HOW YOU THINK WILL RULE YOUR LIFE

HOW YOU THINK WILL RULE YOUR LIFE

Topic of study: Our Thoughts

Written By; Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas

The average person has between 6,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day. Research from the National Science Foundation suggests the range is more likely between 12,000 and 60,000. Some research even suggests a higher number, around 70,000. A recent study using brain scans to track thought transitions estimated around 6,200 thoughts per day according to a recent study. 

• This wide range reflects the difficulty in precisely tracking thoughts and the variability between individuals and situations. 

  95% Are Repetitive Thoughts:

In this study we will look at what the bible teaches about our thoughts, and why understanding what the scriptures teach is vital to a healthy relationship with God, others, and life in general.

Before diving in to this study I want you to think of “thoughts” like seeds that are planted in our minds and take root until the thoughts form a pattern of thinking as they develop, and when thoughts are fully developed a person will reap a harvest from the thought patterns they have allowed to form in them.

In other words, if a person has allowed repetitive “bad thoughts” to develop and grow in their mind, then the outcome or results will be bad things. In retrospect, if a person only allows “good thoughts”, then the outcome will be always good.

Let’s begin to look at what God says about our thoughts…

The first thing we must understand is that how we as humans think is not at all of how God thinks.

Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”

It is interesting to note that in that verse God associates our ways with our thoughts and how we think.

The scriptures teach that a believer should “let” the mind of God be in them. The mind is where all thoughts are processed, it doesn’t matter the thought – ALL THOUGHTS, Good, Bad, Happy, Sad, every thought is processed by your mind.

The scriptures also teach us that we are to “cast down imaginations” — plural as in many imaginations.
The reason as to why the word of God tell us to cast down imaginations is because there is a spirit at work in the world his name is Satan or the devil who is opposed to God. This evil spirit is responsible for every evil thought and we are to cast down imaginations that contradict God.

2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

As strange as it may seem, God wants His people to bring every “thought” captive into obeying Christ Jesus. Before anyone has received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their thoughts by default were ruled by Satan. This is why the bible tells us to renew our minds. This “renewing of the mind” is what transforms the life of a person. If we do not allow our mind to be renewed, there will never be a transformation which is a “metamorphosis” in a persons life.

The original word for transformed in the Greek is the word: “metamorpfoo” which means transfigured or transformed meaning “changed” — meta means changed after being with, and everyone that is or was without Christ was in the kingdom of darkness with Satan and their mind was under the influence of Satan, this is why when a person comes to Christ they need they need their mind renewed.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

God has a perfect plan, will and destiny for every believer who is in Jesus Christ. This plan and destiny is perfect in nature and brings peace and joy in the Holy Spirit as a person begins to walk in the will of God. To walk in the will of God requires a transformation that the Lord does as one allows their mind to be renewed by the word of God. It is a process that the Lord walks a person through in life. Everything in life that happens is part of the plan until our mind is renewed.

Philippians 2:13 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

God literally wants us to think like Jesus thinks, we are not gods or God, but the Lord wants all believers in Jesus to begin thinking like Jesus thought. When we read in scripture about the life of Jesus we can clearly see that Jesus had these character traits:

• Jesus always glorified God the Father.
• Jesus never did anything unless the Father told him to.
• Every word Jesus spoke were words that brought life to others.
• Jesus fully understood his mission on earth and was never distracted from the mission the Father gave him to accomplish.

If we too allow our minds to be renewed to the mind of Christ, then we too will begin to develop character traits that Jesus has and our lives will begin to be transformed by God.

God is all wise and He wants all his children to gain his wisdom which comes through understanding. To understand something, it begins in the thoughts where our mind processes information it receives.

In scripture we learn about a king called Solomon who was the richest man living in his day. This man Solomon did not seek riches or gold, his desire from God was to receive wisdom and God gave him wisdom. Many today spend most of their days seeking earthly riches and lack godly wisdom.

Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and not riches, and because he asked for wisdom God saw his heart and blessed Solomon with riches.

1 Kings 3 – Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

God Grants Wisdom, Riches, Honor

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

In the new testament Jesus taught that one should seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else we need in life God would take care of.

Matthew 6

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the to-morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Jesus was teaching total dependency and trust toward God in everything that pertains to life.

Wisdom & Understanding

Proverbs 4:5-10

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Closing Scriptures – Think on These Things:

Philippians 4

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Psalm 49:3 “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.”

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

We all must put on the mind of Christ and learn to always speak works that bring life and transformation!