My Thoughts Control My Life

In Proverbs 4:23 I read, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." (GNT)

God is far more interested in changing my mind than in changing my circumstances.

Most people long for God to take away all problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness. But God wants to work on me first, because transformation won’t happen in my life until I renew my mind, until my thoughts begin to change.

Why is it so important to learn how to manage my mind? Here are three reasons:

Because my thoughts control my life. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). My thoughts have a tremendous ability to shape my life for good or for bad. For example, maybe I was told while growing up: “You’re worthless. You don’t matter.” And I’ve accepted that thought, even though it was wrong. Now, years later, it’s shaping my life. That’s why it’s important to choose which thoughts I allow to affect me.

Because the mind is the battleground for sin. All temptation happens in the mind. Paul said in Romans 7:22-23, “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (TLB).

One reason I get mentally fatigued is because there’s a battle in your brain 24 hours a day. It’s debilitating because it’s intense, and it’s intense because my mind is my greatest asset. Satan wants my greatest asset!

Because it’s the key to peace and happiness. An unmanaged mind leads to tension. A managed mind leads to tranquility. An unmanaged mind leads to conflict. A managed mind leads to confidence. When I don’t control the way I direct my thoughts, I will experience an enormous amount of stress in life. But a managed mind leads to strength, security, and serenity.

The Bible says, “Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT).

In summary, I need to be careful in how I think; for my life is shaped by my thoughts. God is far more interested in changing my mind than in changing my circumstances. Most people long for God to take away all problems. But God wants to work on me first, transformation won’t happen until I renew my mind, until my thoughts begin to change. It's important to learn how to manage my mind: Because my thoughts control my life. My thoughts have a tremendous ability to shape my life for good or for bad. It’s important to choose which thoughts I allow to affect me. Because the mind is the battleground for sin. All temptation happens in the mind. I get mentally fatigued because there’s a battle in your brain . It’s intense, my mind is my greatest asset and Satan wants it! Because it’s the key to peace and happiness. An unmanaged mind leads to tension. A managed mind leads to tranquility. An unmanaged mind leads to conflict. A managed mind leads to confidence. When I don’t control the way I direct my thoughts, I will experience an enormous amount of stress in life. But a managed mind leads to strength, security, and serenity. Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

My heart, my feelings of love and desire, dictate to a great extent how I live, because I always find time to do what I enjoy. Solomon tells me to guard my heart above all else, making sure I concentrate on those desires that will keep me on the right path. I need to make sure my affections push me in the right direction. So put boundaries on my desires: Don't go after everything I see. Look straight ahead, keep my eyes fixed on my goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that lead to sin.