We know that with every action – there is a reaction. In other words, we have a ‘because – therefore’ situation.
We see this coming out constantly in the prophetic writings in the Old Testament. For example: Ezekiel 26:2-3 “’Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste: Therefore,’ thus saith the Lord God; ‘Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.’”
Because of the action of the people of Tyrus speaking against Jerusalem, therefore we see the reaction that follows in the rest of the chapter of Ezekiel 26.
One of the most powerful things that God has given to us is a free-will and the ability to choose. What do we choose? We need to keep in mind that there will be a reaction to what we choose, whether it is positive or negative.
Do we consider the advice of Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
Here we have a because (life and blessing) and therefore (death and cursing) set before. Which one do we choose? Whatever we think about the most will grow and this refers both to the positive and negative ends of the spectrum.
We cannot control all our circumstances, but we can control our reaction to them. It is important when we come into trauma (and we will come into one) our thinking needs to be in harmony with Scripture, like Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
October 7, 2017 was a turning point in my life. My wife of 51 years came to me with a terrific headache like she never had before and when we went to the emergency, we found out that she had a brain aneurysm. The next day the aneurysm was secured with coils, but one slipped and brought about further damage to the brain that affected the left side of her body: arm, leg, short term memory, as well as left peripheral vision gone.
There was nothing we could do about our circumstance, but what about our reaction to it? We chose life. Every morning I would ask my wife: “What day is this?” She now responds saying: “This is the day that the Lord has made and we will be happy and rejoice in it.”
By reacting this way we are now finding that our ‘therefore’ is becoming a positive action. My wife is improving with her left arm. She walks a mile with me holding hands (to help keep her stable) in the near-by park. I see signs (small at this time) of short-term memory responding. By choosing the right course (scripturally) we are finding that the brain which is malleable is being altered in the right way.
What is positive for my wife and I because of the choice we made, can also become negative by the choice we make, and wire the brain in a self-defeating attitude.
Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the ‘peace of God’ rule in your hearts.” I often wandered just exactly what did that mean. Dr. Caroline Leaf shed some light on this in her book SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN when she said: “Your heart is not just a pump; it helps with decision-making and choices, acting like a checking station for all the emotions generated by the flow of chemicals from thoughts.”
WE have found that when we made a decision, we sensed a peace within and then there have been other times when we did not have that sense of peace within. Could it be, Like Dr. Caroline Leaf brings out, that our heart is “acting like a checking station for all the emotions generated by the flow of chemicals from thoughts.”
One lesson that stands out for me in this time of trauma with my wife is the importance of the Scripture. Why? Because our mind needs to be set on that which is right and true, and the only thing in this world that gives the truth for the right thinking, and the right direction to go – is the Holy Scriptures.
Let Philippians 4:8 be our thought: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
Remember what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “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.”
We gain by bringing our thoughts into obedience to Christ!