Our passing thoughts can sometimes become like breathing – we allow it to happen without much consideration, the thoughts come and go, sow seeds or uproot beautiful flowers – we just let them be. When we think about how much of our lives depend on our thoughts it makes you wonder why we don’t give more attention to the “how’s” and “why’s” of our thoughts. As life happens we begin to realise the high priority we need to give to our emotional and mental wellbeing. As Mahatma Ghandi said in his infamous quote:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
Beliefs
It is a very difficult process unpacking our beliefs because a lot of them are truths we haven’t realised we have even held on to. Yes, we are sure of our salvation and that is often enough to keep us grounded but the Saviour also wants to give us a life in abundance and that only happens once we address some beliefs that are not rooted in The Truth. What do your current thoughts say about your beliefs? You may know the fact that you are the apple of God’s eye and are fearfully and wonderfully made but do your thoughts mirror this – do you really believe you are a Masterpiece?
Thoughts
God spends a lifetime taking us through a journey from the head to the heart. And verse 7 in Proverbs chapter 23 captures this perfectly – ‘as she thinks within her heart, so is she…’ Our thoughts reflect our hearts and inner beliefs. In the era of the black mirror we are bombarded with new messages constantly but what are we choosing to ponder on. We can’t expect our minds to continuously meditate on the glorious works and awesomeness of God if we spend two minutes out of our 12-hour days thinking about Him in our morning prayer and most of our free time as front row spectators to other peoples lives. Let’s be conscious of what we allow our thoughts to dwell on and find ways to get our heart aligned. We will have to do some practical things like maybe opting for a walk through the park during our lunch break to remind us of His handiwork or even setting alarms as a reminder to bring our thoughts back to Christ.
Words
Of late I have become so mindful of the things I say to myself and to others. Whether out of a habit of jest or simply just being careless we can’t underestimate the power of the tongue – it can kill yet it can also build so chose well. We can speak life and come into agreement with the Living One or we can speak negativity and death and come into agreement with the enemy. From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:20-21)
Actions
“So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead” (James 2:17)
Again, it brings us back round to faith and belief and building on this. Deep faith should ignite action, and this is not just our big public acts of faith or what we do for social media but what we do in our quiet private moments. How do you treat other people when no one is watching and more importantly how do you treat yourself – remember Queen you are a Masterpiece…
Habits
Habits are defined as a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. The secret is to start, and you have more or less done the hardest part and if necessary do it incrementally. In the same way we have picked up the habit of scrolling through our feed first thing in the morning the same way we can put it down and replace it with something else – something life giving, all it needs is commitment. 1stCorinthians 10:31 pretty much sums up how we should go about choosing the habits we adopt “So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honour and glory of God”
Values
The New Testament is inundated with Christ’s parables which outline the many values God wants to instil in us. He is fully aware that in this world where there is corruption and perverse attitudes our only moral compass can be our values. These will become more evident and move up in our priorities once actions become habits and meditation and thoughts becomes a conversation with the Greatest Teacher the World was blessed with – there is no better standard to base our morals on than Christ’s.
Destiny
We have been commanded to cast down any imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ as His destiny, thoughts and plans for us are full of peace and well-being and not disaster, but rather to give us a future and a hope. (2 Corinthians 10:5 and Jeremiah 29:11). Our thoughts are so significant in directing our life so let’s make the well-being of our thought life a high priority. Help is always at hand so reach out for it if you need it – outstretched hands are evidence of a strong individual so please don’t ever think you are weak for reaching out. Take the time to process and fight for your righteous mind and let’s start practicing thoughtful thoughts.
Finally, sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)