Is it possible that your thought life is holding you back? I’ve seen lots of people succeed or fail, and it always goes back to one thing. Change, how much they changed their thought life.
“Sow a thousand, reap an action. Sow an act, reap an habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character reap a destiny” -anonymous
I can remember certain aha moments when my mind envisioned something bigger than I had ever dreamed. I can remember times when I felt like a failure and encouraged myself with my thoughts. Every time, it seemed like a butt was either holding me captive or catapult me into a new dimension.
To have a successful thought life there are four secrets to know:
- Capture your thoughts
Isn’t it funny how a negative thought can come into your mind out of the blue? Sometimes we wonder if Satan has access to our thoughts. He does. Even Paul spoke about doing spiritual warfare over our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us “For our weapons of warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every though captive to the obedience of Christ.”
When you listen to your inner conversations, are your thoughts constantly fearful? Are they hopeless? Are they jealous? Cast them down, take them captive. say out loud, “Satan, you are a liar. These are not thoughts of God Word. I remove them from my mind.
2. Check your friends
Probably the greatest battle is your friends. You may have friends whose negative mindset tries to limit yours. Jesus’s brothers were always negative about who He was. Peter tried to stop Him from His mission. Be careful whose thoughts you are giving access to your mind. Whether it is your friends, social media, or television.
3. Remove the grooves
Neuroscientists tell us that our thoughts, travel in grooves in our brain. Our memories from trees, whose branches are filled with feelings of good and bad moments. We automatically think in those groves, because that’s what easiest.
But we can plow up those grooves and start over. Plant some new rows so new trees can be planted. Maybe our parents or grandparents thought with certain limitations. But you, we can begin to think of ourselves and totally different dimensions.
4. Renew your mind
For years I have read the Bible, prayed and worked on renewing my mind, from the negative grooves that have been planted in my mind. Slowing my thoughts have transformed more and more into thoughts that come from God.
When we meditate daily on scripture and speak certain verses allowed when they apply to our situation. Our mind begins to renew itself. We can ask God to change our thoughts when they are in conflict with His commands. Changing an old mentality is a slow process to renewal.
But when we stay with it, guard our minds, and expose ourselves to great thinkers, find friends who think like our renewed mind we can begin to think new thoughts. That’s when we begin to change.
From Pity to Praise 