Thin King
Series: Melodrama or Mellow-drama - Act 4
Introduction:
In the drama of life, how do you respond?
There are many things that are beyond our control: the person that yells at us, the person that cuts us off in traffic, the store clerk that talks on the phone instead of helping us, the employee that never seems to be there, the spouse or child that pushes your buttons, etc.
Life is like a drama. We all have these crossroads in life.
But will our lives be a “Melodrama or Mellow-drama”.
Webster’s New World Dictionary defines a melodrama as “a drama with sensational action, extravagant emotions, stereotyped characters, etc.”
In other words, it is making something bigger than it really is or turning a situation into something emotionally extravagant. Sound familiar?
Richard Carlson in his book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff...” writes “In dramatic fashion, we blow things out of proportion, and make a big deal out of little things. We forget that life isn’t as bad as we’re making it out to be. We also forget that when we’re blowing things out of proportion, we are the ones doing the blowing.” (page 147)
In Act 1 we examined the beginning of “Melodrama or Mellow-drama”: worry!
Act 2 of “Melodrama or Mellow-drama” was stress-ful!
Act 3 of “Melodrama or Mellow-drama” was Over Re Act!
Act 4 of “Melodrama or Mellow-drama” is the Thin King!
Act 4, Scene 1: Who is Thin King?
Thin King can be a very nice guy at times. But Thin King can be a menace.
How? Thin Kings thinking effects all his attitudes, feelings, actions, reactions, etc.
Thin King’s thinking controls his stress level, worry level and overreacting level.
In fact, Thin King’s thinking controls everything about his life.
Paul states it this way:
Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (NIV)
Act 4, Scene 2: What does Thin King Think?
What does Thin King think about? Usually whatever pops into his mind.
Thin King is controlled by whatever his flesh desires. James states it this way:
James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. [15] Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Thin King desires to be right, be heard, have his way, be in charge, etc. causes his thinking and actions to follow.
Act 4, Scene 3: How to Defeat Thin King’s Wrong Thinking?
So how does Thin King defeat the wrong thinking of his life? What steps does he need to take to change his thinking?
Þ Thin King must choose to submit to God
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
This comes first. We cannot change our thinking without God’s help.
But this is a choice that we make. No one can make this choice for us.
What do I mean by submitting to God? Simply put: Voluntarily cooperating with God.
We obey His Word and His prompting. We get on the same page with God willingly.
We confess known sin immediately:
1 John 1:7-2:2 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. [8] If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. [2:1] My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. [2] He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
Þ Thin King must choose to resist
After submitting to God, there must be a choice of the will to resist negative thinking.
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
We cannot resist until we submit. But submission is not enough, there must be resisting.
Resisting involves doing our part to resist thinking about the negative. To focus our minds on the positive.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Þ Thin King must choose to meditate on the Word
Thin King thinks about many other things, but not the things of God.
His mind is cluttered with all the things of this world and this life. So much so that God is an afterthought.
But the Psalmist understood the importance of what we think about.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Psalm 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
Philip. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Paul uses the Greek word “logizomai” for think, which means “to take inventory, estimate, reason.”
Meditating on the Word of will help to change our thinking and our reasoning. Our eyes are open to what is really happening around us.
Act 4, Scene 4: Conclusion
All of us face stressful situations. The problems are not the problem, but how we internalize and handle those problems can be.
How do you think?
Illustration: Zig Ziglar wrote about the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini. Houdini boasted that he could escape from any jail cell in the country. Frequently, he demonstrated his ability to just that, but once something went wrong. When the heavy door clanged shut, Houdini pulled out a piece of thin metal that had been concealed in his belt and started to pick the lock. For thirty minutes, he worked on the lock, but couldn’t get it open. An hour passed, he was bathed in sweat, but he still couldn’t pick the lock. Two hours went by, and he finally collapsed in frustration against the door he could not open. But, when he fell against the door, it swung open. It had never been locked! In his mind it was locked, and that’s all it took to keep him “locked” in and frustrated.
Philip. 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
