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Do you ever think about what you are thinking about?
We’re talking about five faith builders, and I want to talk about minding your mind as our fourth faith builder.
A recent study estimates that we have approximately 6000 thoughts a day. It is further estimated that 80% of our thoughts are negative. Our thoughts impact our lives. We become what we think about.
Our thoughts about ourselves, about others, about God, turn into feelings and our feelings can influence and turn into behaviors. The thoughts we believe will determine how we live.
But here is the good news! You don’t have to believe every thought that enters your mind and you are not supposed to!
2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us when it says:
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
To take captive means to capture, to gain possession or control. And we are instructed to take control of our thoughts because faulty thinking can seriously hinder our faith. So taking back control of our minds from captivity to lies and liberating them with the truth is essential to flourishing in our faith.
Romans 12:2 is another powerful instruction.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Minding our minds is serious business.
Try this exercise: for 10 minutes (or however long you need), write down every negative thought about yourself, others, and God that pops into your head. Don’t judge yourself for the thoughts; simply observe them and write them down. Once they are recorded, you can begin to examine them. You can bring your thoughts into the light. As you examine them ask yourself: Do they honor God? Are they aligned with truth? Look for Scriptures that replace the negative thoughts and ask the Holy Spirit to help you realign them to Jesus.
Only when we mind our minds can we capture our thoughts, correct them according to the truth in God’s Word, and be set free from the lies. Choose to bolster and strengthen your faith by making your thoughts truth filled and obedient to Christ.