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Thoughts as a Source of Distress
What are the things that really frighten you? What are ways that you can learn to trust the Lord, despite that fear? After all, isn’t the Lord’s power greater than whatever threats you face?
Much suffering can occur through thinking. Psychologist Philip Zimbardo, in his book Psychology and Life, reports the case of a young woman taken to a hospital because she was terrified of dying. Apparently there was nothing wrong with her, but she was admitted overnight for observation. Hours later she died. Further investigation showed that years before, a psychic had predicted her death on her twenty-third birthday. This woman died, victim of her own panic, the day before she would have become 23. No question, people can suffer seriously from their negative thoughts; hence the need of wholesome thinking (tomorrow’s lesson).
Also, just as important to remember: we can also adversely affect others’ thinking by expressing our negativity to others. Words are very powerful tools, either for good or for evil. Our words either build up or tear down. There is life and death in the words we speak. How careful we need to be with the thoughts and sentiments that come out of our mouths.
Read Acts 14:2, 15:24, and Galatians 3:1. What do they tell us about the power to impact people negatively?
“If you do not feel lighthearted and joyous, do not talk of your feelings. Cast no shadow upon the lives of others. A cold, sunless religion never draws souls to Christ. It drives them away from Him into the nets that Satan has spread for the feet of the straying.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 488.
Think about times someone’s “mere” words tore you down in a big way. How can you be sure you never do that to anyone else?
| MONDAY | January 31 |
What are the things that really frighten you? What are ways that you can learn to trust the Lord, despite that fear? After all, isn’t the Lord’s power greater than whatever threats you face?
Much suffering can occur through thinking. Psychologist Philip Zimbardo, in his book Psychology and Life, reports the case of a young woman taken to a hospital because she was terrified of dying. Apparently there was nothing wrong with her, but she was admitted overnight for observation. Hours later she died. Further investigation showed that years before, a psychic had predicted her death on her twenty-third birthday. This woman died, victim of her own panic, the day before she would have become 23. No question, people can suffer seriously from their negative thoughts; hence the need of wholesome thinking (tomorrow’s lesson).
Also, just as important to remember: we can also adversely affect others’ thinking by expressing our negativity to others. Words are very powerful tools, either for good or for evil. Our words either build up or tear down. There is life and death in the words we speak. How careful we need to be with the thoughts and sentiments that come out of our mouths.
Read Acts 14:2, 15:24, and Galatians 3:1. What do they tell us about the power to impact people negatively?
“If you do not feel lighthearted and joyous, do not talk of your feelings. Cast no shadow upon the lives of others. A cold, sunless religion never draws souls to Christ. It drives them away from Him into the nets that Satan has spread for the feet of the straying.”—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 488.
Think about times someone’s “mere” words tore you down in a big way. How can you be sure you never do that to anyone else?
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