Mind Guard

“As he thinks in his heart so is he.”
Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

The only thing we can control in our lives are our thoughts, and living God’s way begins with thinking differently. The good News Bible says, “Be careful how you think, for your life is shaped by your thoughts.” (Proverbs 4:23)

In Isaiah God says “I don’t think the way you think” (Isaiah 55:8 MSG). His thoughts towards us are of peace, not evil; to give us a future and a hope, whereas ours are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). How can we change our thinking, control our thoughts and think like God?

The Jewish Translation of Proverbs 4:23 says, “More than all you guard, guard your mind for it is the source of life.” Today we spend millions of pounds on guarding things. Coast guards, security guards and we guard our banks, offices, shops, homes, cars, etc. with burglar alarms. But who actually guards his or her mind? It seems we let anything in. We watch things on television we really shouldn’t. We probably read things we shouldn’t and listen to wrong things and talk about things we shouldn’t.

So how do we control our thinking? II Corinthians 10:5 tells us we have to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We have to focus our thoughts on God and His creation, and strive to think the way He does. To find out how He thinks we have to fix our minds on Him and His Word. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians “…fix your minds on whatever is true and honourable and just and pure and lovely and admirable and God will keep a constant guard over your hearts and mind as they rest in Christ Jesus and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:7-9 J.B.Phillips).

Prayer
Father you have given us your beautiful creation to watch, your Word to read and to talk about with others. Please help us to listen to all you have to say so we can think more and more like you.
Amen

Study by Jill Newman