Mind Your Thoughts

Did you know our thoughts have power? What we think, what we speak and our actions are all connected.

God cares about our thoughts; what we think about can dictate our feelings which directs our actions or habits. God's word is filled with reminders , wise counsel and rebukes on how and what we think. It's important to be intentional about our thoughts. Romans 12:2 NKJV reads "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." and the NLT more plainly says"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Changing our thoughts will open our mind to know the will of God for our lives which is good and perfect.

Our thoughts have power!! Proverbs 23:7(a) NIV says "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" The reality of who you are is shaped by the thoughts and inclinations of our hearts.This is how your thinking is formed which in turn shapes your actions. Practice shifting your focus , look for God in your circumstances, find Him throughout your day and watch your perspectives change. Choose to focus on the good, decide to find the light in the darkness; settle in your mind to believe God and hope again in our Lord who makes all things new. We should ask ourselves "are my thoughts pleasing to God?" and if not shift them. Do my thoughts show faith or fear, love or hate, hope or doom? If the answers are opposing to what God desires us to be, which is a people of faith, love and hope, then we must redirect our thoughts to line up with His word. In Philippians we are instructed to think on things that are: true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable. (Philippians 4:8 NLT"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.) When we make a conscious effort to do this there is no room for the negative. Be so filled up on the truth what God says that nothing else will take root.

Building a healthy thought-life takes effort and intention. Similar to any training, it begins with a decision. Make up in your mind to build healthy habits and then take action. What this looks like is being aware of what you think and say; don't just let your mind wander, instead be mindful of what you are thinking, saying and doing. Identify destructive thoughts and get rid of them by replacing them with what God says in His word rather than listening to what your flesh or the enemy says. It is important to renew your mind, or wash yourself with the word. In the natural one way we learn something is by practice and repetition. This can work in the spirit as well. We should be learning the scriptures and declaring them over our lives. Choose to learn and believe what God says; choose to see the good in a person or situation instead of only the negative.

Renewing Your Mind

Example 1: if you have thoughts that you are less than or not pretty, that is not true.Those are not God's thoughts and He created you. Learn the word of God and combat those thoughts with what God says Psalms 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." God made you wonderful, He says you are fearfully made ( some synonyms for fearfully made - exceptionally and remarkably made!! ) You can hold your head up high in confidence and speak truth when your mind is renewed with Gods word.

Example 2: changing your perspective- Scenario- running late for work. Option 1: be angry at every red light and the slowed traffic Option 2: choose to acknowledge that God knows what is best and His desire is to keep me from harm; instead of complaining, bless God because His will is perfect and His desire is to prosper and not to harm me ( Jeremiah 29:11 NIV "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.")