For as he thinks within himself, so he is (Proverbs 23:7a). Period. This scripture from Proverbs is true.
You become what controls your mind. Do you tend to believe lies about yourself? Maybe they are thoughts you have replayed in your mind over and over or negativity has been placed over you by others and it’s simply not true. However, you have believed them for too long.
And, there may be wrongs you have committed that keep negative thoughts locked up in your mind. But if you have confessed them to God—you are forgiven and you need to start living your life forgiven. You must allow the word of God to mold you and not what others believe about yourself. If you want to change your thinking—get into God’s Word to renew your mind. It’s a continual process of feeding yourself truth. Change from inside out. Otherwise, those negative thoughts about yourself will keep you from the purposes and callings of God.
Your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts. Change your thinking—change your direction. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2 NLT). The word “renew” means to replace something old with something new. A complete change. It is the discarding of old information not by the process of erasure, but by the process of replacement.
Only as you guard your heart with God’s word can those old thoughts be replaced with new beliefs which will glorify God. Philippians 4:7-9 promises peace to those who practice right thinking. If you replace negative talk with positive truth, God will guard your heart and mind with what He thinks about you—you are chosen, a royal priesthood, holy—a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
Right thinking begins with the words you speak to yourself and where your thoughts are fixed—on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. It’s time to stop the cycle of wrong thinking; start dwelling on the truths of God and allow His promise of peace to wash over your mind. Arise, oh friend, from the mire of defeat to victory in Christ.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:7-9 (NLT)
Excerpt from my new devotional, 52 Promises from God, Refreshment for your soul. click here for more information: https://moreofhimministries.org/product/52-promises-of-god/
For a deeper study—My dear friend, Sally Hall, has written a great Bible study, Self-Talk. Go to: https://sallyhhall.com/ for all the details.
Journeying with Him,