Every words that comes out of our mouth comes from a thought - whether consciously or unconsciously.Fleeting thoughts could determine the quality of our life. We can choose our thoughts and we don’t have to just think about whatever falls into our mind. Proverbs 4:23 NIV says “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” In the Bible “heart” denotes the inner man, his thoughts, his will, his inclinations, and his affections; or the human soul with its faculties and operations. Jeremiah 17:9 says “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” It is deceitful with relation to God, It is deceitful with respect to other men, and it is deceitful with regard to ourselves; and our desires often deceive us, pervert our judgment, and impose upon our reason.
Now God is concerned about the hidden man of the heart, which is our inner life. The way we think determines how we live and who we are. That’s why we need to think about what we’re thinking about. In Genesis 6:5 we learn that God looked down upon the world in Noah’s day and saw that men were thoroughly wicked. God determined to judge the human race with a catastrophic flood, because mankind was wicked to the core.”How did that happen? When God made the first man, Adam, He made him after His image and after His likeness and made him “very good” (Genesis 1:31). But Adam sinned. That sin passed down from Adam to all mankind. Man became totally corrupt and wicked. The perfect man that God had created became a bankrupt sinner. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). The word "imagination" means "that which is formed in a man’s mind, a thought, purpose, desire." Sin always begins in the mind. “As he (a person) thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) Sinful men formed sinful thoughts (Genesis 6:5) Everything we thinks, says, and does - even our kindness, morality, and religion - are dead works, evil deeds, and fruit unto death (see Psa. 14:2-3; Prov. 4:19; 10:16,32; 12:5,10; 15:8,9,26,28; 21:4,10,27; Isa. 45:20; 64:6; Mat. 7:18; John 3:19-20; Rom. 1:20-32; 3:9-18; 7:5; 8:5-8; 10:2-3; 1Co.2:14; 2Co. 4:3-4; Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:21). The source of every evil, the secret of all felicity, is not touched until the heart is reached and scrutinized.
The first and most important step in seeking a cure is an accurate diagnosis of the problem. If you do not understand the problem, you will not seek the right cure. That is true not only physically but also spiritually. In Matthew 15 Jesus teaches a vital lesson in spiritual diagnosis. What He says is fundamental to living a godly life. He exposes the superficiality of Pharisaical religion by putting His finger on the source of all our sinful behaviors. It is not what goes into a person that defiles him. It is what comes out of him — the corrupted streams that flow from a corrupted heart. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.” (Matthew 15: 19–20). As has been well said, the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. In Scripture, the heart is the seat of indwelling sin as well as its subject. It is from the heart that indwelling sin springs in a person’s experience. Indeed, sin has invaded as an enemy and now possesses the very throne of God himself. The scripture indicates that the seat of indwelling sin is the heart (Mark 7:21-23; Gen 6:5; Luke 6:45). Our sins do not make us sinful. Rather, we commit sins because, at the very center of our lives, we are sinful. Sin has invaded the inner recesses of our personalities.
The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and unsearchable to any but God alone (Jer. 17:9). And in this unsearchable heart dwells the law of sin. Knowing that indwelling sin occupies a heart that is deceitful and unsearchable should make us extremely cautious. Sin is hostile to God and cannot submit to His law (Rom. 8:7). Jesus said, “That which proceeds out of the man that is what defiles the man…….” (Mark 7:20-23). No one commits this outward sin without first having committed them in their mind. If we want to grow in godliness, we must win the battle over sin on the thought level because 'Sin' is primarily self-centeredness. For God's two great commandments are first that we love him with all our hearts and secondly that we love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Sin, then, is the reversal of this order. It is to put ourselves first, virtually proclaiming our own autonomy, our neighbor next when it suits our convenience, and God somewhere in the background. Self-centredness is a world-wide phenomenon of human experience is evident from the rich variety of words in our language which are compounded with 'self'. There are more than 50 which have a pejorative meaning—words like self-applause, self-absorption, self-assertion, self-advertisement, self-indulgence, self-gratification, self-glorification, self-pity, self-importance, self-interest and self-will etc. Our self-centeredness is a terrible tyranny.
This is why “Jesus said, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”(Matthew 16:24) To deny himself means to say “No” to yourself and “Yes” to God. You must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. To say it differently, the process of denial is “to humbly submit your will to God.” It is to go through life repeating the words that Jesus said the night before he died. When he was praying in the garden, he said to God his Father, “Not my will but yours be done.” It is what millions of Christians have prayed for centuries when they repeat what we call the “Lord’s Prayer.” “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Rebellion ... is a refusal to seek His [God’s will] mind in all things. We can never obtain the mind of God by relying on our own reasoning. God is a God of truth. In fact, the Bible says it is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:18). He gives us His truth in every situation to apply to our thoughts. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32,) How can you know if what you are hearing is the truth or a lie? One way is to determine the difference between what you “think” (a mind issue) and what you “feel” (a sensation issue). One method we can use to help us separate our thoughts from our emotions is validation.
When we validate ourselves, we are acknowledging our feelings. You say, “I feel” and then complete the statement with a word that expresses feeling, such as “lonely,” “angry” or “sad.” Feelings are necessary. They are given by God in order for us to experience emotions. The Bible tells us that Jesus experienced joy, wept and had righteous anger. But He distinguished His emotions from rationale, and so must we. To feel anger is not a sin. Ephesians 4:26 says "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”, in this statement Paul may be legitimating righteous indignation, anger at evil, at that which is done against the Person of the Lord and against His will and purpose. It is the anger of the Lord’s people who hate evil (Ps. 69:9). It is the anger that abhors injustice, immorality, and ungodliness of every sort.
Jesus expressed righteous anger at the hard–heartedness of the Pharisees who resented His healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath (Mark 3:5). Although the word itself is not used in the gospel accounts of the events, it was no doubt that kind of anger that caused Jesus to drive the moneychangers out of the Temple (Matt. 21:12; John 2:15). Jesus was always angered when the Father was maligned or when others were mistreated, but He was never selfishly angry at what was done against Him. That is the measure of righteous anger. Anger that is sin, on the other hand, is anger that is self–defensive and self–serving, that is resentful of what is done against oneself. It is the anger that leads to ungodly behavior that often accompanies the emotion of anger is sin. (see Matt. 5:21–22). If we discipline our children, for example, by using our anger in ways that devalue them, discourage them or provoke them to anger, we misuse the emotion. Even though feelings are important, we should not allow them to direct our behavior. The approach of a Christian who has the mind of Christ is, “I know what I feel, but I will do what God says to do based on His Word (see Heb 4:12)—aligning our thoughts with His thoughts before we act. (See Prov. 14:15).
Let me give you an illustration of how this works in real life. A husband and wife exchange cross words. The wife says, “You don’t love me.” In reality, the idea that her husband doesn’t love her is a feeling, not a truth. The truth is probably hurt or rejection. The wife needs to examine her belief from a rational perspective. Is the feeling that her husband doesn’t love her truth or a lie? Usually it is a lie of the enemy to put spouses at odds with one another. The truth is that her husband does love her but needs to learn ways to show his wife his love in order to minimize her feelings of hurt and rejection. If the wife can see this truth, she is able to cast down an argument that goes “against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5,). What could have escalated into a battle can become active ground for unity, growth and change.
The Bible specifically talks about four things we must do to develop a mind that agrees with God. First “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2) second “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) Third “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”(1 Peter 1:13) and fourth “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindsets as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Bible also tells us ‘For, Who can know the LORD's thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him? But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) In order to have the mind of Christ, one must first have saving faith in Christ. (John 1:12) when a person put his trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells and enlightens that person, infusing him with wisdom—the mind of Christ. Having the mind of Christ means sharing the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ, and it is something that all true believers possess. Having the mind of Christ means we understand God’s plan in the world. The mind of Christ involves wisdom from God, once hidden but now revealed. The mind of Christ gives believers discernment in spiritual matters.
We read in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Have you ever wondered how this is possible? God created the human mind as a combination of conscious and unconscious processes (thoughts) of the brain that direct our mental and physical behavior. Our thoughts influence our actions. It follows, then, that if we want to act like Christ, we must also think like Him. With the mind we exercise the power of reason, conceive ideas and use judgment. It stores our intellect, as distinguished from emotion or will. To have the mind of Christ, we must think as He thinks. The issue is in accessing the mind of Christ as you mediate upon God’s Word and listen to the Holy Spirit, who is your guide into all truth. (John 16:13) There are many benefits to having the mind of Christ, “in whom (Jesus Christ) are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). One is that we will come to “the full knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (v. 2). Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God guards our minds. Romans 8:6 tell us that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” It also states “to be carnally minded is death” (Rom. 8:6). The Bible also tells us how it is possible to have the mind of Christ in spite of our life history. We are to “be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind[s]” (Rom. 12:2).
Three times in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Do not worry about your life,” Worry is absolutely useless. It never dried out a tear, lifted a burden, or solved a problem. Worry buries blessing and steals our Joy and strength. Worry is a wound in the heart of God. So Worry is not just a weakness; it’s wickedness. Worry is an insult to God. Jesus said “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” You can’t live the Christian life without joy. The joy of the Lord will remove the burdens from your heart. A Thankful Heart is a Joy-Filled Heart. Jesus said “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) Without genuine joy, your life is restless and meaningless. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Isaiah 26:3 says “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you “
Notice that the result of focusing our minds on God is peace, the opposite of war. We can be victorious in the battle with worry for our minds. When we are, we will find our minds at peace with God. One method we can use to renew our minds is to meditate on God’s Word. The psalmist says: “My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors” (Ps. 119:20, 24). Like the psalmist, we can find joy and knowledge in the Word when we choose to dwell on it. One of the most important ways we can renew our minds is to think on the things that are listed in Philippians 4:8: “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.”
The mind is like a garden. If a gardener plants mango tree he will get mango. If he plants wheat he will get wheat. Whatever you plant is what you get. Gal. 6:7-8 says "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting." It is impossible for any person to sow to flesh and get a spiritual harvest. God has given you the ability to control what you sow and thereby control what you harvest. If you experience defeat over sin, lack power, and never really walk in the all the fullness of God then it is time to examine your hearts, mind and thoughts. Jesus said that “the good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil….” (Luke 6:45). The good treasure Jesus speaks of comes by grace, but the evil treasure is the best that man, in his pitiful, fallen state can produce apart from God.
The only way to make a stream pure is to purify the fountain. And the only way to deal with our sin is by having our hearts cleansed by God’s Holy word. This is precisely what the Gospel does. God does not call us merely to stop sinning. He calls us to be transformed from within. And He provides such transformation through the power of the Gospel. This is the new birth of which Jesus spoke in John 3. The carnal mind must be converted and the converted mind must beware lest it be corrupted. The converted but corrupted mind can be conquered. The converted and con¬quered mind can be controlled by bringing every thought captive to Jesus Christ. The Lord does not treat only our symptoms. He addresses the root cause of all our problems. By the power of His Spirit and His Word, He changes us so that we become “new creations” (2cor 5:17).
There is not enough darkness in the world to extinguish the light God has put within a child of God. The light of God’s revelation and His salvation in your heart is so strong and bright that all the darkness of the planet, all the darkness of people’s opinions, and all the darkness of past failures can never put it out. Faith in life requires perseverance. Perseverance actually means “to bear up under pressure.” People who have faith in God are stronger than the pressure life brings. The purpose of pressure is to get rid of what is not of God. Perhaps you’re in the fire right now. It’s a good place to be. No matter what people may say about you, don’t retaliate. Let them talk about you. It doesn’t matter what they think. You can smile, knowing that you will come through the situation.
The Scriptures say it is not those who are swift, but those who endure to the end, who succeed. Let people pressure you to release God’s glory. Every one faith will be tested for authenticity. If your faith is authentic, life is going to try it, just to make sure. If a faith is terminated by trials or tests, then perhaps it was not really a living faith from God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says “For we live by faith, not by sight.” The apostle Paul reminds his readers that followers of Christ must not build their lives around things that have no eternal significance. Rather than pursuing the same things the world pursues, a Christian should focus on the unseen realities of everlasting kingdom. To walk by faith is to fear God more than man; to obey the Bible even when it conflicts with man’s commands; to choose righteousness over sin, no matter what the cost; to trust God in every circumstance; and to believe God rewards those who seek Him, regardless of who says otherwise. When the storms of life hit, they almost always appear stronger to us than God’s Word. It is crucial for us to remember that our perceptions can be deceptive.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul exhorts us to develop a godly thought life. He says “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”. Practicing above verse is essential if we want to develop and maintain healthy relationships (see Philippians 4:2-3, 5). A godly thought life is also integral to a life of joy (see Philippians 4:4) and peace (see Philippians 4:6-7) in every situation. Since our thoughts form the basis for our behavior, a godly thought life is also essential for the obedience to which Paul exhorts us in verse 9. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Clearly, Paul’s thought life was at the heart of the contentment he had learned in every situation (see Philippians 4:10-12).
The mind is a person's greatest asset and it is the key to peace and happiness, however, there are three enemies that attempt to take hold of a person's thoughts including a person's past, Satan, and the world's system. The first battle in your mind is with your old self nature, it's the source of all bad habits… We are taught in 2 Corinthians 19:5 “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;” Whenever we have a negative thought that seeks to depress us, we must immediately cast it down, think on God’s Word, and speak His Word. Plant God’s Word deep in your heart in order to think the right thoughts. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act If a person is labeled with negative affirmations during their formative years, they may carry those thoughts into adulthood and see themselves as such, even though they know it to be false.
In the Old Testament, when God was fulfilling his promise to provide a king to his people, Samuel was bewildered that God passed on some mighty good looking candidates. God then let Samuel in on his criteria for choosing a king. But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” – (1 Samuel 16:7) Like it or not, God’s economy is not only different than ours…it is also higher. He is holy; we are not. We see partially, but He sees perfectly. The things that we tend to value by our nature are not the things that are on his priority list. What does that mean? It means we need a paradigm shift. We need a new way of thinking. We need renewed minds.”Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. – (Romans 12:2)
Transformation comes when you renew your mind. “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” "Satan can't control your thoughts, only you can, and God can't control your thoughts," "If you're having bad, scary, guiltily, lonely, depressed and discouraged thoughts, it doesn't help to say, 'God change my thoughts.' God is going to say, 'it's your mind, you do it.'" How can we renew our minds? It’s as simple as spending time with God and contemplates His word. Just as we would get to know a neighbor or a friend, we must spend time with the Lord. As we begin to know him, we gain a much better idea of what it means to surrender to his will and to be found in him. We begin to value what he values, and we begin to see as he sees…not what is temporal and merely on the surface, but that which is eternal and of lasting value. God is far more interested in changing a person's mind than their circumstances. "Your feelings don't shape your life, your beliefs do. It doesn't even have to be true, if you believe it, it's going to shape your life," Change always starts in the mind. People have the ultimate power to change their own thoughts, but in order to do so, one must feed, focus, and free their minds on a moment by moment. We must feed our mind with truth, "People need more than bread for life; they must feed on every word of God." (Matthew 4:4) We also must free our mind from destructive thoughts "Those who are dominated by their sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit." (Romans 8:5) and finally we must focus our mind on the right things. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:1)
