It struck me today that anything we've ever done has been the result of a thought that we had first. We will never find ourselves doing something that we haven't at some point given a moment to thinking about.
Which is why we're told to take our thoughts captive in 2 Corinthians 10:5. If everything starts as a thought, we must learn to distinguish the right type of thinking from the bad and take every thought captive and bring it under the authority of Christ. If we master this, our actions will follow.
The thoughts we have will even determind how we react in situations... think about it...We sow what we reap right? So if we're sowing bad/negative/rubbish thoughts, all we're going to reap are bad/negative/rubbish actions. If we sow good/pleasing/Christ-like thoughts, all we're going to reap are good/pleasing/Christ-like actions. Seems simple enough really.
Proverbs 23:7 says that we become what we think about. So if you're trying to break the habit of speaking negatively, start by not thinking negatively. Every time a negative thought comes into your head replace it with something positive, but more than that, replace it with the word of God.
We can't develop 'right thinking' unless we first know what it is to think right. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. And we learn what these things are through reading the word and letting it dwell in us. Philippians 4:8 says "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." It's easy to think about lovely things when everything is going our way but it's when things get tough that our thinking is tested. How many of us can say that when someone offends or upsets us our first thought is 100% pure, noble, right, lovely and even admirable? (That's ok if it's not, but now it's time to change. =D) Sometimes we can feel like we have a right to feel upset or offended and that we are owed something if we are wronged. But it all comes down to a choice. Only we can choose to pick up an offence or to have a bad attitude. Therefore we can choose to respond in love. Train yourself to think about the things of God and the more you do the more change you'll see in your siituations and your everyday walk with Him. :)
Thank you for this. I agree with what you have said, but I often find that I have to speak out the truth before the thought changes. I speak the Word of God even when things are often are opposite to what it says, and when I speak, faith operates and hearing the Word spoken changes my thoughts and heart and then circumstances change too. I am really encouraged by what you share and it's great to see you getting hold of these truths Amy. You are blessed and a blessing.
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