THOUGHT LIFE
"The mind governed by the flesh is death but the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6
Would you like to experience daily abundant life and a daily mentality of peace? Do you want to have a lifestyle that is peaceful and filled with abiding trust in God? If you do, then choose to let God govern your mind. Make God the ruler and the authority figure of your thoughts.
Friends, if we think like the world thinks, we will find ourselves in the same condition people of this world are in. The world is filled with depression, anxiety, comparison, fear, anger, envy, and striving. We can't expect to focus on the same things the world does, and yet live different lives. We have to choose to change our thought processes and be transformed by God's thoughts towards us.
"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." Philippians 4:8
Friends, are you spending enough time with Jesus to let Him into your minds? Is He in you? Is His Spirit living inside of you? So that when life goes unplanned, when traffic makes you late to work, or someone inconveniences you, your first thought is a prayer of patience and maybe a whisper to God "I trust in you in this." Or is your first thought anger or blame? When someone takes advantage of you or says something harsh of you, do you gossip about it, do you whine about it? Or are you taking your concern and your friend to the Father?
What is your thought life like? Are you thanking God each day for the blessings He has given you, or are you whining to Him when things in your life don't go as you think it should?
Is your thought life positive or negative? How you choose to think, is affecting how you will live.
We have to give God control of our thoughts because if we don't let God control our minds, then Satan will control it. Those lies you choose to believe, when you make a mistake, that you will never be good enough, that's the devil. The thought that nobody likes you, also the devil. God is the one who helps us to think positive thoughts toward ourselves and others. He is the one who teaches us how to think gracefully and graciously. He teaches us how to be happy throughout our days when our lips are filled with praise.
Psalm 16:8-9 "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure."
If we can keep our eyes on heavenly things, if we can contemplate Jesus' extravagant sacrifice for us and His amazing love for His creation, then we can experience more joy and freedom in our lives. We have to train our thoughts to think more about Jesus and heavenly things- instead of ourselves- and the great thing is Jesus, will do this work in us, He will give us more discipline and freedom in our thoughts if we will spend time with Him each day.
"My heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices." I think we all want to live joyful and happy lives; we all want to experience joy in God. Sometimes though, we just have to start claiming His promises. Choose a promise or a praise and say it like a mantra and a prayer throughout your day.
"I choose to claim God's promises of joy and peace in my life today."
"Today I choose to experience God's joy instead of sadness or depression."
"Today I choose to give my anxieties to God."
"And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7