Guard Your Thoughts - And Your Words!

Both are things, you know-your thoughts and your words.
It may seem a nearly impossible task to take control of your thoughts, as they seem to run rampant throughout your waking hours.
It's a matter of changing habit. And although simple, it isn't exactly easy.
Let me give you an example.
Most of us are totally undisciplined and let our thoughts roam hither and yon, willy-nilly.
During the course of a day, we may find ourselves way back in the past, far into the future, or just overwhelmed with the present. And there seems to be no pattern, just a stream of undirected consciousness floating all over the place.
To change this drifting in uncharted directions, we have to set definite goals. At first, we have to do this hour by hour. And I've found that a simple kitchen timer is very helpful to discipline oneself.*

Get into the habit of setting small goals every hour. For example, within the next hour I'm going to finish this article. If I don't, it's no catastrophe, but it's something to shoot for; however, I set the timer for 30 minutes, not an hour.
At that point I will get up from my chair, stretch, and do a few little exercises, just to get my blood going, take some deep breaths to get more oxygen into my blood, and then my brain is refreshed and ready to resume.
When the timer dings, stop what you are doing and focus all your attention on changing how you think. This is what prayer is all about-getting results-and to do that you have to spend some time with God, even if it's only a few minutes at a time.
You have to shut the world out and go within. This is not easy-anything worthwhile never is.
It has been said that it takes twenty-one days to establish a habit, so you have to exercise your willpower to hang in there. Ask our Lord for His help and strength to get you through to the point that going within to change your thought patterns becomes second nature.
The more time you spend doing this, the sooner it will become a habit, just as regular as your morning grooming ritual.
The more you practice this, you will find that it will become a high point in your day to look forward to with enthusiasm and passion... and your level of stress will fall automatically.
The Bible says, "... bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

Just as important as guarding your thoughts is guarding your words.
"Words are like little spiritual containers," I have heard Creflo Dollar say.
Consider the fact that, in the beginning, nothing came into being without having been spoken. Words are everything.
We are to call things that are not as if they are, and doing so will bring manifestation, either instantly or gradually, depending upon your level of belief and God's timing.
We also will be called to account for all our idle words, as Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37 - "... every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
So never ever speak anything or any condition that you do not wish to see manifest in your life. For example, don't ever tell a child that he is stupid or that he will never amount to anything.
And never say, "I am afraid that this or that will happen," for you are creating that very condition and being receptive to it. because fear is a very powerful emotion.
So always phrase your statements in a positive tone and expect good results. And t-h-i-n-k before you speak!

*Since then I have found a nifty, free online timer at
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/.