Jeff sits very still. His face etched with tension, a faraway look in his eyes. Jenny slides into the seat beside him. Gently placing her hand on his back she asked, “A penny for your thoughts?”
What if we received a penny for each of our thoughts? Have you ever wondered how many thoughts run through your mind each day? Researchers suggest we average approximately 48.6 thoughts per minute.1 “Let’s call it an even 49 thoughts per minute. That’s 2,916 thoughts per hour, 69,984 per day, and 25,544,160 per year.”2 That would add up to a lot of pennies!
How much are thoughts really worth? Would you say that some thoughts are worthless while others are priceless?
THOUGHTS IMPACT
Every thought we have causes a corresponding chemical or neurological reaction in our body. The brain’s chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, “communicate with different parts of itself and the nervous system. Neurotransmitters control virtually all of the body’s functions, from feeling happy to modulating hormones to dealing with stress.”3
Thoughts that stick in our minds and replay like a video, impact our bodies either positively or negatively. Positive, optimistic thinking increases our immunity to disease but negative, depressive thinking reduces our immunity.4 Our thoughts don’t even need to be rational or accurate because what we believe is our reality.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he,
Proverbs 23:7a
WHAT THOUGHTS ARE WORTHLESS?
NEGATIVE ONES!
WHERE DO THEY BELONG?
IN THE TRASH!
Haven’t we all had worthless thoughts? Thoughts that make us feel anxious or rejected. Who can feel good when someone calls them lazy, ugly or stupid? Hearing those words often enough makes it difficult not to think about them and believe them.
Replaying a video of worthless thoughts in our minds impacts our health.
The video in my mind got stuck on worthless thoughts which negatively impacted my body. Thoughts which were fearful, unforgiving, rejecting and unloving to name a few. Many of you know the result was years dealing with the autoimmune disease chronic fatigue syndrome.
If you know anything about autoimmune disease, you know that it is when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. My video of unloving thoughts about myself caused my body to attack itself. As my thoughts rejected me, so did my body.
Those unloving thoughts were worthless lies from the evil one who contradicts or twist God’s truth.
When he speaks a lie (the devil),
he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it,
John 8:44b
BUT GOD SET ME FREE WITH HIS PRICELESS THOUGHTS!
God’s priceless thoughts in His Word, positively impact us the most. When we replay these thoughts and in faith believe them, they are life (John 6:63) and health to our bodies.
For they (God’s Words) are life to those who find them,
and health to all their flesh,
Proverbs 4:22
Thoughts of the blessings God puts in our lives like others’ kindness, loving words, a child’s laughter, funny antics of a pet, warm gathering of friends or the beauty of nature are priceless. When we replay these thoughts, it impacts our bodies in a positive way.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things,
Philippians 4:8 NIV
CONVICTING THOUGHTS ARE PRICELESS TOO!
ARE THEY NEGATIVE? NO!
ARE THEY WORTHLESS? NO!
Convicting thoughts are loving thoughts from the Holy Spirit which encourage us to change or forgive. Although they might not be easy to hear, making the changes will positively impact our lives.
For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
just as a father the son in whom he delights,
Proverbs 3:12
WHAT IF WE HAVE A WORTHLESS THOUGHT?
We are not perfect so worthless thoughts may occasionally creep into all of our minds. Look at the people in the Bible. What worthless thought was Jonah thinking when he was disobedient? (Jonah 1:1-3). What were Ananias and Sapphira thinking when they lied? (Acts 5:1-11) So, what do we do when a worthless thought comes?
DON’T GRAB HOLD OF IT!
LET GO!
THROW THAT THOUGHT AWAY!
HOW?
#1. RECOGNIZE IT
Recognize worthless thoughts as a tool of the devil to draw us away from God.
#2 REFUSE IT
Rather than imagining that video replaying in your mind, throw the negative thoughts away.
Casting down imaginations,
and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5
#3 REPLACE IT
Replace the negative thought with a positive truth from God’s Word. For example:
Unloving Thought? God’s Truth Jeremiah 31:3!
I’m Unimportant? God’s Truth Psalm 139:1-3!
#4 PROTECT IT
Protect our thoughts by committing all that we do to the Lord.
Commit your works to the Lord,
and your thoughts will be established,
Proverbs 16:3
REFLECTION
How are your thoughts impacting you?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Proverbs 16:3 and say it aloud, I commit all that I do to You. Lead me and help me to recognize, refuse and replace worthless thoughts with Your priceless truth. In Jesus name. Amen.
BY FAITH GRAB ONTO GOD’S PRICELESS TRUTH
May your day be filled with love and laughter!
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For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 USC Laboratory of Neuro Imaging.
2 Vox.com
3 psychologytoday.com
4 verywellmind.com
Photo brain only, Arthur
Photo dog, Meli1670
Photo trash, Michal Balog
Photo girl, Leo Rivas
