Every story begins with a single thought: the stories we tell, the stories we write, the stories we think and the stories we live.
It is up to us to ensure that the stories we are living are true.
Change your Thoughts – Change your Life – Change the World.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
Change Your Thoughts
We have the power and God-given authority to influence the world around us. Weapons that are far mightier than anything found in this world. The power to take every thought captive and force it to submit to the One who unravels the deception and replaces it with truth.
As a man thinks in his heart, so he is.
Proverbs 23:7
We become who we think we are or as John Maxwell says, we become who we think the most important person in our life thinks we are. That’s just fine if the most important person is God, because He always speaks truth.
When we change our thoughts about who we are by recognizing whose we are and whose image we bear, it’s a game changer!
How does this work?
Neural pathways are built in our brains by repeated thoughts, like walking the same path in the woods day after day, the path gets warn down over time and becomes easier and easier to travel. The same goes for our minds. The thoughts we repeat over and over become a very easy path for our brain to travel. And our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance to a conclusion. These are the pathways that become our identity and dictate our feelings and actions. These well warn paths become our reality.
Remember that guy, Joshua, who was commanded to take the place of Moses and lead the people of God into the Promise Land? No pressure there, right? I mean, how difficult could that be to fill the shoes of the guy who led these folks across the Red Sea…on dry land? I’m sure Joshua wasn’t afraid at all, no hesitations or concerns to speak of. Nonetheless, the Lord came to encourage him and give him advice on how NOT to fail.
Get this: God basically tells Joshua to change his thoughts by meditating on GOD’s Holy word day and night!
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law…do not turn from it …that you may be successful wherever you go…Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:7-8
Therefore, by repeating (meditating) on God’s Word over and over, new pathways are paved in our brains. These new pathways become the easy paths for our brains to draw NEW conclusions.
God’s Method is universal!
The One that designed our brains tells us that meditating on something (repetitive thoughts) will cause what we think upon to manifest in our lives.
For example, if we continually tell ourselves that we are unable to accomplish something, regardless of how great or impactful it may be, then guess what the end result will be.
If we continually tell ourselves that we are able to accomplish something, regardless of our fears and hesitations, then guess what the end result will be.
Change Your Life
Change scares most of us because it’s different. Different than what we know, what we are used to, what we have grown to understand. Change means new territory, not yet understood or familiar. It means leaving behind what we know for what we don’t know. That is both terrifying and exhilerating at the same time.
Every example I can find in the Bible where God shows up in someone’s life (or sends His angels to deliver the message of a new mission), every conversation begins with “don’t be afraid…”
Faith. It’s a game changer. I can’t imagine doing anything, at least not well, without faith. But the idea of doing anything in the realm of uncertainty without the knowledge of a God that is for me would be terrifying. Having the knowledge of the love of God means we can, if we choose, overcome fear of uncertainty by the power of the Holy One. He gives us authority to choose and to change. How awesome is that?
How does this work?
We must renew our minds DAILY with God’s word, so we can build new neural pathways of rock solid truth about who we are, the authority we have been granted and why we are here.
I was challenged by a friend to memorize all of Psalm 91 this year. She said it would literally become part of my DNA and you know what, she was right! I now listen to Psalm 91 daily to make sure that pathway is well paved.
…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:12 that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The term fear here means reverence or respect.
And later in chapter 3 Paul tells us why we are to do this. He says we do this while pressing on toward Christlikeness…to be like Christ.
But we have the mind of Christ.
I Corinthians 2:16
Change the World
Have you noticed an “if…then” pattern showing up here? Well, I’m not the author of that. God gets all the credit. Every blessing in the Bible (as far as my research has proven) is an “if…then” proposition. There are many covenants that are unconditional, but the blessings we desire are conditional.
If my people humble themselves…
If you are willing and obedient…
If you confess with your mouth…
If we keep His commandments…
If we walk in the light…
If we do our part, then the God of the universe has promised to do His. That is THE game changer. We have authority and the ability to Change our World!
Change your Thoughts – Change your Life – Change the World.
If you like this post, check out Why You Need to Hire a Life Coach!