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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Your Conscience: God's Inner Voice - Part 1

Conscience is designed to govern our thoughts and action, urging choices toward what is right and pleasing to God. The job of conscience is to develop an acute awareness in the mind and spirit when there is danger of engaging in behaviors harmful to one’s values and self-respect. How important is your conscience to you.

Conscience has been called the inner voice of God, alerting us to unacceptable motives, thoughts and actions. It’s difficult to listen to the voice of conscience when secret desires and motives override what is acceptable to God. It isn’t sinful to have a bad thought, but to nurture the thought is a serious sin.

Proverbs 23:7 issues this warning: “For as a person thinks in his heart, so he is.” This warning is against having detrimental thoughts that result in wrong choices and hurtful actions. However, we can choose to have the mind of Christ, allowing our thoughts to be anchored in him. It’s possible to do this, but it takes determination. 

The Power of Patience: Taming the Temper - Part 2

Special family gatherings like Christmas or birthdays test our capacity to get along with others, even those we love. God creates us with the capacity not only to survive family gatherings, but to thrive and abound in love for each other. Deuteronomy 4:33 tells us how: "Walk in the way God has commanded so that you might prosper and prolong your days." You can do this with God's help.

To thrive in ways God intended, make a thorough examination of yourself and your lifestyle. Remember, your body is the temple of God. You may need to change some habits that are detrimental to your emotional and spiritual health. Do you live under too much stress, worry, and anxiety? Are changes needed?

Thriving includes seeking peace with God and others while there is time. Energies used in striving for power can be used to rebuild your emotional life, family life, and spiritual life. Listen to a choice St. Paul extends to you. "Let the mind of Christ Jesus be in you." This change is possible, so permit this choice be a first step for a new beginning. God bless you.