Thinking right thoughts

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

A few weeks ago the Lord convicted me of a bad habit I have of thinking negative thoughts. These thoughts can be negative about a person, a situation, what ever. I know that speaking negatively is a bad thing, but I had never really thought about the things that I don't say but think in my mind.
When I am doing dishes or drying my hair, I will often times just think about "stuff". The other day on the way back from talking with a neighbor I found myself "thinking" a something about her in my head. Lately I have started to ask my self if what I am thinking falls under one of the characteristics above. When I started actually paying attention to this habit, I was shocked at how often my thoughts are negative and do not follow the Philippians 4:8 way of thinking!!

This type of thinking can really harm my relationships with people, and add to my fears and anxieties. Luke 6:45 says: The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (or in my case..his mind thinks!)

Today in my devotional book I read this little quote from Barbara Johnson...."You must learn to resist negative thoughts before they hijack your emotions." Oh how often my negative thoughts hijack my emotions! Sometimes it can be negative thinking that can make me bitter or irritated with the people I love (especially my husband!) or it can be negative thoughts that lead me into a spiral of fear and anxiety.

So glad God brought this to my attention, now I just need prayer to help me keep it in check.