Is Keeping Your Thoughts Completely Pure Possible?

When my brother was twelve, he found a large sum of money outside a privately owned store. He informed the store owner if anyone could identify the cash amount, he would return it. Weeks later the money was never claimed, so it was my brother’s to keep.

My brother wanted to have a clear conscience. Listen to Romans 8:6. “If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we will have life and peace.” Jesus confirms: “It isn’t what’s on the outside that condemns a person, but what’s on the inside.”

It’s difficult to constantly have pure thoughts, but it’s a worthy goal that honors God. Romans 12:2 affirms that your mind can be renewed and made clean by the power of Christ within you. Shakespeare proclaimed, “To yourself be true," but this can be surpassed by committing yourself to being “faithful and true to Jesus Christ, who redeemed you.”

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Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 

~Proverbs 4:23-24 New International Version  

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What Persistently Occupies Your Mind?

Our behavior mirrors what we allow ourselves to dwell on. Grumpy thoughts produce grumpy people, just as an angry person reflects an angry disposition. When loving, helpful thoughts occupy the mind, we act toward others with love, joy, peace, and patience. Obsessive, negative thinking can take a person prisoner and harm relationships.

A key question to ask yourself is, what do my thoughts provide for helping me love God with all my mind? It takes discipline to train your mind to think only in positive, wholesome thought patterns. If this is hard to believe, try stopping unhealthy thoughts from occupying your mind.

Thank God, it’s possible to change what you dwell on by permitting the mind of Christ Jesus to take up residence in your mind. While it's impossible to prevent unwanted thoughts from surfacing, these thoughts can be rejected by refusing to nurture them. Keep reminding yourself of your commitment to love God with your entire mind.    

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If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace.

~Romans 8:6 Contemporary English Version

 

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

~Philippians 2:5 American Standard Version

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.