Right Living Begins With Right Thinking Series

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life” Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)

Every word that comes out of our mouth comes from a thought - whether consciously or unconsciously. Our thoughts, values and beliefs, will make us or break us. Our mind has incredible power, so be careful about what we’re thinking. If we think good thoughts, our words will be good. At every point Right living begins with right thinking. Each of us has a unique perception of the world we live in. This is because we have created it - by our past thoughts.

Bible says "As he (a person) thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) The spiritual battle is always in the thought –world. True spirituality, always begins inside, our thought –world. When we think right thoughts, we do right things, and we have right feelings. But when we think wrong thoughts, we do wrong things and have wrong or unpleasant feelings. The key to triumph in the spiritual life is learning how to take control of our thoughts and align our thoughts with God’s Word. Secret of righteous living is right thinking. While it is important to speak in line with God’s Word, to have strong faith, and operate in Biblical principles in order to be a victorious, victory begins with the way we think. Our life goes in the direction of our most dominant thought. You cannot expect to be kind, gentle, loving, or patient without thinking the right things. You also cannot expect to live a life of victory without thinking the right thoughts.

We are taught in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “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. What kind of thoughts should we have then? The Bible admonishes us, “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” (Philippians 4:8). We must read God’s Word in order to get it rooted deep in our heart to think the right things. Psalms 119:11 states, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Plant God’s Word deep in your heart in order to think the right thoughts. Someone rightly said

Plant a thought and reap a word;

plant a word and reap an action;

plant an action and reap a habit;

plant a habit and reap a character;

plant a character and reap a destiny.

There is a movie known as, “The Iron Lady.” It was an excellent biographical portrayal of Great Britain’s former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Her determination, decisiveness, and discipline gave her the edge she needed to ultimately become the first woman Prime Minister of Great Britain. The movie is definitely worth seeing and there were a number of quotes worth remembering. One of the favorite Thatcher quote was.

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;

watch your words, they become actions;

watch your actions, they become habits;

watch your habits, they become character;

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

These words are profound. They describe, in detail, our life journey and the significance our thought life has on our future. We must learn to be selective with the thoughts we allow to circulate in our minds. God’s Word instructs us to do this. Every thought has an agenda…to shape our philosophy of life and prompt us to move in some direction. We must filter our thoughts with truth. Otherwise our feelings will control our minds and eventually produce words and actions that take us in a direction we will finally regret. To move in the direction God intended, we must begin by finding out what God thinks. In Isaiah 55:8 God says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As you and I think about His thoughts, we will find that His Words begin to shape our thoughts and words. Actions will follow. Good habits will form and shape our character and destiny.