Ever make yourself sick? You ate something you knew would upset your stomach or cause heartburn later. Maybe you stayed up too late knowing you had a “big day” coming up. Perhaps you’ve continually eaten things that have packed on the pounds causing a mirid of discomforts and disorders. Sorry.
I bring that up because I think we do the same thing to ourselves mentally. For some reason our soul loves to dine on negative thoughts. Gossip is tasty, self-pity goes down so smooth, self-loathing has an addictive quality, and expecting the worst feels so right. Yet, all of this negativity drives up anxiety and invites depression. We become emotionally obese. Our thoughts are painful and our mood morose.
What if there was a way to brighten our mood and let a little light into our soul? What if you could get an appetite for positive, healthy, joyful thoughts? The key, as Dr. Tim Keller tells us, is not to listen to your heart but to talk to it. Don’t be driven by how you feel; direct your feelings according to the promises of God.
-Pastor Joel Everhart