I Spy Something.......

Have you ever played the game, "I Spy?" You know where you "spy" something in the room and someone else has to guess it? Jennifer Rothschild used an illustration of this in our summer Bible study (which just ended and I am soooo sad!) I've never experienced intimacy and learning in such a short period of time as I did the past 7 weeks! It's been a life changing summer for me! Anyway, back to the illustration.....Jennifer shared that she was impatiently waiting on the tarmac for her plane to take off, and the captain came on the speaker to announce that the wait was going to be a bit longer. She and the other passengers groaned and just weren't in the mood for a longer wait. She thought to herself that it would be a miracle if the plane takes off when they said it would. She wasn't looking for miracles though, but pulling things from her "thought closet" that were only making her more tense. For those not familiar with the term "thought closet" it's what we call "self-talk." What we say to ourselves, our evaluations of everything we and others do, how we compare ourselves and others, even calling ourselves and/or others names. So, back to the story.....All of the sudden she heard behind her a little girl saying to her Daddy as they passed the time, "I spy something blue.".....and the game went on as the Father cheerfully guessed. Then she said, "I spy something GOOD." He then began listing all the good things he could think of. Jennifer's critical spirit began to change and soften upon hearing this. Why? Because she started hearing and focusing on "something good" in her thought closet versus the negative.
This illustration has stuck with me for the rest of the study this summer and I believe (and hope) for the rest of my life. How easy is it for us to spy something bad? How quick are we to be critical and not edifying? If you've read my blog, you will find this is just a continuation of what God's been showing me this summer. The two groups I have been intimately involved in are my Bible Fellowship ladies class, "The Well" (aka "Sisterchicks"), and our Tues. night study ladies (aka "Siestas"). Yes, I have nicknames for everything! My Sisterchicks are doing a Bible study on authentic friendships every Sunday morning. We're learning through various biblical examples what it means being a friend to others by being real, open, honest, and faithful, and being more like Jesus. My Siestas have been studying on cleaning out our thought closets, so we can know who we are according to Christ and think, speak, and act like Him. They go hand in hand! How we think of ourselves and talk to ourselves affects how we think and talk and act with others.
I sometimes feel like a broken record, but God continues to bring lightbulb moments to me as I am seeking to be one who edifies others. It's a process....a daily process because I can be one hormonal mess as a menopausal woman. (Can I hear an "amen, sister?") I can hear and believe Christ one day and choose to speak truth and encouragement to myself and others, then a situation arises and my feelings start to lead rather than truth. It's so easy to follow my feelings and opinions instead of truth. That's why I think God's been so gracious to give me frequent reminders this summer of truth and a wonderful accountability support of godly girlfriends. It's an intentional work, but thankfully one that I am not left to my own efforts.

A very wise pastor once shared that there are three areas where we must ask ourselves before we speak, based on Philippians 4:8

1. Is it encouraging?
We were each created with gifts whose only purpose is to edify the body (church) which glorifies God. If it's not going to edify the church, perhaps it is something I should not say. And if it's something I should not say, perhaps it's something I should not even be thinking and need to take to the Lord to clean out my thought closet.

2. Is it truth?
Obviously, some truth is tough and needs to be spoken and handled. However, are we sure it's truth? Is it something I just think? Something that's just my opinion? Something I've only considered in the context of "me" without checking biblical truths or with the source? Is it something I've heard someone else say or do I know for a fact it is true? Am I basing my words on what others have stated? Is it something I may have only heard a part of....out of context? Have I verified what is true before responding or sharing?

3. Is it necessary?
Even truth sometimes is not always necessary for us to speak. Ever been around a 2 yr old that asks when that lady is going to have a baby, only to discover the lady's not pregnant? Yeah....you get what I'm saying now, huh? Maybe its an issue that God is already working on, and He doesn't need your help. Sometimes, the Lord asks us to shut our mouths so HE can speak. He is much more effective than we are. The changes He makes last. Our words do not carry that much power. Even speaking truth can be gossip when it's done with a critical spirit or wrong attitude. How does it edify the church to talk about all the weaknesses of others? How would we like it if others did the same towards us? It could be that God might just be wanting us to show grace because we need to recognize how much we ourselves need it when we've messed up.

Remember, too, that a lot of these are concerning ourselves as much as others. If you are like me, you can your own worst critic without needing someone else to jump on the bandwagon, too. But God's sure been transforming and cleaning out my "thought closet" this summer, and I am LOVING the new styles! He is ALWAYS a God of fashion!

So, I challenge you once again as God has challenged me. I wonder if we all kept a daily diary of our thoughts, words, and actions, would God spy something good or something bad? Are you thinking negatively of yourself instead of focusing on the truths of who God says you are? Get that settled through prayer and focusing on the Word of God-the only source of truth. Remember, a negative thought life not only affects you and your walk, but affects how you deal with others, and can eventually impact an entire church. Know who God calls you, remember the grace He lavishes on you daily, and in recognition of that be a light and encourager to others- a vessel of GRACE.

I spy something GOOD! See if you can guess all the good things around you today!

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. " Philippians 4:8 (The Message)