Have you ever seen that internet meme that says “This truth tea is too hot?” It’s a caption that is put down after a truth about something that might be harsh or not usually given much thought is brought to light. Someone will then say “This truth tea is too hot” to indicate the hardness behind the truth that had been spoken. It all originated from this picture of Kermit the Frog:
There is a point to this meme explanation and history. Because I found my truth tea. In Proverbs 4:23, the bible says “Be careful about what you think. Your thoughts run your life.”
Wait, what?
As a Christian, I watch my mouth. I often catch myself because “A Christian shouldn’t say that.” But what is this verse saying? To me, it’s telling me that watching my mouth isn’t enough. And that got me thinking (and praying), and I realized why it was true. God knows all. God sees what you do and think. He sees into the very core of a person. So watching your mouth isn’t enough. You can’t just lift yourself up by keeping the thoughts to yourself. By thinking something negative, you might as well be saying it. Because God knows. And as Christian people, whose opinion is more important? The humans around you who fall and stumble and maybe struggle with this exact same thing? Or the perfect God above who calls us to be careful our thoughts? I know my answer. Although we’re called to love and be loved by our fellow man, in Luke 14:26, it's stated that we’re supposed to love God so much that our love for our parents seems like hate. Woah.
Now you may be wondering why God would want this. And so I was I. Because God knows that we slip up. He knows that sometimes we can’t control our humanness, try as we might. But just like all the decrees of God, this is to aid us. Have you ever had chips? There’s a joke that I found funny that said, “There’s a reason they’re called chips. Because you can never have just one.” Now, not everyone has as little self control when it comes to food as I do. But fact of the matter is, Negative thoughts are poison. Once you allow yourself to have one, they come pouring in. Soon you can’t stop yourself from thinking a mean comment about someone and what they’ve done or said. And guess what happens when you get too many in your head? That’s right, they slip out of your mouth. And soon you’re in a cycle of negativity and hate.
This doesn’t just go for other people. More often than not, the number one person who gets the brunt of our negativity is ourselves. I am a major culprit of this. It’s easier to find something good to say about someone else than it is about myself. But in Mark 12:31, Jesus says “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. It’s a verse that’s well known among Christians. What we generally overlook, however, is the “as thyself” part. If you’re treating yourself like garbage, you’re literally not doing what Jesus said to do. He wants you to love yourself and those around you too.
So this week and weeks to come, remember: Guard your thoughts and love your neighbor and yourself. Because your thoughts run your life. And I’m willing to bet that if you make yourself more positive, and more willing to love, your world will be changed. Because when you give love and you give happiness, you are more open to receive it. And a kind thought or a good word can change your day, and sometimes the day of others. It might be difficult at first, and there will be days where you feel like you can’t escape the bad. But there is hope. For just like the thoughts of negativity, once you start to have positive thoughts, it will be really hard to stop. All you have to do is this: Love your neighbor, love yourself and, above all, love God. He loves you.
