Taking Charge Of Our Thinking

It has been said that thought determine actions, actions lead to habits, and habits develop character. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a person thinks in his heart, so is he.” So true. We must prioritize our thoughts. Think on things that really matter, that contribute to spiritual growth, and move us forward in life. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (II Cor. 10:5). Then Colossians 2:8 states, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” but “set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth”(Colossians 3:2).

Each of the above verses emphasize being proactive in taking charge of our thoughts. If we don’t do this, the world’s culture will do it for us. The opposite of taking our thoughts captive is freedom to allow our thoughts to run rampant and wild in every wrong direction.

So, what can we do to reign in our thoughts? There are six ways that come to mind. Have an attitude of thankfulness. Listen to Christian worship music. Prayer. Bible reading and meditation. Think on the words spoken in Philippians 4:8, what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.”  The sixth point I will get to in a moment.

As we give proper attention to our thoughts we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds and not be conformed to the culture. Not only that, but we will also be able to discern the will of God (Romans 12:2).

Allow me to give a personal example. A large part of my life was spent in having very negative thinking with low self-esteem, which held me back from pursuing God’s best. My life was not going anywhere. Why is it that God uses some people to accomplish great things and others just flounder through life?

This is my sixth point: How we think about ourselves can determine where we go in life. Through a process of several years I went from very limiting thoughts to the words expressed in Ephesians 3:20, which became my life verse. “To him who is able to do for more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

This can be illustrated with the following:

Good self-esteem, being persistent, setting goals, and being positive + recognizing God’s sovereignty and timing = God’s best opportunities and reaching God’s dreams for your life.

The opposite can be true in a negative sense:

God’s best opportunities and his goals and purpose for you – being negative, being a quitter, and having low self-esteem with no goals = less than God’s best and not obtaining all that God has for you, living a settle-for-life. *

Questions:

• Are you thinking thoughts that hold you back in life, or thoughts that are moving you forward?
• Are your thoughts producing positive results?
• Are your thoughts resulting in you exhibiting more of God’s character?
  
• In a general sense, how do you think about God, others, and yourself?

*God’s Healing Hope: Breaking the Strongholds of Wrong Thinking, John L. Clark, Trafford Publishing, 2008, page 108