was not afraid and whoever I saw, looked as if they were very much interested in what he had to say, in what he had to offer. 
        I am reading a book now by Pastor Joel Osteen entitled “Emptying out the negative.” And what I am reading seems to parallel Nick’s life. Nick could have said, and honestly so, that he has no arms or legs, so he can’t play sports. But guess what ... he does. He could have said that because of no arms or legs he can’t get married because after all he can’t hold his wife to hug her and love her and be the husband that she wants. But guess what ... he is married and has four children. He could have said I have no arms or legs and I can never do a whole lot for God. But guess what ... over a number of years he has ministered to thousands and more I’m sure, encouraging and inspiring people to serve God. His life has not been easy but he has clearly chosen to empty out, to remove every negative thought meant to stop him from living an abundant life in Christ. 
          What thoughts are you clinging to that are probably stopping you from doing great things for God? What thoughts are stopping you from accomplishing a goal or a task that you know even God is pushing you towards? At the end of the day, when you think about it, sometimes it’s not the devil or other people that stops us. We are the ones that welcome and entertain negative thoughts that hinder us from doing so much more than what we are doing right now. Our opinion of ourselves could be our greatest blockage and all the devil has to do is whisper a thought or send the right person to say that we can’t, that we’re not good enough, that we shouldn’t even bother to try because it’s too late and we would come into total agreement with them and not even bother to try.         
           Imagine if David had been intimidated by the words of Goliath. The entire Israelite army was ... and they were the trained soldiers! They allowed the negative words of their enemy to so intimidate and cut them down that they were immobilised with fear (1 Samuel 17:11)! He had not even killed anyone. All Goliath used was “words” and that was enough to cause Israel to believe that they were defeated ... and defeated they were before they even started the battle because they had no confidence in themselves or in their God. David, on the other hand, knew His God and saw what he was able to accomplish through His God. With God’s help he had killed a lion and a bear and he knew he could kill this giant, not in his own strength, but with God’s help. His confidence in himself was based on his confidence in His God! (1 Samuel 17)       
              What negative thoughts are you entertaining and welcoming even holding on to tightly today? What are you saying and believing about yourself that could be hindering you from doing great things for God? Guess what? You need to empty out those negative thoughts and replace them with right ones, with God’s Word, with what God has said about you. You are blessed, you are certainly not cursed (Ephesians 1:3). You are favoured by God (Psalms 5:12), you are  the beloved of the Lord (Ephesians 1:6). Whatever you put your hands to do that is good is blessed (Deuteronomy 28:8). You are the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). You are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37). You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). You are equipped, you can handle it. God will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b). And there are so many more truths you can rely on and hold on to.         
          With not a little shame, I remember recently getting the opportunity to do something for God but because of fear, because of negative thinking of not being good enough, I ran from the opportunity. Afterwards I realized that I had been making excuses and that if God sends the opportunity, no matter how it comes, He will enable me to do it.           
            Let’s strive to be the best we can be. Let’s choose to focus on what God says about us. Let’s choose to force out the negative opinions and thoughts about ourselves and instead choose to align ourselves with God’s opinion of us. God’s Word still stands, still outruns the competition, still gives life. Choose to believe and speak life over yourself. After all, God is still able to perfect that which concerns you (Psalm 138:8a).           
​            If you have not accepted Christ into your life as Lord and Saviour, I invite you to do that today. Let Him change out those negative thoughts and replace them with new ones, new thoughts from Him that will help push you to accomplish more in Him than you could ever have dreamed or imagined. 

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