Speaking LifeSample

Think About What You Think About

There is life-giving power in our thoughts. Our thoughts matter. Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) states, “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Our thoughts matter as out of the abundance of our thoughts flow our words. The thoughts and inclinations of our heart shape the reality of who we are. They shape our thinking which will ultimately shape our words and therefore, our actions. What we say matters but what we think matters even more. Scripture tells us to think about, even dwell on, that which is praiseworthy. Do we actually invest in and prioritize this obedience?

There are many books written that examine how our words are simply the vehicles that convey our thoughts and emotions. What you put in your mind has an effect on what you think. Does “trash in equal trash out?” If so, our thoughts should be considered our highest priority, especially since the health and welfare of our lives are the by-product. Our enemy wants our minds filled with all sorts of trash and vain imaginations. Let’s think about what we think about. 

Neuro Linguistic Programming acknowledges the fundamental connection between the brain (neuro) with our thoughts, language (linguistic) as our words, and our internal and external behaviors or actions (programming). This school of thought considers the practical application of thought awareness as it relates to positive healthy living.

Since we find what we are looking for, we have to really think about what we are looking at. As the story goes…there was a vulture and a hummingbird flying over the same desert. The vulture was looking for death and decay to eat on. The vulture found death and decay. By contrast, the hummingbird was looking for life in the nectar of a flower. The hummingbird found life. They both found what they were looking for. Be very careful what you look for, what your think about, and what you let go into the windows of your mind. For out of the abundance of our thoughts our words flow. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." It is possible to live a life aware of our thoughts and take them captive! God gave us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do so. Taking your thoughts captive simply means gaining control over what you think about yourself and life.

When we dwell on all our blessings, the character of our loving God and Father, and all His beauty seen in nature, then we live from those settling truths. However, whenever we think about what we don’t have and what is wrong with our world, we can struggle with depression and anxiety. There is a battlefield in your mind. Your life will always move in the direction of your strongest thoughts. So arm your mind and thoughts with life-giving truth!

Ponder:

Take time to consider your thoughts throughout the day. Are they life-giving and positive? Are they negative? What input establishes your thoughts each day?

Prayer:

Lord, help me be cognizant of my thoughts as they lead to my words. I want life-giving thoughts to lead my tongue to life-giving words. I need your Word of Truth to dwell in my thoughts. Help me take every thought captive that doesn’t align with Your truths.