You Need New Thoughts if You Want to be Patient
Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”
I’m not sure I completely agree with that, but I do believe changing your thoughts will change your attitude and that will definitely change your view of the world.
So…
If you want to be more patient you have to stop thinking impatience.
Things like:
- I can’t believe I’m stuck in traffic again.
- Can’t they get my food out faster, it’s taking FOREVER.
- Why hasn’t _________ returned my call? I must not be important enough to them.
- That doctor has no respect for their patients. This waiting is ridiculous.
- Lines. Lines. Lines. This store doesn’t care about their customers.
- Just hurry up!!!!!
I don’t know about you, but I felt my stress levels increasing just writing those sentences.
Most of us are completely unaware of the ways our thoughts influence our circumstances. We have the ability to feel calm or stressed, happy or unhappy, patient or impatient. Those feelings sneak out in the ways we interact with others. AND like it or not . . . affect how they interact with us.
Whew!
So, let’s start reclaiming our thoughts, change our attitudes, and enjoy more patience.
Quotes to Help You Have New Thoughts
Remember happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have: it depends solely upon what you think. ~ Dale Carnegie
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Life does not consist mainly, or even largely, of facts and happenings. It consists mainly of the storm of thought that is forever flowing through one’s head. ~ Mark Twain
Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23
“The ultimate measure of a man [or women] is not where he [she] stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he [she] stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
“By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do what needs to be done.” ~Lailah Gifty Akita
Good news!
You’re not alone!
Patience is not mind over matter or mind over circumstances.
Patience is surrender. Patience is knowing God’s truth and by the power of the Holy Spirit allowing His presence to change us by changing our thoughts.
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
This is Holy Spirit work friends!
I need to be honest with you here.
Getting control over my thoughts is one of my greatest challenges. I get stuck.
This isn’t fair! I can’t believe I said that! I don’t have time to wait! Why won’t they just cooperate! I want it and I want it . . . NOW!
Until about a week ago, I didn’t think patience was much of a problem for me. I’ve told you I get a little nervous as I start a new topic each month. I knew my patience would most likely be challenged, but it wouldn’t be that bad. I’ve got this patience thing down…
AND pride comes before the fall!
I need mercy and grace and I’m surrendering my impatient thoughts (and behavior) to the One who is more than able to help me transform my impatient thoughts, words, and actions into something He can use for my good and His glory.
That’s Redemption!
I sat with a friend the other day and we talked about the joys of living a redeemed life.
You see, we’ve both lived through times where either our own choices or someone else’s left us feeling stuck in despair. Impatient for change and wondering if it would ever happen.
But God…
Redeemed us.
Through Jesus, we have been redeemed not just for heaven but for earth.
We talked about the ways the Lord replaced our tears with joy. How He has given us beauty for ashes.
Whatever your circumstances, you are not stuck.
Praise God, by His grace, you can have a new story. Right now!
“Only God can write a story that resonates not just in the power of the imagination or the heart or the mind, but in the very soul; only God can write a story that brings dead things to life.” ~Jared C. Wilson
You can have life! A blessing full life. A life of joy.
Beauty for ashes. Redemption.
Join me as I surrender my thoughts, again today, to the Lord. Giving Him the freedom to change our thoughts and make beautiful stories of our lives.
Remember…
Some of the most important conversations you
will ever have are the ones you have with yourself.
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Are You Pouring New Wine into Old Wineskins?
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Hey Deb, those are such great Scriptures on the importance of our thoughts. Thank you for the reminder that God is in the business of redeeming our stories. I am incredibly thankful for this as well!
Incredible how our thoughts are linked with our patience levels. You know I never thought of it this way!
Thank you for the teaching today. You have been quite patient teaching and writing about ‘patience’
Blessings to you
Deb, I’ve been away from blogging for awhile, and one of the first linkups I went to is yours. one of my favorites. And you always have such a great post! Love all those quotes interspersed with Bible verses. Such truth in what you wrote today.
Praise God, that with Him we are not stuck! I love this verse, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23” It’s so true that we can get caught up in negative emotion due to our thoughts.
Jesus told those listening that if you entertain a sin in your mind/heart it is as if you already committed it. (Matthew 5:28) So the opposite should also be true . . . if you entertain GOOD in your mind/heart it is as if you already committed it 😀
I am in the process of forming a new habit — when ugly thoughts come along I “lasso” them and send them away. I make it a deliberate “choice” to not develop thoughts that dishonor my King, Jesus.
It doesn’t always work – yet – but I am determined to make this such a habit that I do it automatically.
Thanks for this posting. There is comfort knowing we are not alone in these struggles.
Psalm 19:14 is a daily prayer for me. A great verse to memorize for when your thinking gets stinking.
You are so right — need that change of thoughts. I have a friend who is always late. I say she’s gives my patience its weekly workout! I like King’s quote “where we are in challenging times. ” Something to remind myself of in the mundane of days.
Good words as always, Deb! Taking every thought captive is indeed a major challenge. I often take a deep breath and remind myself of the truth of whatever is going on versus my anxious impatience having the floor! Have a blessed weekend!
Deb, I so appreciate how you hold up the standard and then build a ladder with truth that will help us reach it in Christ.
Blessings to you!
Changing that thought process … a HUGE area I had to grow in life and still am growing. The enemy wants to creep in and whisper lies and he finds his way in as soon as I start letting my thought process head in any negative direction – whether it is directed toward myself or toward life in general. Years ago I remember reading a Joyce Meyer book (I think) and she wrote of putting up a big red mental stop sign every time you began a negative thought process. I still do it to this day! 🙂 Well … as soon as I catch onto the fact that I am doing it anyway!
Love this, Deb!
Determined to surrender my thoughts to God today, Deb!
Blessings, and have a wonderful weekend!
I need to meditate on Psalm 19:14 today. Thanks for reminding us that this is God’s will.
Hi Deb
Thanks for reminding us the importance of renewing our mind to become more like God and to be set free