We alone are responsible for our thoughts. No one, nor any circumstance has control over our thoughts. That is why WE are to bring every thought captive. No one can do it for us. That said, we need to remember that our thoughts come from our heart. Matthew 12:34 says that we speak from the overflow. It is like having a full glass of water. When you pour more water into it, it overflows.

David understood this. Psalm 19:12-13 says, “Who can understand his error? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me, then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent  of great transgression.” This is a verse that I pray every day. Let it become part of your arsenal.

 
About face! is a military word. It means to turn so as to face the opposite direction. We need to incorporate this when a rogue thought pops up. We do this by taking that thought in the opposite direction. Let me illustrate. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”

The moment we feel anger, we have two choices. We can carry out that thought in our minds, or we can about face! before it becomes sin. I love this verse in the Amplified. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A (self-confident) fool utters all his anger, but a wise man holds it back and stills it.” 

Proverbs 25:15 Amplified says, “By long forbearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance.” This is how, when we start to spew angry words, we can about face! We hold back our angry thoughts before they become angry words. We take off the anger and put on, as Colossians 3:12 says, “…tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another…”

James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man does not promote the righteousness of God.” Our countenance reveals what is in our heart. Our heart thoughts affect our health. A heart filled with anger is a set up for cardiovascular disease: stroke, heart attack are malfunctions with spiritual roots.

Here are a few verses about facial expressions; telltale signs of a heart. Joseph was the keeper at the prison. He knew his fellow prisoners well. One morning he noticed that they were sad (Genesis 40:6). Nehemiah served the king his wine. Nehemiah 2:2 says, “…Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart…” Watch this expression. Daniel 3:19 says, “Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed…” 

Let’s go to Psalm 34:5 which says, “They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” This is another about face! When we begin to think negative, we can instantly turn to the Lord through our thoughts. This is a most amazing piece of armor that we have in our arsenal. Focus! We are in control of who or what we focus on.

Let me leave you with the priestly prayer. Numbers 6:24-26 says, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”