We were having a serious debate in our household recently about whether or not unicorns were ever real. The kids felt that since Mystery Doug—the famous scientist on the smart board at school—says it’s possible it MUST be true!
It was a funny conversation between my children and my husband (the vet in the house!), but it was also a good reminder of how careful we must be in regards to what we say (and think) is true.
I can say from the anxiety and depression I’ve become more familiar with over the past year, that so much of my spiral downward began with thoughts that were not true. Recently, these two verses have been ones I’ve had to commit to memory:
8 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
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Our little discussion as a family was silly and trivial, yet such a good reminder to me that while I’m not thinking about unicorns or Vamparina, I am constantly thinking on things that are not true. Things like, “Well, she didn’t talk to me, so she must be upset with me.” Or “I can’t believe I said that—how could God still love me?” These things are not true. I don’t know that other person’s thoughts. Unless she has told me she is actually upset with me, I should not make assumptions, or I should ask her if I’ve offended her in some way and if necessary, seek forgiveness. And God’s Word is so clear that even after I am assured of my salvation, I am still going to sin—and because of what Christ did on the cross, God does love me even though I am a sinner, and He chooses to see me washed white as snow.
When the spiral begins, it has been helpful to pray these Scriptures back to God—to ask Him to help me think in these ways and interrupt my unhealthy patterns. I am reminded to think on what is TRUE and not on the lies Satan works so hard to make us believe.
Our little family discussion also points to another major issue in today’s culture: do we believe everything we hear, read or see? Our world does not love Jesus and so much of it stands in direct opposition to what the Bible tells us. Even churches can be heard saying that our lives are all about our own personal happiness. And we should turn and run. We must be so careful that both our children and ourselves are not deceived—that we test things by the truth of the Scripture—is this what God tells us is true in His Word?
Let us be so thankful today for God’s Word—let’s memorize it, study it and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand it. Let’s use the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” And let’s be diligent in prayer, asking God to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”