Hoarding is the excessive collection of items, along with the inability to discard them. – Mayo clinic staff
Having worked with the elderly I have attended in-services on hoarding. Some elderly hoard items, it can be anything from newspapers, styrofoam containers and little jam packets (from a restaurant) to animals (especially cats). It is an extremely sad condition.
What about you? Are you a hoarder?
I can hear it now. “No way”,” I’m neat and orderly”, “If I don’t need it I get rid of it”.
What about hoarding in your mind? Are there thoughts you keep stock piling in your mind?
Thoughts of envy
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. Proverbs 14:30
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Corinthians 3:3
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16
Thoughts of Jealousy
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. Proverbs 6:34
Bitterness or resentment toward someone
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: Psalm 64:3
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15
Years ago I worked with a man whose mother said, “Don’t let them rent space in your mind”. When you dwell on others and their offenses toward you, you give them control. Our thoughts continually go back to the situation; we hash it and rehash it in our mind.
We need to “let go” give it to God. Ask Him for forgiveness for harboring such thoughts. Don’t let anyone rent space in your mind, keep that space for the Lord to fill with His goodness and greatness.
Steps to a Clean mind
Get rid of the unpleasant thoughts
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
Keep your mind on Christ
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
Dwell on good thoughts
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
Renew your mind
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ephesians 4:23
Renewed mind definition in Thayer’s – to be renewed in the mind i.e. spiritually transformed, to take on a new mind. Basically to think differently about the situation.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Focus on God
Ask God to give you the grace to focus on Him and not on others.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy1:7
... Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
The choice is ours to hoard or not to hoard that is the question.
Have a blessed day,
Donna
Showing posts with label bitterness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bitterness. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
An Overcoming Christian part 5
Joshua 14:10-14
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. [11] As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. [12] Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. [13] And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. [14] Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
The last letter in Caleb’s name is B.
Bitterness
I do not believe that Caleb was bitter towards God or the people. I think there are lots of reasons why he could have been bitter but he chose the path of trusting God.
Think with me of some of the things that happened to Caleb. He was on the minority side when he said “we are well able to overcome.” Remember it was 2 against 10, then the odds became even less when the whole congregation was against Caleb, Joshua, Moses and Aaron, 4 against a multitude. If all those people against him were not enough, the people wanted to stone him. In today’s language we call it murder.
God promised Caleb land because he “wholly followed the Lord”, but he waited 45 years to receive it. The promise was given when he was 40 and he waited until he was 85. We complain and grumble if we have to wait 10 minutes in line.
Caleb traveled a different path than most. He traveled down the path of trusting instead of wallowing down the trail of bitterness. He knew the path of trusting would be narrow and probably bumpy. He also knew his Traveling Companion. The Lord will never lead us down a path that He is not walking right beside us.
Caleb’s life is a great encouragement to those who read it. He lived a long and prosperous life. He had the body of a 40 year old when he was 85. God protected him every step of the way.
How are you doing today? Are you allowing bitterness to build up in your heart? Give it to God.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31
Caleb did not let any of these things get him down: Circumstances, Attitudes, Loneliness, Exasperation or Bitterness. We need to wholly follow God. Thank Him for everything He allows in our lives. Remember God does not make mistakes but opportunities for us to grow closer to Him.
Be an overcomer!!
Have a great day.
Donna
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. [11] As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. [12] Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. [13] And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. [14] Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
The last letter in Caleb’s name is B.
Bitterness
I do not believe that Caleb was bitter towards God or the people. I think there are lots of reasons why he could have been bitter but he chose the path of trusting God.
Think with me of some of the things that happened to Caleb. He was on the minority side when he said “we are well able to overcome.” Remember it was 2 against 10, then the odds became even less when the whole congregation was against Caleb, Joshua, Moses and Aaron, 4 against a multitude. If all those people against him were not enough, the people wanted to stone him. In today’s language we call it murder.
God promised Caleb land because he “wholly followed the Lord”, but he waited 45 years to receive it. The promise was given when he was 40 and he waited until he was 85. We complain and grumble if we have to wait 10 minutes in line.
Caleb traveled a different path than most. He traveled down the path of trusting instead of wallowing down the trail of bitterness. He knew the path of trusting would be narrow and probably bumpy. He also knew his Traveling Companion. The Lord will never lead us down a path that He is not walking right beside us.
Caleb’s life is a great encouragement to those who read it. He lived a long and prosperous life. He had the body of a 40 year old when he was 85. God protected him every step of the way.
How are you doing today? Are you allowing bitterness to build up in your heart? Give it to God.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. I Peter 5:7
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Ephesians 4:31
Caleb did not let any of these things get him down: Circumstances, Attitudes, Loneliness, Exasperation or Bitterness. We need to wholly follow God. Thank Him for everything He allows in our lives. Remember God does not make mistakes but opportunities for us to grow closer to Him.
Be an overcomer!!
Have a great day.
Donna
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