The Color of Our Thoughts

Guys, my pastor said a simple line at church today that stuck with me. 

He said, “The soul is dyed the color of our thoughts.”  It is from a quote by Marcus Aurelius, the Emperor of Rome from 161-180 AD.

I kept thinking about that quote and visualizing it in my mind.  What does my soul look like?  

I’ll be honest, this past week my mind was filled with negativity.  I was feeling overwhelmed with all that I needed to get done, and I also had very little patience with my kiddos.  I let my negative thoughts get the best of me, and I started seeing them manifest themselves in my behavior. 

The color of my thoughts were dark.

 

When my heart feels dark, I know that I need God’s light to help me. 

Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.

Psalm 51:10 

In God, there is no darkness at all. 

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  

1 John 1:5

That is why it is so important to spend time in God’s word and have it fill our thoughts.  I want my heart to be filled with His beauty.  

It’s not easy taking captive of our thoughts, but it is so important to be careful of what we are putting in our minds.  There is so much negativity in our world that it can become overwhelming.  When that negativity fills our thoughts, it begins to affect our hearts.  

This week, I am going to be more intentional about protecting my thoughts and filling my thoughts with those things that are pleasing to Him.  Starting my day in prayer and bible study is going to be a priority for me this week. 

When our hearts are filled with the beautiful colors of God’s love, not only will we be filled with joy, but we will be able to share that joy with others. 

Pray for me, and I will pray for you.  :)

xoxo

Traci

38 Comments

  1. God bless you Traci for such a sweet message! I needed this today. I don’t like it when my thoughts are negative and dark. I hope you have a blessed week and will not feel overwhelmed by the many things you have to do! I will keep you in my prayers.

    1. I’m so glad I found your blog 1-2 yrs ago. You just lift me up. , you appear to be so sweet, and I’m so glad I can follow a good Christian blogger. I just love it

    2. I’m so glad I found your blog 1-2 yrs ago. You just lift me up. , you appear to be so sweet, and I’m so glad I can follow a good Christian blogger. I just love it

  2. Bless you, dear Traci, for this beautiful post that I’m sure spoke to many, including me. I loved the quote and visuals you used, your wise words, and your transparent heart. Yes, I will be praying for you this week, sweet friend, as we seek to be so filled and overflowing with Jesus that there won’t be room for anything else. Hugs!

    1. Thank you, Judy! Your comment made me think of the song, “Drinking from my Saucer.” Do you know it? I just copy and pasted the lyrics:

      Drinking From My Saucer

      I’ve never made a fortune
      It’s probably too late now
      Oh But I don’t worry about that much
      ’cause I’m happy anyhow
      as I go along life’s journey
      I’m reaping better than I sowed
      I’m drinking from my saucer
      ‘Cause my cup has overflowed

      Ain’t got a lot of riches
      sometimes the goin’s tough
      But I’ve got a friend in Jesus
      and that makes me rich enough
      I thank God for all His blessings on me
      and the mercy that He’s bestowed
      I’m drinking from my saucer
      ‘Cause my cup has overflowed

      recitation
      Oh yea, I’ve been through some storms, and yea, I
      know there were times when my, well my faith must
      have gotten a little thin. But you know what it seemed
      like, one day all at once those dark clouds broke and
      that ol’ sun, she started shinin’ again

      So Lord, help me not to grumble and complain
      about the tough rows I’ve hoed
      I’m drinking from my saucer
      ‘Cause my cup has overflowed

      And if I should go on living
      if the way gets steep and rough
      I won’t ask for other blessings
      cause I’m already blessed enough
      may I never be too busy
      to help another bear his load

      and I’ll keep drinking from my saucer Lord
      ‘Cause my cup has overflowed
      Yes I’ll keep drinking from my saucer Lord
      Cause’ my cup has overflowed
      my cup has overflowed

      Music Michael Combs
      Poem
      author unknown

      1. Great lyrics, Traci, thanks! I pray your week is going well, sweet friend from afar. I still dream of meeting up with you in Kentucky one of these years! :-)

  3. I would be happy to include you in my prayers Traci .I appreciate your honesty & your sincerity. You are always reaching out to others, & I pray that you will feel the light of Gods grace shinning on you soon ! Thank you for your inspiration & remember that this too shall pass. Many blessings ! Sincerely, Lori Dee

  4. Thank you so much for this. I so needed it. I’ve been struggling too and told my husband just 2 days ago that I missed Jesus. I had been having so many migraines, I couldn’t read my bible and just felt empty and the negative thoughts were coming in, affecting my attitude etc. Hoping for a better week and more time in the Word this week. Fortunatly, I still had prayer. :) God was still there, but Satan wanted me to think He wasn’t. I’ll be praying for you. Again, thank you for the great reminder and for sharing with us.

    1. Aw, Kathy, this is such a struggle for all of us. I totally understand. I pray that you have been able to find time in His Word this week. Thank you for praying for me. xoxo Traci

  5. Love this. From one mom of five to another, I’m praying for you and thanks for praying for me 💕

  6. Thank you, Tracy, for a great morning message. I get the results today of my pancreatic cancer scan. I’ve been so worried and have had many negative thoughts about this day. God is the almighty healer, and I will trust Him and follow His will. Color my day yellow and purple with positive thoughts and a deep desire to love Him.

    1. Linda, I am praying that you had good results from your scan. Praying for God’s peace over you. “My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” John 14:27

  7. Thank you Traci! I’ve never thought about it this way – and I need to. Very much needed to hear this .

  8. Traci, that was a wonderful post. I, like some of the others, needed this also!! You stated it in such a meaningful way. Philippians 4:8 has always helped me with this, when I begin to think to negatively. God’s blessings to you sweet, beautiful lady!!

  9. When we have our times of being down and times of darkness God is always there. We just need to be still and listen to him. He loves us even when we are unloveable at the time. Isn’t that so wonderful! We as Christian’s are so blessed that he loves us even when we mess up. He takes us into his loving arms with love. Have a blessed day today!

  10. Thank you so much for sharing! I, like Kathy, have been having migraines and, besides the pain, the darkness can easily become a part of your mental and emotional state. I know God loves us, regardless of how messy we might be ~ amazing blessing! I want to go back to beginning my day with quiet time with God and reading the word. You will be in my prayers!

    xo
    Pat

    1. Yes, Pat, darkness can quickly make it’s way into our minds. I believe that our minds are the main battleground for Satan and where he tries to destroy so many of us with our thoughts. We need to all pray for each other that God would fill our minds with His light.
      God bless you!
      Traci

  11. Good Morning Traci! Thank you for being vulnerable and confessing your struggles. So many thoughts get us into trouble and lead us down a road of negativity and worry. I too have been convicted lately of this and have tried to focus on Romans 12, renewing my mind. Praying for you!

  12. Thank you, Traci! I’d never thought of this in this light and have found myself short of patience far too often lately with my grandson.

    1. You’re welcome, Guerrina. I know it is hard for all of us to control our thoughts, but I know that when we fill our minds with positive things, it will show in our actions. :)

  13. This is such a good post Traci. I’m so sorry you had such a tough week but appreciate you being honest and vulnerable. We’re wives and moms here just trying to do the best we can at this thing called life. Sometimes circumstances get the best of us but you know what? Our kiddos still love us, our husbands still love us and of course through the craziness of it all God is still there always loving us. I’ll be praying for ya.

  14. Traci, I needed this reminder as well. I will keep you in my prayers and will appreciate you keeping me in yours. It is so easy for us to feel overwhelmed, isn’t it! When do your kiddos start back to school? God bless!

  15. Don’t know what the color of hope would be but that’s the color of my heart and my stomach is the color of knots. My daughter was a kindergarten teacher, but due to low enrollment she was laid off. She has an interview this week to be a third grade literacy teacher, her dream job. Her favorite part of teaching is teaching children how to read. This has been a long, stressful summer could definitely use some prayers.
    I’m the oldest of five, so I know what your days are like 🙂, praying for you.

  16. I truly needed this. I am really struggling with my job and really having problems finding a new one. Because of this I am starting to suffer from depression and it is affecting my life and my family. I just need to keep remembering to keep my faith and to not give up and leave it all to God that He has this and He has my best interest. Thank you for all that you do.

    P.S., I had to let you know that I have made several of Jonathan’s songs into MP3’s and added them to my playlists on my phone. They really lift me up, too. He is one talented young man!

  17. It’s good to know people are aware of the bad things that hit them, and see when they’re willing to make a change while focusing in the good things! Congrats on your attitude and will sure pray for you =)

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