The Gift of Thinking: Using Your Thoughts to Live the Life God Has for You
As human beings, we have been gifted with the ability to think. It is a powerful gift we often take for granted and sometimes even waste on nonsense that won’t get us anywhere. However, it is crucial to recognize that where we are today, whether successful or not, started with a thought. Our thoughts are powerful, and they can shape our lives. In this article, I want to show you how to identify the thoughts worthy of your time and how to use them to live God’s life for you.
One of the biggest time-wasters when it comes to our thoughts is dwelling on our problems. We often let our minds wander so far away from the present moment that we become consumed by our challenges. However, as Christians and believers of God, we know we can turn to God when in trouble. Instead of allowing our problems to consume us, we can turn our problem thoughts into thanksgiving. We can thank God for His faithfulness and for always being there for us. As Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
This verse captures what we should do with our everyday thoughts and is also essential to consider. Someone once told me, “All I need is peace of mind.” If you struggle with negative thoughts, or even in any of your thoughts, ask yourself if they are pure, true, right, lovely, noble, admirable, and testimonious. By “testimonious,” I mean whether they align with the testimony of God’s goodness in your life. Whenever something bothers me so much that I have to meditate on it, I attach a testimony to it. It reminds me of the goodness of God and how He has never let me down. I can look back on my life and see numerous times when He came through for me in impossible situations; I’m sure you have these moments in your lives too. By recounting those times in praise and worship, I am reminded that God is powerful and that He is still breaking down walls; even today.
It is vital to involve Jesus in every aspect of our lives. We should put the love of God into our lives and thank Him for loving us. This starts with self-love and seeing ourselves as valuable creations of God. We can also call on Jesus to help us function every day. As Ephesians 6:18 says, “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.”
For some of us dealing with anxiety, I recently heard an analogy on the radio that I want to share with you. A child of about eight years old fell down the stairs and bruised his ankle. He cried out to his Father, “Daddy! I’ll never walk again! It’s broken!” The Father reassured him that he could fix it, but the boy remained anxious. However, when the Father took the boy to his office and the boy saw all the degrees and awards on the wall, he realized that his Father was an orthopedic surgeon who had fixed thousands of broken bones. The boy was sure that his Father could patch him up. Our Heavenly Father is like this. When anxiety comes our way, we can know for a fact that our Father owns the universe and that He will fight our battles.
Paying attention to your thoughts and running them through the tests of pure, true, right, lovely, noble, admirable, and testimony is essential. If your thoughts don’t pass these tests, we should change the channel, play the record backward, or scratch them off. We should not let our minds be troubled because God is in control.
I hope this message has encouraged you to be more intentional about your thoughts and seek God’s guidance in all things. Remember that your mind is a gift from God, and it is up to you to use it wisely. Fill your mind with positive, uplifting thoughts that align with God’s Word and purpose for your life. Trust in Him and His promises, and watch as He transforms your thoughts and your life. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” So choose to think positively, focus on God’s goodness, and live the life He has called you to.
Finally, I hope everyone will strive for pure, true, right, lovely, noble, admirable, and testimony-filled thoughts. If our thoughts do not meet these criteria, we should change them. We should trust in God’s sovereignty and seek His guidance through prayer. By doing so, we can live the life of promise God has in store for us. Romans 12:2 says, “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.”
Have a great week!