Have you ever given much thought to picture frames? What about the frame work of a house? What is the purpose of a frame and why do we use them? Ever wonder what the definition of a frame is? I have, so I looked it up. One definition is that of an underlying or supporting structure, a structure that surrounds or encloses a particular space, a surrounding border or framework, especially a decorative or contrasting one.
When I look at picture frames I can see how these frames enhance the pictures inside. I see that frames can make a beautiful picture look absolutely stunning, or an ordinary picture look great. However, I have also seen frames that look utterly horrible and it would not matter how beautiful the picture in the middle was, it would still be an eyesore because of the bad frame.
The framework of a house is part of what holds that house together. If the framework fails the house falls apart completely. But a good framework will support your walls and keep them from crashing in.
So where am I going with this? Over the last few years I have been thinking a lot about how I “frame” events in my life. By this I mean what I think and feel about the events that have happened. You can have two people encounter the same circumstances, but how they decide to think about their circumstances has everything to do with how they process them, what actions they decide to take, and how they let them affect their lives. You will find some people who grew up poverty-stricken embrace education and rise above their circumstances to become incredibly successful and others who just continue in the path of poverty. Similarly I have met people who grew up in horribly abusive environments choose to forgive and rise above the hurt and pain they experienced to become loving, whole persons and of course others who repeat the cycle of abuse and do to their own families the atrocities previously done to them.
I have started to regard my thoughts and feelings as a framework for my life. I have decided that I would much rather use a beautiful frame than an ugly one - well if that isn’t deep, I don’t know what is. I would also rather have a strong frame/support around the walls of my life than a weak one that is going to come crashing in. I have personally found this framing process to be a very helpful one in my life. I have also found the key for me to make a decision to have a strong/beautiful frame surrounding my life is knowing God, knowing that the greatest frame work in my life is His love, and knowing that I have the ability to connect with Him in such a way that I have the power to choose the best frame.
Allow me to give an example….a little over a year ago my daughter left for Seoul, South Korea to teach English for a year. Although I was proud of her for making such an adventuresome decision I was also exceedingly sad to say goodbye knowing it would be such a long time before I would get to see her again. The temptation to be depressed over this was strong for me as we have always been quite close. I would start to dwell on the fact that if she needed me I would be unable to reach her; who would take care of her if she were sick; who would look out for her in case of a disaster; what about the crazy leader in North Korea, and so on. Then of course I would dwell on how much I would miss talking to her on the phone, texting several times a day, and just hanging out. I quickly realized I needed to reframe this picture big time. As I prayed about this I heard a little phrase go through my mind - choose to refuse. That was the simple little answer I needed. I can choose to refuse to be fearful, sad, depressed, etc. I can choose to reframe this whole situation; which is exactly what I did. It took a little time for me to do this habitually since negative thoughts don’t usually just stop the first instant you decide to reject them. But as I continued to replace my negative thoughts with the positive ones that the Lord would help bring to mind, it was a battle that was quickly won.
There are actually a couple of Bible scriptures that really line up with this way of thinking. Phillipians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” (God‘s Word Version)
It states in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ” This verse is saying that “we lead every thought-”. This tells me that I have been given the power to direct my thoughts wherever I choose - for good or bad. Knowing that this is something I have the power to control gave me the understanding I needed to reframe my thinking. I have the power to choose to refuse anything that is a harmful way of thinking and replace it with the knowledge of God. Fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, unforgiveness: whatever the thought, it is something I can control myself.
So what is today’s conclusion? If the frame around your thoughts are ugly or broken you can pick a different frame.
When I look at picture frames I can see how these frames enhance the pictures inside. I see that frames can make a beautiful picture look absolutely stunning, or an ordinary picture look great. However, I have also seen frames that look utterly horrible and it would not matter how beautiful the picture in the middle was, it would still be an eyesore because of the bad frame.
The framework of a house is part of what holds that house together. If the framework fails the house falls apart completely. But a good framework will support your walls and keep them from crashing in.
So where am I going with this? Over the last few years I have been thinking a lot about how I “frame” events in my life. By this I mean what I think and feel about the events that have happened. You can have two people encounter the same circumstances, but how they decide to think about their circumstances has everything to do with how they process them, what actions they decide to take, and how they let them affect their lives. You will find some people who grew up poverty-stricken embrace education and rise above their circumstances to become incredibly successful and others who just continue in the path of poverty. Similarly I have met people who grew up in horribly abusive environments choose to forgive and rise above the hurt and pain they experienced to become loving, whole persons and of course others who repeat the cycle of abuse and do to their own families the atrocities previously done to them.
I have started to regard my thoughts and feelings as a framework for my life. I have decided that I would much rather use a beautiful frame than an ugly one - well if that isn’t deep, I don’t know what is. I would also rather have a strong frame/support around the walls of my life than a weak one that is going to come crashing in. I have personally found this framing process to be a very helpful one in my life. I have also found the key for me to make a decision to have a strong/beautiful frame surrounding my life is knowing God, knowing that the greatest frame work in my life is His love, and knowing that I have the ability to connect with Him in such a way that I have the power to choose the best frame.
Allow me to give an example….a little over a year ago my daughter left for Seoul, South Korea to teach English for a year. Although I was proud of her for making such an adventuresome decision I was also exceedingly sad to say goodbye knowing it would be such a long time before I would get to see her again. The temptation to be depressed over this was strong for me as we have always been quite close. I would start to dwell on the fact that if she needed me I would be unable to reach her; who would take care of her if she were sick; who would look out for her in case of a disaster; what about the crazy leader in North Korea, and so on. Then of course I would dwell on how much I would miss talking to her on the phone, texting several times a day, and just hanging out. I quickly realized I needed to reframe this picture big time. As I prayed about this I heard a little phrase go through my mind - choose to refuse. That was the simple little answer I needed. I can choose to refuse to be fearful, sad, depressed, etc. I can choose to reframe this whole situation; which is exactly what I did. It took a little time for me to do this habitually since negative thoughts don’t usually just stop the first instant you decide to reject them. But as I continued to replace my negative thoughts with the positive ones that the Lord would help bring to mind, it was a battle that was quickly won.
There are actually a couple of Bible scriptures that really line up with this way of thinking. Phillipians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.” (God‘s Word Version)
It states in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ” This verse is saying that “we lead every thought-”. This tells me that I have been given the power to direct my thoughts wherever I choose - for good or bad. Knowing that this is something I have the power to control gave me the understanding I needed to reframe my thinking. I have the power to choose to refuse anything that is a harmful way of thinking and replace it with the knowledge of God. Fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, unforgiveness: whatever the thought, it is something I can control myself.
So what is today’s conclusion? If the frame around your thoughts are ugly or broken you can pick a different frame.
