Did you know that your destiny is determined by what and how you think? Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do my thoughts inspire me?
- Are my thoughts plagued with self-doubt, fear and worry?
- Do they cause me to feel happy and peaceful or stressed and victimized?
- Are my thoughts true?
- Are my thoughts serving me?
- Is there any reason to keep them?
It is important to know the thoughts you are thinking and to be aware of what is going on in your mind. Every thought that goes through your mind is not yours! If you believe they are, you won’t think that you hear God. The adversary (the devil) sabotages our lives through our thoughts. He comes to you disguised as you – or God!
In II Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul tells us that we should take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Do your thoughts line up with the Word of God or contradict it? What do you believe? What is written on the tablet of your heart regarding God, self, marriage, children, relationships or leadership?
Everything you say, do, and physically manifest, begins with thoughts. Your thoughts:
- Decide what you think about self. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7
- Determine your reality (perception). If you think about something long enough, it will become real to you.
- Reveal whose voice you are hearing (God or adversary). Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” John 10:27
- Decide whether you live in faith or fear. Faith is reward focused. Fear focuses on consequences if you fail.
- How you battle sin and temptation. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God.” James 1:13
- Determine how you lead. Christian leaders should be examples of the highest kind of character and morality and see potential in those they lead.
- Establish whether or not you succeed in marriage – see spouse through God’s eyes.
- Influence how you parent your children – see what God sees in them.
- Affect your health and well being. Stress is the result of toxic thinking and prevents the immune system from doing what it was designed to do naturally.
Beware of the thoughts coming in and out. Do they line up with God’s word? Ask God to show you any lies you have believed concerning all the areas discussed above. Inquire of Him: What is the truth? Meditate on the following verse and learn to live a grateful life focusing your thoughts on the positive and not the negative. When you do, the words that come out of your mouth will be faith-filled words.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Philippians 4:8 {MSG}