The next behavior Mrs Meyer discusses is one of my favorites too, so it is another topic I talk about a lot. She calls it “Thoughts, Words and Habits.” First, we must understand that our mind is so very powerful. If we choose to set our minds on something, then we will be able to get it done, if we do not change our minds, of course. She talks about the Tower of Babel and how God had to confuse their language or else, the evil thing the people had set their minds to do, nothing would stop them from achieving it. (see Gen 11:5-8) If we will fix our mind on doing something, like losing weight for instance, we must not allow the enemy or anyone else, including that old Jezebel, to talk us out of it. Setting our minds is being so determined that nothing will alter our course. Please note: we must be honest with ourselves here! When we say things like, “I just can’t lose weight!” The truth is, we just don’t want to do all the work and sacrifice required to lose weight. I am a great example of that nonsense…but more on that Thursday.
Second, Mrs Meyer talks about the power of our words. She quotes Watchman Nee, a great Chinese church leader and Christian teacher during the 20th century, as saying, “Idle words leak power,” just to emphasize how useless words can cause us to lose the power of life which then cause problems for us. For instance, some people will say things like, “I will never lose weight!” To this, she says, “If you are going to talk, why don’t you say something that will help you?!” She then cites one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 18:21, which says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” (Pr 18:21 AMP) What we say, to ourselves or to others, has consequences for good or bad depending on what we are saying…and I might add, also depending on the way we say them. If we say, “I just can’t do anything right,” we are speaking death over ourselves. But if we say, “Well, I’m not perfect but I will keep on working on myself and I will get better,” we are speaking truth and hope into our lives. The more aware we become of the thoughts in our minds, the more we can control the words we speak and, if we control them, the more we will reap goodness in our lives.
14 Good Habits
Behavior 1: The God Habit
Behavior 2: Thoughts, Words and Habits
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
<>< Peace, Diane
