All Aboard!

She rode the 7:30 a.m. train, 45 minutes each day, to class for a year. This day she was running late, so she didn't check the board to see if it was on time.

The train pulled up at 7:30. A flying leap through the doors ensured her journey. But not her destination.

One hour later she de-boarded that 7:30 a.m. train- in the opposite direction of her class.

She looked straight at the station attendant: "How did I get here?!"

"You got on the wrong train, of course, lovey!"

Christine Caine shared this amusing story tonight. Funny as it was, she packed a one, two punch with it. I want to share a slice of her encouragement. As the new year begins, I desperately desire freedom from old thought patterns. As Christine put it, I want to get on the right train of thought.

How about you? Any of these ring a bell?

"I'm such a loser. I'm worthless. I'm fat.

I'm going to be alone forever. I'll never get over this.

I won't let anyone get close to me again. No one will ever love me.

I'll struggle with anxiety all my life. I may as well get used to being miserable. This pit of depression is meant for me to stay in always.

God forgot me. Nothing good ever happens for me."

I know friend-I can relate to many too. Now, I'm no Pollyanna. Trust me... I hung up my rose colored glasses a long time ago. But we're meant for more than debilitating train {of thought} rides with a destination of worthlessness, hopelessness, sadness.

As with any ride, the first step is choosing our destination- choosing not to entertain negative thoughts.

Misery with its seductive lure loves company. As a frequent flier, I can attest: that ride is never worth it. So how do we combat those thoughts? We choose our destination wisely. We recognize the thoughts contrary to the Word and we "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

What negative thoughts run through your mind regularly? Maybe they're such familiar scripts you're not even aware of them anymore. Have they become your new normal? If so, it's time to pause before we get on that train and make sure it's headed in the right direction. This is something I'd like to flush out together over the next few weeks. James Hunter is quoted saying, "To share the gospel is to share the gift of life." I'd love to share the gift of life with ourselves by speaking the gospel {truth} to ourselves. Will you travel with me?