don't just remove it, replace it
Why is it so hard to trust God? Is it because we filter our belief through bad experiences? Because we are ruled by emotions? Or maybe we just let our thoughts run away with us? Regardless of the situation, we are told to rejoice. Thankfulness is necessary- we can't lose that. Instead of getting frantic or emotional- we draw near to God in prayer. And lastly, we redirect our thoughts. It's interesting that just after telling us not to worry, we're told what we need to think about. I think it's the age-old truth that you can't just remove something in life and expect to thrive- you have to replace it with something else. Addicts are told to replace time and energy they used to spend on alcohol or drugs, for exampl, and find activities to get ionvolved in, groups to join, hobbies to try. They're told to replace. And for all of us, being addicts to our sinful, selfish nature, we shoudl do the same. Instead of just deciding to stop worrying. We have to swith out our negative thoughts. Trade lies for the truth of the Word, trade gossip for what is honorable, trade the unjust for the just, the impure for the pure, forget thinking about things that don't bring glory to God- we turn our attention to anything that makes Him bigger in our thoughts. The mind is a battleground. If we expect to overcome the evil thoughts that paralyze us with fear, keep us in habitual sin, cloud our judgment or hold us in bondage of pride- we must replace what we think about. In other words, take that junk captive, hold it hostage, don't go there. Instead, think about the awesomeness of God.
