CHANGE THOUGHTS BY REPLACING THEM

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he….”—Proverbs 23:7

 

I know a person who is constantly thinking about the things that are wrong in the world, the lack in his life and is always seems depressed to the point of being in self-pity.  However, this is just the opposite of the parameters given in Philippians 4:8 concerning our thought life, “ For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them](Amplified).” 

 

When we are “born-again,” it is our spirit that experiences the new birth, not our thought life.  We must literally “renew our minds” as the Apostle Paul writes, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).  He went on to say that although we have a flesh and blood body, we are not to war according to the flesh.  We are to use the mighty weapons that God has given us to pull down strong holds in our thought life, by “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

 

I encourage you today to sincerely begin to think about what you are thinking about at any given moment.  If after examining your thought life you see that there are times that your thoughts are not agreeing with how God thinks, begin to change those thoughts by replacing them.

 

 I do not know of a believer who has not had to work at replacing the way they thought before being “born-again.”  I can testify that taking thoughts captive and then replacing them works.  I have had to do this in a number of areas in my life.  Cursing, how I thought about money, my husband and my family are just some of the areas that I have dealt with.  The more that I read and got to know how Jesus thought and acted the more I wanted to be like Him.  The Holy Spirit helped me by quickening me every time I had a thought that was contrary to God’s way of thinking.  He taught me to write 2 Corinthians 10: 3-5 and Philippians 4:8 on a piece of paper.  Every time I had a thought that was not God-like, I would take the paper out of my pocket and read the scriptures out-loud.  It took diligence and not giving up, but my thought life has changed, and is changing.

 

You may have to replace wrong thoughts every minute or two.  But do not let that discourage you.  Just keep replacing.  You are changing habits that are ingrained, and you are in a war with your enemy.  Isaiah 26:3 tells us, “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You (Amplified).”    So do not give up; just replace the wrong thought with the right thought, as many times as necessary.

 

Prayer—Father I commitment my thought life to You.  I ask You to cleanse my mind of all unrighteous thoughts and I ask You to help me retrain the way that I think so all that I do will give glory to You, in Jesus Name. Amen.