There’s a bumper sticker that reads: “Don’t believe everything you think.”

That’s true – because sometimes your first thoughts, feelings, and reactions to irritants and situations are negative and/or false.

However, you aren’t locked in to your default thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Instead, thankfully with the help of the Lord, once something happens and you have your first thoughts, you can switch to secondary and higher responses. Ultimately, if you constantly practice such retakes – moving to a secondary level – you will be far more pleased with your character. And your relationships will be stronger too.

Examples

Psalm 13

Default thought: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

Default feelings: “Having sorrow in my heart daily.”

Default reaction: “Lest I sleep the sleep of death.”

Secondary thought: “But I have trusted in Your mercy.”

Secondary feelings: “My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

Secondary response: “I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Solomon (1 Kings 3:7, 9)

Default thought/reaction: “I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”

Secondary thought/response: “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart…that I may discern…”

Peter (Luke 5:5, 8, 11)

Default thought/feelings/reaction: Exhaustion, exasperation, doubt, and resistance.

Secondary thoughts: “Nevertheless, at Your Word I will…”

Secondary feelings: Humility and sorrow.

Secondary response: “They forsook all and followed Him.”

There are many more Biblical examples to guide you. Don’t remain stuck in your primary default zone; learn how to transition quickly to godly secondary responses. The 2nd response is what counts! (And if you want to take it even further, you can even ask the Lord to help your default responses become less prevalent so that secondary responses will quickly and more frequently occur.)