What Were You Thinking????

My Grandmother would look at me, shake her head and ask, "What were you thinking?" My reply was always so intelligent; "I don't know." Maybe you have had that experience! You really weren't concious about what you were thinking. You didn't really take time to think it through.Paul writes a thank you letter back to his friends and he shares his thoughts. Thoughts that are so insightful for those of us who today need to know how to live in the midst of difficult times and situations.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. 4:13There are so many people that simply live defeated by the relentless onslaught of daily issues! They battle to have peace of mind, their health is always unstable  and they live continually tired! In short their lives are not filled with much happiness or joy.I mean when was the last time that you woke up and said, “Wow my life is amazing!”? Paul was in prison and he is writing back to the Phillipians. Everything he has done over the last twenty years was under attack I'm sure he was physically exhausted, but in the midst of these circumstance, he is reassuring them of his own well being! And he is encouraging them not to be discouraged.The “things” of this world can overwhelm you to the point that your hopes and dreams are interrupted by thoughts of inferiority and inadequacy.  What we do in these moments is vital to our success! Paul could have lamented over his situation and his circumstances. He could have gotten upset over the mess he was in, but his attitude is stunning!Paul, stirs us to the reality that each of us “can do  ALL THINGS.... through Christ who strengths us!”He was continually subjected to hardships and attacks. And yet it is obvious that he never allowed those “things” to keep him from believing in his own ability to “do any thing.”“...in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 2Cor. 11:23-28Pauls own "things" did not hinder him from believing that he could continue to do any "thing." Paul had more than his share of trials and tribulations and yet he shouts back; “I can do all things....” How was he able to do this? What was his secret? What are we to learn from Paul?Is this merely his ability to be positive in a negative world? This strength to stand in the midst of a world that is opposed to you, who attacks and tries to discredit you, it is intoxicating! Listen to what he says to the Romans.“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).Here it is! Paul knew that he was loved! Loved not by a conditional love that would not forsake him even if he failed. No, a love that loved him in the midst of his own failures and yet never gave up on him. In fact the circumstances of life served only to reinforce his belief in God's love. "When I am weak, He is strong."It’s as if Paul were saying to us; none of these things matter. Christ is empowering me to face and to overcome every obstacle. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Wow, what confidence!Right now, you and I are living in a society where it is hard to have confidence in financial institutions, governments, or social systems! Some would say we should never have even thought that these institutions or systems would ever be capable of assisting society. And that may be true. But the reality is not only a loss of confidence in humanity as a whole, but a loss of confidence in myself as an individual.Every where we turn it is hard to find the ability to have confidence in any “thing”!!!! So... many people have lost confidence in themselves and in God. No wonder the writer of the Hebrew letter says; Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Heb. 10:35The enemy of our lives messes with our confidence! He wants to create doubts and fears in your emotions in order to keep us from receiving the energy, the life, the very power of Christ into your lives.The constant beating of life itself, the accumulation of circumstances, the ever increasing speed of our daily lives tends to discourage us and drain us of the very energy of life.Every where I turn I hear some one exclaiming, “I am so tired.” Over the last several years I have met many who are trying to find ways of retiring, long before they are truly spent! The truth is that you and I are suppose to be able to renew, to re-charge our batteries and to live in a constant flow of the power of Christ. Isaiah the prophet said: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Is. 40:31This prophet reminds us that the Lord, Christ himself wants us to be renewed! He wants us to live without being weary or fainting!It is my firm belief, that if the truths (tools) of Christianity were properly utilized and developed there would be an uninterrupted and continual flow of the power of Christ into our human lives.I recently read after a physician who said, “It is not hard work that drains off energy but emotional unheaval.” It appears to me that the enemy of our lives works overtime to create emotional upheaval in our lives.To live with a constant state of energy it is important to receive healing in our emotions.  A life of inner peace that is our goal! To change our thoughts about God and ourselves is truly the challenge of this age. The primary struggle then in gaining emotional peace is in the effort of revamping our thinking. It is all about our “attitude”!!!We feed the feeling of insecurity or security by how we think. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” (Pr. 23:7) If we are constantly fixing our attention on horrible expectations, the result is that we will constantly feel insecure.Dr. Karl Menninger said, “Attitudes are more important than facts.” (Now that is worth stopping and thinking about for a moment)No wonder Paul said, “I think myself happy....” Acts 26:2.I have come to understand that we have under estimated our ability to chose our thoughts. We have under estimated the potential and power of our thoughts. It appears to me that maybe we cannot change what has happened to us or around us! But we can change how we think and how we respond to these  “THINGS”!Paul encouraged us that real transformation comes from the “renewing of our minds.” (Rom. 12:2). There remains an unlimited potential in each one of us! The potential of allowing the very strength of Christ to flow into our lives unhindered by the negative thoughts of this world.Paul was in prision! And yet he shouted out... “I can do all things through Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Phil. 4:13, AMP)Maybe we should write or even shout.... "I CAN DO ALL THINGS..."