Sock Lint
SCRIPTURE: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
Recently I had purchased some socks, which after one day proved to be the kind that retains an unbelievable amount of lint—lint from the floor, cat hair (and dander), dust bunnies—seen and unseen! (Dyson vacuum cleaner sale, anyone)? Since I was in no hurry, I sought to remove the unspeakable lint balls off of those socks with the use of my trusty lint roller. Mission impossible—at least not without some time and patient effort! It occurred to me that unedifying thoughts should be similarly regarded as deliberately extracted sock lint! Such thoughts may not always be ousted from our minds as quickly as we’d like; and it’s highly probable that you have no clue as to why those thoughts keep resurfacing.
Yes—as are some thoughts we unwittingly recycle, some socks seem to have been specially designed to be more dirt and dust magnets than sock! When it comes to negative, unedifying, or even toxic thoughts, over which you SEEM to have little or no control, quickly obey God’s Spirit—don’t dawdle and dwell on them; in fact, assertively and decidedly REPLACE them by lifting fervent praises and specific petitions heavenward-- BELIEVING God’s Word about His infinite care about ALL that touches you and me.
Someone has said that the enemy is “allergic” to a saint’s praises to God! From experience, many of us know this to be true. For instance, in Psalm 34:1-8 we find strong counsel on how to intercept toxic or defeatist thoughts. In essence, it reminds us of the need to take time to praise the Lord, no matter what our circumstances, to count one’s blessings, to not avoid corporate praise. It challenges the believer to recall past instances of God’s timely deliverance and grace. It’s sound theology for individuals, as well as an entire culture, to cease and desist from mental regurgitations of the past—especially when they get you no further than another round of “the blame game!” Learn from the past, and then MOVE On Prayer and sacrifices of praise change US, that is, our perspective, if not the situation at hand.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for blessing us, Your kingdom people, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; consequently, we can indeed take every thought captive to the obedience of our blessed Lord and Savior. In His name we pray and give thanks—AMEN!
By Denise Diggs
Yes—as are some thoughts we unwittingly recycle, some socks seem to have been specially designed to be more dirt and dust magnets than sock! When it comes to negative, unedifying, or even toxic thoughts, over which you SEEM to have little or no control, quickly obey God’s Spirit—don’t dawdle and dwell on them; in fact, assertively and decidedly REPLACE them by lifting fervent praises and specific petitions heavenward-- BELIEVING God’s Word about His infinite care about ALL that touches you and me.
Someone has said that the enemy is “allergic” to a saint’s praises to God! From experience, many of us know this to be true. For instance, in Psalm 34:1-8 we find strong counsel on how to intercept toxic or defeatist thoughts. In essence, it reminds us of the need to take time to praise the Lord, no matter what our circumstances, to count one’s blessings, to not avoid corporate praise. It challenges the believer to recall past instances of God’s timely deliverance and grace. It’s sound theology for individuals, as well as an entire culture, to cease and desist from mental regurgitations of the past—especially when they get you no further than another round of “the blame game!” Learn from the past, and then MOVE On Prayer and sacrifices of praise change US, that is, our perspective, if not the situation at hand.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for blessing us, Your kingdom people, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; consequently, we can indeed take every thought captive to the obedience of our blessed Lord and Savior. In His name we pray and give thanks—AMEN!
By Denise Diggs
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
February
People Are Laughing Out Loud at My BibleMe, Myself, and I (Depression)I Have to Qualify to Run the RacePreach, Preacher!Does He Know You?LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part II)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part I)God’s Obedient Wild Kingdom (Part II)PRAISE God for WITNESSES!Sock LintSock LintNO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part I)NO GAS! NO BRAKES! SAY WHUT?! (Part II)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part I)THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE (Part II)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part I)Having The Faith to Favor And Follow A Faithful God (Part II)MORE THAN 'SUPER,’ MORE THAN 'HERO'!HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part I)HE IN WE, AND WE IN HE! [where 'we' can also be 'me'] (Part II)MAKE FEBRUARY THANKSGIVING HISTORY MONTHTAKE HEED HOW YOU WALKTrust and ObeySpiritual ImmaturityMake It PersonalCain was Able and So are YouClimate Change
March
Loving My SpouseStop! In the Name of Love!Ask Not, Have Not!Beneficial GraceThe Incomparable ChristRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IRECEIVE The CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Part IIDETRIMENTAL DELAYSFootprints On the Mountainside Part IFootprints On the Mountainside Part II...I SMELL SMOKE IN THE AUDITORIUM...The Heartbeat of His HeartThe Wayward and The ObedientThe Potter and His Vessels of ClayGod Can Use Anybody!You’re Canceled!Today’s Assignment!There You Go, Again!I Messed Up!The Worker and The Work!
2022
January
Dissing Double MindednessCome-to-Jesus MomentNew Year, Same God!Is God Real?O Me of Little FaithNot Another Password!Lamb of GodA Tale of Two SongsGod WinksJesus Working Through MeA Real Friend with BenefitsGod is Trying to Tell Us SomethingEven the Lord, RestedGod’s Word to the RescueLiberty and ConscienceHaving a Made-Up MindMarch Like a SoldierThe Reality of UnityLostMiracle on the Roman RoadA Reference Point, Not a Residence
3 Comments
Boy, how many times have we had to recite Phil 4:8 to intervene and to stop our negative thinking in its tracks. Thanks Sis. Denise.
Amen.
Amen!