Becoming the Person We’re Becoming

Dr Caroline Leaf says that what we think about most, grows. It is a truth that pierces the heart and compels understanding. Too often I have lazily allowed negative thoughts to grow to the point of overwhelming me. You too may ascend in agreement. If not, this article is not for you.

Becoming the person we’re becoming is a process, and such is the patience of God, we may routinely relearn and retake lessons.

When we learn the product of our negative thinking we begin to see the urgency in the truth: what we think about most, grows. The pain we’ve endured takes us deeper into the purposes of hardship; lessons hard learned should avail to us resolute realities. One of those realities is we soon get sick and tired of feeling sick and tired.

Such is the impetus that convinces us to relearn and retake our lessons.

The James’ double-mindedness comes to bear upon the negative mind, for none of us enjoy being the procurer of our own destruction. Knowing this compels us forward on a different trajectory.

We try again. Starting over, we investigate the possibility of reframing our thoughts. We meditate on His Word — those that speak to us — day and night. And one of those, among the many, the Lord instructs me, comes this time from a children’s book.

Whatever is lovely.

Here is the truth in its New Testament glory.

“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)

Think about such things.

Another version of the Bible — an Australian English — says, “whatever gives pleasure… then turn [this] over in your mind.” (Under the Southern Cross version) How wonderful when we find pleasure in the simplest of loves, knowing God loves us. That that is all that really matters.

If what we think about most, grows, then as we think about whatever is lovely, love is what grows from within us.