When You Get to the Bottom

Read

1 Kings 8:54 “When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.”

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed.”

Think

Diving into the deep waters of life, we often find ourselves negotiating the predator sharks of fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, and other stalker thoughts in the murky depths of our minds. It's like swimming with sharks, where the first piece of advice from professional divers is surprisingly simple—kneel. In a world that encourages us to appear ferocious, the counterintuitive solution is to humble ourselves. Similarly, in our daily battles with the sharks of negative thoughts, the safety manual is clear: kneel in prayer, bring in the professional, and invite Jesus into the arena of our minds. In this posture of surrender, we find strength to face the predators encircling us.

Just as an instructor guides you to clear your mask for a clear underwater view, we also need clarity amidst life's challenges. Clearing our spiritual lenses involves breathing deeply from our regulator—the Word of God. This divine manual becomes our lifeline, providing the oxygen we need to navigate the deep waters of life. Just as a regulator ensures a steady flow of life-sustaining air, the Word of God allows us to function and survive amidst the sharks that seek to devour our peace and joy.

Let's take a moment to acknowledge the sharks circling in our minds. Instead of paddling around, trying to look big and bad, let's kneel in prayer, consult the safety manual of God's Word, and breathe deeply from our spiritual regulator. In doing so, we invite Jesus into the depths of our thoughts, allowing his strength to empower us in the face of life's challenges. It's a transformative approach that ensures our survival and equips us to thrive amidst the “shark thoughts” that can easily take us down.

Apply

Turn to the safety manual. Dive into the Scriptures to gain clarity and guidance. Choose to spend time with Jesus every day in prayer and Bible reading.

Pray

God, we acknowledge sharks are swimming around in the corners of our minds and we surrender these burdens and patterns to you. During life's uncertainties, may your Scriptures guide us, bringing clarity to the murky waters of our thoughts. We invite you into the depths of our minds, trusting that your presence will transform our minds. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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