Series: Mind Your Mind (Part 3)
 
“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
 
The pattern of this world is to say, “I can’t help what I’m thinking, thoughts just pop into my mind.” While this is true, thoughts do randomly come into our minds; Scripture tells us many times to guard, transform, take captive, and think about or contemplate what we’re allowing to stay in our thoughts - this is an alert that lets us know we can learn to focus our thoughts and decide what stays and what goes.
 
For too many years, I allowed negative thoughts to hang around and influence my mood, my attitude, and, by default, my life. When I realized God wanted me to think differently than those who didn’t belong to Him, by being transformed by my thoughts, I began to ask Him for help. I had reoccurring failures and shame that I believe the enemy kept on a constant loop in my brain when I would do mundane tasks, like loading the dishwasher or driving. When I realized The Lord wanted me to do better, I got serious. I put notes on the bathroom mirror with Scriptures; I put a verse on the screensaver of my phone (I still have a saying on my phone to help me with a current issue). I went to war, and I told Satan, “If you terrorize me with thoughts, you’re going to hear God’s Word.” It was shocking how quickly I noticed a difference and how quickly the thoughts stopped.
 
The model for this world is to go with the flow and allow the enemy to rule our minds, but we can overcome this by changing the way we think with the power of God’s Word. His Word renews our minds and allows us to know God’s perfect will – and that is to have pleasant thoughts, such as 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.” Being mindful of our thinking elevates our lives.