Like many of you, I have warred with my thoughts on a regular basis. It doesn't matter what the situation might be: whether it concerned my husband, children, ministry, position in the workforce, church or society.
I believe our thoughts control us in ways that can be quite destructive -- to both the individual and those who are included in the thoughts. Let me expound. When a woman's husband isn't home when she thinks he should be, or perhaps when he said he would be, her thoughts begin running something like this: "I wonder where my husband is? He should have been home by now. I wonder who he's with? What's he doing? What if he's with another woman? That girl down at the convenience store flirts with him every time we go in there. She doesn't even care that I'm standing there with him. He's never said, but I think he kind of enjoys it. I'll kill him! No, I'll divorce him. The thought of him having an affair is more than I could bear. Why didn't he call me to let me know he would be late? How insensitive! He never thinks about anybody but himself. He knows I have dinner ready for him every evening! What a jerk! If I treated him this way he would never let me hear the end of it. But, what if there's been an accident? What if he's hurt. What if he can't call me? No, he's just fine. He just doesn't care enough about me or our marriage to give me a call. He probably stopped in at Joe's -- again. Gosh he makes me angry!" By the time he walks in the door, her thoughts have taken her from another woman to an accident to just hanging out with a friend. And by now, she's more mad than concerned. And we all know, if the woman ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.
The inconsideration a woman feels when her husband doesn't make the effort to give her a call when he's going to be late, is escalated by her own negative thoughts. She has gone from being worried to becoming down right mad! Whatever sweetly anticipated homecoming she may have planned for him will now be shot down by her hurt feelings. She's been on an emotional roller coaster for an hour and however good the day might have been, it now lies in ruins.
Unfortunately, she no longer cares to hear about his day. She doesn't want to be the loving compassionate wife that he needs, and the dinner that was once perfect is now cold. And he can heat it up himself!
Do you see how the wife's thoughts have brought more to the problem then need be? When he finally gets home, she learns that his reason for being late might or might not have been avoidable, but by then it is too late! She really doesn't care to hear any excuses. Bottom line, he could have called. If at no other time, as he was leaving the workplace or arriving at Joe's, which ever may have been the case.
The men reading this blog could very easily be saying, "Home-cooked supper, what's that?" If that is the case then Woman Beautiful let me encourage you to make some changes. This could be a reason why it becomes easy for men to take their time getting home from work each day.
When your man arrives home at the end of a work day, his thoughts are not on pleasing you but rather they are on his stomach and some down time. I know that sounds self-centered, but he has worked hard, is tired and can't wait to get his hunger pangs satisfied. He's then ready to move to his favorite chair, probably infront of the television. I know we live in an era when women do very little cooking. That is a tragedy. I believe the reason why so few women cook these days lies in the value for women, or should I say de-value, many of us have embraced -- more destructive thought patterns that have got to be overcome!
Believing the word of God as absolute truth, 2 Corinthians 10:5 implores us to take every thought captive and in doing so, we can knock down every false thing that sets itself up against what is really true. Woman Beautiful, this thought pattern that I've mentioned may or may not have be relevant for you. But I know that there is some area of negative thinking that jumps in and runs you right over. It may not be concerning your husband but perhaps concerns your friends and the way they relate to you, your service in church or the community and the way others perceive it, or your performance in the workplace and the recognition you receive.
In all of these relationships, the way you view yourself determines the way your thoughts will flow. Do you believe that you are a beautiful woman created by God with value and worth? Do you know that God loves you unconditionally and that he has purposed you for greatness? Do you believe that this world is a much better place because you are in it? Do you know that you have the power to change lives for the good and for eternity? And do you know that you have been created with a purpose and plan that no other woman can fulfill? Woman Beautiful, these are the true things that you and I need to be thinking about.
I want to encourage you to deal with the root of your thoughts. Perhaps your husband has given you good reason to "wonder" why he's late getting home. Discuss the problem with him after you've made-up but before it is too far down the road. Perhaps it's your own insecurities that have caused those fears. If so, deal with the root of those insecurities. If you'll be honest with yourself, you'll identify the hurt that has caused you to be fearful.
This one thing I know for sure, the wicked one is out to kill, still and destroy -- without question and almost without exception, he will start in your thoughts. Woman Beautiful, you have victory over your thoughts. Let them be life giving and not death bringing. Let them buildup -- not tear down. Let them bless and not curse, you or the people God's placed in your life.
Praying you'll experience victory in your mental and emotional beauty.
Love and Blessings, Amanda
