So, What Do You Think?

We live in a society that is so often absorbed with its own feelings.  I know for one, I am sometimes guilty of thinking poorly of myself and negatively about the situations that I find myself facing.

My thoughts run rapid. I'm fat; I frustrated: I'm sad; I'm worried; I'm afraid, and the list goes on.  Even though I may not say them aloud, these thoughts and feelings can play like a movie over and over again in my mind. I recently read a quote by a Dr. Leaf that said:

“87% to 95% of the illnesses that plague us today are a direct result of our thought life. What we think about affects us physically and emotionally. It's an epidemic of toxic emotions.”

Yes, this kind of thinking can become toxic in our lives. Our thoughts become pictures, and those pictures become the basis of how we relate to God and others.

However, thank God we have the ability, through His Spirit and by His Grace, to control the thoughts and the way we think about ourselves. Truly, a picture is worth a 1,000 words, and we need to picture ourselves the same way God pictures us!

Today's quote by Rick Warren is so meaningful:

 

 

The most successful people I know are ones who have learned to control their thoughts.  The goal is to harness them under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Let's face it; many of us suffer from the effects of the toxic thoughts that are out to destroy our future and destiny. We must wage war and take captive those thoughts that many have so accurately called "stinking thinking".

When I read the quote by Pastor Warren, the first scripture that came to mind was the one where Paul gave us a warning about how we think…

"To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Here we see a picture of the battle that is raging in the arena of our minds.

Death verses life and peace. 

Which will it be? How do we change the way we think, and how do we take captive those negative and harmful pictures from playing in the theater of our minds?

Paul answers these questions a little further along in the book of Romans where we read:

“Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

I once read the quote below and remember thinking how true it was…

“If you continue to believe as you have always believed, you will continue to act as you have always acted. If you continue to act as you have always acted, you will continue to get what you have always gotten. If you want different results in your life or your work, all you have to do is change your mind."

I don't know about you, but I do not want to continue down the same old path of wrong thinking. God has given us everything that we need to succeed.  His word is full of promises and instructions on how to live a life that brings glory to Him. 

What greater way to honor our God than to,

1) believe all that He says about us is true, and

2) then act upon that truth in the way we live our lives.

This is how we celebrate His victory.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and created in the image of Jesus, God’s perfect Son. May we always see ourselves in the light of this amazing truth.

Please join us over at Heart Choices today as Debbie is our gracious hostess this week.

 

Father forgive me for all the times I’ve believed the lies of the enemy.  You told me I can do all things through you, and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in your imagine. Teach me what it means to have the mind of Christ.  Thank you for your patience and your great love and mercy towards me.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.