Sometimes my thoughts get away from me.  I know we are supposed to take our thoughts captive and get them in line with Scripture.  With truth.

But sometimes it takes a while before I realize they’ve run away, casting me into a turbulent tide.  Gone.  Far away from where they should be.

The last few weeks seem to be full of birth pains of the end times.  There is such utter brokenness in our world.  And every now and then, if I’m not careful, I can focus on those things, the details of life, of worldly things.

The things that make headlines were never meant to rule my heart.

So in those times, I have to reign in my runaway thoughts.  I need to draw them back.  To refocus.

“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.”  Psalm 25:15

Yes, I know exactly where my focus should be.  On the Lord.  Not on the the things that make news.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.”  Psalm 23:1-3

When I focus on Him, He sets me free from the things that ensnare me.  He quiets my run-away heart.  He restores me.

“I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord.  Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:13-14

And see, here’s the promise.  When I do take those thoughts captive and I line them up with truth.  My mind is no longer on hyper-overdrive.  There’s no more runaway freight train in my head.  And then, even amidst the headlines, especially amidst them perhaps, I can see the goodness of the Lord.  Right here.  Right now.

I just have to stop running away.

This post is written in conjunction with the #Write31days Challenge and linked up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday crew here and Nester Smith’s friends here.