They whisper at first, waiting for us to notice them. We try to ignore or drown them out, and sometimes deny their existence, but they are always there. They can control how we feel when we go to sleep and wake up (and sometimes, they pop in to visit in the middle of the night).
Thoughts.
They can dictate conversations and cause offense, anger, and hurt, even when there is little justification. They are great at pointing out shortcomings, flaws, and failure. Their favorite tactic is to highlight inferiorities that pull us down into hopelessness and discouragement.
As I sat with a friend recently, we talked about our thoughts. My friend was in the middle of a tough situation at work, and she had built a scenario in her mind about why all the hard stuff was happening. Her thoughts were swirling, creating a reality that wasn’t true. The thoughts weren’t accurate, and the actual truth of the situation was the opposite of what she had crafted in her head. As she shared this with me over coffee, I could relate to her questions: “How could I have let these thoughts rob my mind and life for weeks? How could I have been so wrong and allowed my thoughts to steal so much joy?”
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? One thought spins out of control and sends us spiraling down. Before we know it, we are swimming in negative scenarios. We end up in a sad, joyless place, and wonder how we got there.
In my Bible study, we are reading in Proverbs, which gives wise advice on how to deal with our thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 says, Be careful what you think, because your 
thoughts run your life. King Solomon wrote these words for the benefit of his own sons. Although Solomon was king, he wasn’t advising his children on royal matters, job responsibilities, money management, or how to lead a kingdom. Instead, he focused on the value and necessity of controlling their thoughts. He wants them to be careful what thoughts they allowed to take over, because the quality of those thoughts can determine the quality of a life. The scripture is for us as well.
It’s easy for our thoughts to turn to feelings and then gain control, steering us in a direction we don’t want to go. Our out-of-control thoughts can cause us to sink. When disappointment comes crashing in over hurt feelings or angry emotions, our thoughts can take us to places we don’t want to be. I read a quote once that said, “You never invite a thief into your house, so why would you allow thoughts that steal your joy to make themselves at home in your mind?” That hits home for me and makes me wonder why I ever open the door to these joy-stealing thoughts.
In my house, I have post-it notes with scriptures and vision boards up on many of my walls. I talk about this in my recent book, because holding those negative thoughts captive and replacing them with life-giving thoughts takes intention. I know that surrounding myself with positivity is essential for when those discouraging thoughts come knocking. Even though my circumstances may not feel positive, it doesn’t mean my thoughts can’t be positive. This practice of intentional positive thoughts has been so important for me during a season filled with many uncertain scenarios.
God has the ultimate scenario settled for you, and it is filled with purpose, transformation, and beauty. You can change the narrative and choose life-giving thoughts over the ones that can sink your ship. Choose wisely, and a beautiful destination will be waiting for you!