Thoughts On Thinking..............

Yes, it's me, back again. So can I help it if my muse just decides to jab me in spurts some days and ignores me on others? Ahem!
Just thought I had best get these ideas posted before I possibly lost the internet or power (or both) with this storm.

Was reading something recently in which the author stated that we have two different basic types of thoughts.
There are our conscious thoughts of decisions, choices, things we want and have to do to make it through the day in this life. He called these our "busy thoughts" (need to buy bread, take out the trash, cut the dog's nails). 
What we might consider out intuition, conscience, or flashes of inspiration and insight, he calls our still small voice. No we don't hear audible voices (at least I hope not!), but you get the picture.
It is this inner voice that he says we need to pay more attention to. He contends that we are all equipped with "instructions" encoded in our DNA, as to how to take better care of ourselves, and we need to access and heed our inner voice for the best outcomes. We are all humans, yet different, so our instructions will not be identical. What works for one person could be detrimental or harmful for another.  
He used the analogy of buying a fern and a cactus. Both are plants, but mix up the tags with the care instructions and both plants will likely perish. 
Well, I have no problem with some of this, BUT...yeah, you knew that was inevitable didn't you? Hahahahhahaha

That "still, small voice" he describes is what I believe is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, God's Divine Spark Within Us, or however else you might be comfortable in referring to it. To me, it is not part of our brain or other physiology, but is still a very real and living spirt within our own spirit. Hey, it's my blog. I say what I think. You can say what you think in the comments if ya want to.
God is a spirit and when He created us in his own image, that meant we are spirit too. It has nothing to do with physical characteristics, race, gender, or any of that junk. Old Hebrew scriptures say God created man as a "speaking spirit", presumably so that He could have fellowship with this particular creation. 
So God is spirit, and we are spirit; now where did this other spirit come from? Well, I won't get off on that tanget today. Some believe that when God breathed the breath of life into man, He also shared some of His spirit or essence with man. Others will say that when Christians accept Jesus, that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. 
Suffice it to say that I believe that God has given us this Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, teach, and help us; it is up to us to choose to shut up our "busy thoughts" and listen to the leadings of God through this Spirit. For me, two of the easiest and best ways to do this are prayer and meditation.
Don't roll your eyes at me! When one says "meditation" in Western culture, people seem to automatically see images of Buddhists, Hindus, or some other Eastern religions. Not necessarily so. Do you concentrate on things? Do you daydream? Do you worry and fret about stuff? Guess what...you are already doing a form of meditation. Surprise! There are as many kinds, styles and forms of it as grains of sand on the beach. When you read a Bible verse or some beautiful poetry, listen to some beautiful music, or watch something like a sunrise or sunset, and let these things touch your heart and soul, you are meditating.
It is not necessary to "clear your mind", or have some exotic mantra to chant, or sit cross legged and burn incense. Nope. Don't let the word "meditation" fool you or intimidate you. It is cool, and as I said, you are very likely already doing it and have been for years. Now what one chooses to meditate on is the kicker. It is up to us. What we fill our mind with can determine the course of our life. 
Often what we worry, whine, and complain about is already answered/solved, if we will but shut up and listen. God is not careless or heartless, and he has not created us and just run off and left us bereft and defenseless. 
As a preacher friend of mine has said, "Prayer is not supposed to be a monologue. It is supposed to be a conversation with God."
That requires input from the other side, right? We have to shut up and listen to hear what He is trying to tell us.
Prayer is also not supposed to be a list of " I want, I need, and Can you do this for me please? things".
One friend I know described it as a sandwich. Using Biblical references telling us to always praise God and always be thankful, she says that our prayers should start that way, and not as a matter of rote, but out of a true spirit of gratitude for all that He has done for us. Then we can ask for what we think we need, or tell him what our problems are. Then she says we should thank him in advance for giving us what we ask for.
The Bible says if we ask "believing" already that we have received, it will be done. Doesn't say when, so don't get your knickers all in a wad if you fail to see immediate evidence of having your needs met. Sometimes that does happen; sometimes it doesn't. 
When we worry or think God has failed us we are saying we have no faith in Him.
So why ask?
He is God, His timing is best for us, and He will always do His best for us. It is when we start trying to second guess Him and think we know what is best that we usually mess up big time. 
If we talked to some people as some of us do to God, they would zone out and cease to hear us, and soon start avoiding us. Think about it. Seriously.
Would say that all of this is JMHO, but I am not humble. Nope, despite my best efforts. If I ever did achieve true humility, knowing me, I'd be proud of it. Dang it, Lee!
Actually that is ok. I have learned to accept and approve of myself, because God does. He accepts me for who I am, what I am, and where I am, and encourages me to do my best to learn, grow in love, and compassion, and evolve as He would have me to do....same as He does with all of His children. If you know how very much you love your children, just multiply that MANY times over and you will know how much God loves you. Nuff said.