Pondering Lies or Truths

Pondering Lies or Truths

Thoughts? Don’t they drive you a bit crazy at times. My thought life has not been easy to transform throughout my life. There are certain thoughts I have struggled with for years that have unfortunately driven my behavior. Our minds are constantly bombarded by good thoughts, bad thoughts, and sometimes thoughts we don’t want others to know about. Sometimes our thoughts come from words that have been spoken into our lives. Sometimes it is the voices of the culture. Those thoughts if not taken care of create roots in our lives that drive our behavior.

For years, I struggled with internal thoughts that I am sure many of you can relate to. Here are a few:

• I am not enough.

• I cannot do that. Who do you think you are?

• I cannot communicate well and will be misunderstood.

• I am not loved.

• I am not worthy of being loved.

• I do not measure up.

This past year God walked with me on a journey of understanding at a deeper level that my thoughts do matter and are important to him. Your thoughts are powerful! The Bible says that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is (Proverbs 23:7). What you think about matters! Those thoughts, those beliefs will always drive your behavior. Pastor Craig Groeschel stated the following point: Your life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts! Wow! That is how powerful your thoughts can be. What direction are your thought’s taking you to? Think about that.

How do we change (transform) our thought life? I want to tell you that this journey of transforming your thoughts is not a quick fix. Specially for beliefs and thoughts we have had for years. It is a process.

2 Timothy 4:8 states that we have to train ourselves to be godly. This isn’t something that automatically happens but a lifestyle of training. We have to train our thought life in order to change our behaviors and walk in the freedom of being all God has called us to be.

Here are a few things that have helped me in this training process. Hopefully they can help you.

• Prayer: Ask the God to show you which thoughts are keeping you bound. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength to be disciplined in this process. We cannot do this on our own but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• God’s Word: Use God’s Word to change the thoughts that do not line up to God’s truth. Write down those thoughts that are keeping you bound. Search for scriptures that you can replace those thoughts with and then meditate on that truth until your thoughts change.

• Journaling: This has been one of the best tools that has helped me in this area. I write down a thought that is a lie and then I take a scripture or two that speaks truth against that lie. I journal them in ways that help me grow. I spend time meditating on those truths, God’s truth, which helps me transform my thinking. Everyone has their own way of doing this. So, use your way. As you seek God’s truth for your thought life.

• Write it!

• Think it!

• Confess it! Until you believe it!

(by Pastor Craig Groeschel)

• Resources: Look for resources like books, teachings, videos, audios, etc. from credible people that can help you grow from in this area.

My life has been so different since I have taken the time to allow God’s Word to transform my thinking. There is a sweet freedom that comes from knowing God’s truth. It hasn’t been easy, and it will always be an area of growth in my life, however I am finding the freedom that comes from a mind being transformed by Jesus. God has not called you to live a life full of negative ill thinking! God wants you to have a mind full of fix thoughts; thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8). These are the thoughts that are worth thinking about. My friend your life will always be a reflection of your thoughts. If you change your thinking, you change your life!