I was thinking in the shower. I always think in the shower. I wish I could plug something in to my brain to record all the great ideas and thoughts I have while in there. I suppose it is because it is quiet, no one is bugging me, and I am relaxed enough to LISTEN. Yeah, that’s probably it. So I should have a category called “shower ideas.” But then you’d think we’d all be playing games and eating food– baby showers, wedding showers, etc.
All that being said, I had this really great thought today. I was freezing. I couldn’t get warm. I had all this hot water dripping on me and I was still cold. I realized that it was because I had just eaten a cup of ice. (Don’t ask me why I eat ice in the winter when it is freezing outside. I just love it.) Anyway, this thought occurred to me that I couldn’t even use the outside forces of warmth to warm me up when I had created the cold from the inside. It’s probably one of the reasons I stay cool during our hot summers. There is nothing I love more that sitting by the pool with a huge cup of ice in my hand. My body gets warmed up by the sun, so I don’t get so cold. But I found it interesting that even though I wasn’t currently eating ice, I was still cold in the shower. I took me quite a while to finally warm up.
Then this analogy came to me. If I am taking something into my mind/body on a consistent basis, no force from the outside beating against me can change it. I would have to stop what I am taking in and then keep myself in the “outside” situation long enough for it to change.
As soon as I became aware of that, into my mind popped the thoughts about what I am taking into my mind/body to preserve my character, integrity, and spirituality. I realized that if I take daily doses of scriptures, prayer, kindness, service, positive thinking, and correct choices; no force outside of me can change me or sway me. I realized that no matter what Satan threw at me– movies, books, internet, criticism from others, tough choices or any of his fiery darts, they would not change me without me quitting what I was doing and lingering in that negative presence.
What is on the inside really does count. Or better yet, what we PUT on the inside on a regular basis really does count. Do you want a change in your life? A habit or struggle you are trying to overcome? Take in those good things and build and strengthen them, then you, too, will be protected from all the forces around you and stand calm and serene in the “mists of darkness” and confusion.