Word of the Week - Thoughts
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. Romans 12:2
Our thoughts are the leading indicator of our future and who we will become! More than anything else, our Thoughts define our lives, our purpose, and our well-being. Thinking also affects our physical wellbeing. There is mounting scientific evidence demonstrating the relationship between the brain and the rest of the nervous system to include our immune system and that 75-85% of physical illness are a direct result of our thinking. Dr. Herbert Benson MD, the president of Harvard Medical School Mind-Body Institute says “Toxic Thinking leads to stress, which affects our body’s natural healing capacities. Toxic thinking literally wears down the brain and the rest of the body”. The reality is that our modern-day culture is full of toxic messaging that leads to toxic thinking. If we just go with the flow of our culture, we are susceptible to bad thinking. “There is a way (thought pattern) that seems right to a man/woman but in the end leads to death” Proverbs 16:25. No matter how godly and pure our walk, we all have an enemy of our soul who wants to destroy us and our relationships and he is working overtime to get in our heads. He does this by planting negative Thoughts and lies in our minds through all types of circumstances. We cannot allow these thoughts to land and resonate with us because if we do then they lead to strongholds that are much harder to overcome.
The good news is that God has equipped each of us with minds that can be renewed and transformed in Christ. Literally, scientist have proven that the neural pathways in our brains can be reprogrammed through the process of new habits and new thinking, which creates new pathways. The key is that we understand this and take a proactive approach to our Thought life and have both a defensive and offensive strategy to combat this reality. Here are some practical ways we can keep our Thoughts godly and pure and keep a healthy mind of Christ.
Feed your mind a daily diet of Truth through God’s Word. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way of sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1: 1-3
Put on the “Armor of God” each day. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18
Take thoughts Captive and make them obedient to Christ. “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 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.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
To remain healthy and live to our full potential in Christ we must realize that our Thinking is most important. What we read, watch and listen to matters because it shapes and influences our thinking. We must guard our hearts and minds and be careful of what we feed them. We must renew our minds in Christ each day, so we realize God’s good, pleasing and perfect plan for our lives. This can only be done by each of us taking responsibility for our own Thoughts so we have godly thinking that leads to peace and life opposed to stinking thinking that leads to death and dis-order.
I pray you have a week filled with good thoughts that lead to light and life. Halloween and the festivities that accompany this tradition are more geared toward the dark side. What may seem innocent and in good fun can sow seeds that pervert our thinking and perspective. Use discernment to guard your heart and mind and those of your family.
Blessings,
-Duane