Your Mind Matters
Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
One of the most helpful things I have learned about the Christian life is that all behaviors – both good and bad – begin in our thoughts.
Along those lines, Mark Twain wrote, “What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history.”
Twain’s opinion is shared by many others. The great theologian Jonathan Edwards put it this way: “The ideas and images in men’s minds are the invisible powers that constantly govern them.”
Psychologist Archibald Hart concurs: “Research has shown that one’s thought life influences every aspect of one’s being.”
Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul connected right living with right thinking? “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” (Romans 12:2).
So why does that work? Why is it that a change in your thinking can result in a change in your living? In his book, Thinking for a Change, John Maxwell offers this explanation:
When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs.
When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations.
When you change your expectations, you change your attitude.
When you change your attitude, you change your behavior.
When you change your behavior, you change your life.
In short – All great life change starts when I change the way I think.
All great life change starts when I change the way I think.
So how does one begin to do that?
Resist
For one thing, it’s a matter of carefully monitoring your thinking as it relates to the invasion of that which is negative or impure. One person called this, “stinkin’ thinkin’.”
Scripture encourages us to not allow thoughts such as bitterness, envy, greed, and lust to settle in, but rather to practice some sanctified mind control and “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
As the old adage put it, “You may not be able to keep the birds of negativity from flying through your brain, but you can keep them from building a nest there.” When those thoughts come, reject them firmly and refuse to give them time or space.
Replace
However, it’s not enough to simply resist the negative. Nature abhors a vacuum – and this is no less true of your thought life.
So it’s essential to replace that negative with the positive. Again, Paul’s counsel is helpful here. “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).
Resist and replace. That’s the formula for a renewed mind. And, ultimately, it’s the key to a transformed life.
Resist and replace. That’s the formula for a renewed mind.
Why not give it a try even today? When that “stinkin’ thinkin’” seeks a foothold – and believe me, it will – resist it and replace it. I think you’ll find that your day will go a lot better. And, before you know it, you’ll find that your life will get a lot better.
PRAYER
Lord, I have to admit that all too often I’m quite careless with the thoughts that I allow to take root in my mind. And then, all too often, those thoughts lead to attitudes and actions which are far from God-honoring. Help me to get into the habit of “resisting and replacing.” And, as a result of that, deepen the transformation I so long for.
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