Do I hear you ask the question, “What is my control booth?” Most of us have flown in airplanes. Every major airport has a control tower. We all pray that the person in the control tower is well trained and alert when we are flying in and out of the airport. The traffic controller must know how to navigate all the airplanes so they do not collide with each other. Our control booth is in our thinking process. Our thoughts create our feelings and we usually act out on our feelings. This understanding is especially important to any person who has been abused, abandoned, betrayed, experienced the death of a loved one, death of a marriage, major financial loss, job loss, home foreclosure, major injury, sickness unto death, job difficulties, church troubles, etc.
It is our thoughts that control our feelings. We have control of who or what we allow in our control booth. When a major adversity hits us, our battle is in our own minds. Picture a square box drawn on a piece of paper. The box is your control booth. It is what we keep in our control booth (thoughts) that determines how soon we will recover and start working toward victory in our thinking. If I allow all the negative events of my adversity to penetrate the walls of my control booth and remain there, then I will become depressed with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
What I must do is remove the negative thinking out of my control booth and only allow God and His truth. How do I do this? I must ask, “What is God’s truth about my situation?” We cannot change the facts of our lives, but we do have the power to change the way we think about those facts. What happens to us does NOT have the power to define us. Who we are is defined by God’s truth. Satan is our adversary. He has come to steal, kill and destroy. He wants you to sink in the depths of despair through your thoughts about what has happened in your life. Satan will fill your mind/heart with every negative self-destructive thought to steal your joy in the Lord. This is where we must use the power of God’s Word – It is written, “NOTHING (no person or event) can separate me from the love of God.” It is written, “God will never leave me or forsake me.” It is written, “If God be for me, who shall be against me?”
When we allow the negative thoughts to remain in our control booth, we are giving the power of our emotions over to the person(s) or event that brought us pain. Why would I allow someone else or situation to control me emotionally? The only thing I need in my control booth is God and His truth. Again, “What is God’s truth?” If your pain is from what others have done, remember evil people do evil things because Satan is the god of this world and God gives everyone choice. Everyone will answer to God for his/her actions.
If you have major losses materially, remember God promises in this life we shall have tribulation. If you suffered loss through sickness or death, the sinful choice in the Garden of Eden brought sin, death, sickness, and problems of every kind into this human life. As believers, we are not promised a life free from pain and heartache. We are promised that His grace is sufficient. We are promised eternal life with our Lord and Saviour. We must understand from Hebrews 11 that some received their promises on earth and others were killed and died without receiving their promise, BUT all died in the faith with a hope beyond this life.
I do not know why some believers seem to have all they desire and need without pain in their lives. I do know that in eternity we all will be given rewards for what we have done and for our faithfulness to Him. All the apostles except John the Beloved were murdered (martyred) because they believed Jesus was God in the flesh and preached the Gospel. I do not know why God allowed John the Baptist to have his head cut off and then freed Peter, Paul and Silas from jail. The only way we will survive the adversities in our lives, is with God in our control booth looking at our situation through His eyes and truth. Jesus said the world hated Him and they will hate us who stand for righteousness.
Kick the negative thinking out of your control booth and replace it with God’s truth. That means we must become students of the Word of God. We are experiencing adversity in our lives right now, but I choose to say as Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Yes, grief can be overwhelming and tears may flow. God understands. But I refuse to allow Satan to control my thinking! I know with God all things are possible. I will continue to pray and believe for major victory as long as I have breath. I’m keeping God in my control booth and kicking every adverse thought out in Jesus name!
© Carol Clemans – October 2013 – www.carolclemans.org – (636) 448-0121 to schedule speaking or counseling – carol@carolclemans.org