What is it you are thinking about? Did you know that the way you think will actually affect the way you act? If you think toxic thoughts, you will behave in a toxic manner.
Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices (William James 1862). In other words, many people think they are being objective but they are not examining the facts and forming a judgment independent of their pre-conceived ideas.
So what I am saying is that people tend to not think at all, and they merely continue thinking the same old destructive thought patterns that they have always had. It takes a courageous person to stand back and honestly re-examine what they think and why.
Paul understood this and penned these words: “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom. 12:2 NLT).
Paul has invited his readers to change the way they think so that their perspective changes and they act differently. This is what Jesus has challenged us to do:
“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17 Amp).
Jesus knew that we could continue through life thinking as we always have done. We can inherit biased thinking patterns and beliefs and unconsciously let those ideas persist so that no matter how many times we read the Bible, our thinking never changes.
I said this requires courage because fear and distrust is so much a part of who we are, but God has promised to give us a spirit of “power, love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7).
We use that indwelling spirit to “destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5 NLT). We trust God’s word and give up our fears, prejudices, labels and biases and we bow to the Divine mind.
Here’s the summary: think on noble and lovely things and let them become your reality. “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Phil. 4:8 NLT).
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