Happy Thoughts part 1
Your thought life is vitally important. Because the way you think about things literally affects how you deal with things. If you see something as "bad," for example, you're way more likely to try to fight against that thing. But if you see the same thing as "good," then you'll probably be more willing to accept it. Here's what Jesus said about all that though, "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Its like we don't realize that Good and Evil were on the same tree. The tree of death. The fig tree that Jesus cursed because it looked ok, but was unable to produce any fruit. Yet we swing back and forth from branch to branch and let our thoughts run around in circles. Here's the deal, guys: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). And that's from a guy who had his brothers sell him into slavery, and spent a lot of time in prison for crimes he didn't commit, and basically had every reason in the world to hold a grudge. But what he did instead was he trusted God. He kept a positive attitude. Almost like he knew that, "...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). God has a master plan. That's what He thinks about. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11). God has happy thoughts. And the reason they are so happy (sorry if I'm getting Scripture-happy today, trying to lay a good foundation) is because He is, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isaiah 46:10). That expected end that God thinks toward you... from His perspective it has already happened. It happened 2,000 years ago on the cross. And really, since the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world, it happened before anything else happened. That expected end is not a hoped for end. It is the end that He knew from the beginning. It is not a Plan B. It is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life. THE PLAN. So when the plan takes unexpected turns... when the straight and narrow way that leads to life feels like a long and winding roard... we can think happy thoughts. In the movie Hook, happy thoughts make you fly. In the real world they can help you through what you're going through. And, as always, I'm not saying you should ignore things. Sticking your head in the sand might work for ostriches, but it doesn't work for humans. You have to deal with what comes your way. Joseph didn't act like he wasn't sold into slavery. He didn't act like he wasn't in jail. He acted like God was with him no matter what. He looked on the sunny side of life, if I can say it that way. The light of the world (Jesus, love) let him see things as they really are. Because truth is higher than fact. The fact of the matter was jail... the truth of the matter was one more step in the journey to saving his people. So don't judge things in the moment by how they look. Try to see the bigger picture. Try to understand that God has good, happy thoughts toward you. And let THAT mind of Christ (that's already in you) BE in you! The mind of love. Thoughts of love. Happy thoughts!