My Life Is Being Shaped By My Thoughts

Romans 12:2

“Don’t copy the behavior 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.”

Bottom Line:

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you’ll learn God will.

What this means to me:

I am not to be shaped by the customs and ways of this world. Instead I should let God transform and change the way I think. This way I’ll be able to determine what he really wants and is pleasing to him. I’m a product of the way God created me and of the relationships that surround my life. My identity is also influenced by my circumstances and my consciousness. Circumstances are the things that happen to and around me, most of which I have no control. I’m a product of the trauma, troubles, suffering, shame, shock, pressures, and pain that have shaped my life. Consciousness is how I talk to myself. I can be harsh with myself.  If I talked to friends the way I talk to myself, I probably wouldn’t have them.  My thoughts are often filled with the lies I’ve heard from other people that I’ve let simmer and fester. When I repeat other people’s thoughts in my head, they go deeper and deeper into my consciousness, and then shape my identity. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (LB). My thoughts don’t have to be true to hurt me; I just have to believe them. If I’m afraid I can’t do something, then I won’t. My thoughts will run my life! While circumstances may be out of my control, they aren’t out of Gods. My thoughts will shape who I am.  The good news is that I can change the way I think. My past circumstances and consciousness have shaped who I am, but the way I respond to them in the future and the thoughts I choose to believe will shape the rest of my life.