How is Your Thought Life?
“Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” – Michelangelo
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, New International Version (NIV)
I have discovered that one of the easiest ways to become depressed is to allow myself to dwell on my past. Could-have-done, could-have-been, and regrets, if allowed to remain in our thought life, can quickly derail us both emotionally and spiritually.
We literally have no business dwelling on the past, for God Himself doesn’t think about our past. He sees us in the light of who we will become in the fulness of eternity. If you are a Christian, you need to think of yourself in the reality of who you are in Christ, not who you were. Who you were includes not just before you were a Christian, but even who you were an hour ago.
Freedom of guilt and regret requires us to be, what I call, “living in the eternal today.” God has put so much value in you and in your eternal potential to fulfill His plans for eternity that there is absolutely no reason to think less of yourself or to dwell on what you may have done in the past.
The following is an excerpt from The Fulfilled Marriage: The Three Doors that I hope will give you a clear perspective of how much God loves you, and what He promises for your future.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10, NIV
God has eyes that see beyond what you see. He sees what you will be in eternity. In God’s eyes, it is not as important who you are today as who you will become in the future. The word “handiwork” means to be made by the hands of a craftsman or an artist. Think about that in relation to God. He is the perfect craftsman and perfect artist. That means you are being perfected and He sees you in light of what He will make of you for eternity.
Do not consider yourself any less than by what God sees in you. Do not consider your spouse any less than God sees him or her. You are on your way to perfection and God will not stop until He finishes the job on both of you. Until that time, receive grace and give grace to your spouse.
Love and blessings,
Ted
