Stay Free of Stinking Thinking

I grew up in a low social-economic community. Life was hard during those years. My father was the only bread-winner and my mother was a homemaker. My father worked hard to provide for his family. It was difficult financially during those days with a large family. Nevertheless, in comparison to others, I always felt we were slighted by God.

My thoughts about God were so negative. I felt He was prejudiced and cared for others more than He cared for me and my family. Compared to others, I felt we should have had better things in life. I thought God was a respecter of persons and races. I believed God loved others more than He loved me.

When I was older, I had an opportunity to visit Haiti on a mission trip. While riding through certain areas of the city, I observed the living conditions of some of the people. Some lived in homes made with straw or other man-made materials without a solid foundation and some lived within wooded areas. I wept during the entire trip because this was a great awakening for me. After seeing all of the poverty in Haiti, I recognized that all these years of growing up I had developed “stinking thinking.”

This missions trip helped me understand there is always someone who may be worse off. God loves the Haitian people as much as He loves me. I was comparing myself with others, not recognizing God's many blessings for my family. We had more than enough compared to what I experienced in Haiti.

He has always proven to be faithful. My thoughts about God have radically changed since my mission trip to Haiti and as I grew older I understood God was no respecter of persons. He is a respecter of faith. I remembered the countenance on those families was joyous because they had love and each other. Material things do not make a family, but love and unity do; and even when we did not have a lot of material things, we had lots of love.

So when the enemy tempts you to compare yourself with others and think negative thoughts that God doesn’t care or is not listening to you, begin to reflect on the good things God has done for you and praise Him. Then the light will burst through your darkness and the glory of God will shine on your situation. 

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things." (NKJV) 

When we think on the good things God has done, the joy of the Lord will arise in our hearts and thanksgiving on our lips. The peace of God will rest in our hearts. Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 when those negative thoughts begin to attack your mind:

“... casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ...” (verse 5)

There are sinister forces that seek to destroy us, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to maintain a renewed and godly mind. Our enemy has been defeated and we do not have to compare ourselves to others. God is good to us all and wants the best for us. We, as children of God, must have the mind of Christ. Stay free of stinking thinking and let us ponder how God thinks; and by so doing, act like His children. 

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.