This is a question most of us face daily upon opening our social media apps such as Facebook. And exactly what is on our mind... What are we thinking? What thoughts fill our minds daily? Besides the tasks at hand such as working, taking care of family, and all our to-dos, what are you spending time meditating on?
I'm sure you've heard it before. The mind is a battlefield, and its true. Think before you speak. And even in Proverbs 23: 7, we see "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
like the thoughts in our heads, those that no one hears or know are what determines and makes up who we are.
Most of the actions, decisions, battles, troubles, start in our minds. Our thoughts determine our actions, our reactions and sometimes our inaction. As I talk to people, I truly discover that the way we think molds who we are and what comes out of us. Lets discover some of the things that infiltrate our minds if we let them.
1) Me- It is a fact, that no one thinks of you more than You do. We are living in a time and a culture where its all about me, my happiness, my career, my decisions, my wealth, my profile, my selfies. Me, me, me. It is me that consumes us and drives us. The thought of living for me, and self gratification. We have been taught to be independent, and to only worry about ourselves and that's exactly what we are doing. No one looks out for their neighbor anymore...and sometimes we let the thoughts of us get all of us. Our time, our money, our love. We were made for another...to love our neighbor, to look out for the needs of others. We need to replace the excess thought of "Me" with more thoughts of "Them".
Thoughts of us, bring arrogance which make us think we are better than everyone else. Sometimes in order to boost ourselves we are too busy picking out flaws in others. It happens. You know that moment at the gym where you feel better about your body, by focusing on the bigger unfit person struggling on the treadmill? Thinking of us can also cause us to make decisions that affect others without thinking of them... You know the person who decides to drink and drive because a night of drinking and "fun" is far more important than anyone else on the road who may pay for our decision. Or the fact that me is such a priority in our lives, we are no longer able to adjust and change or compromise to share our life with someone special. Because a marriage commitment may not necessarily be all about me, but instead about us.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves," Philippians 2:3
2) Fear- Sometimes it is the what ifs in life that keep us enslaved, and may paralyze us from doing or pursuing what we ought to. What if I don't succeed? What if I cant do it? What if they don't like me? What if everything goes wrong? If we are always going to focus on the what ifs that may possibly go wrong, we will never step out in faith and into the purpose God has for you. In the times we are living in, its hard to not let fear set in. That's why we must counteract those thoughts. When you fear the economy, trust God will provide for you. When you fear war, or crime statistics, trust God will protect you. When you fear rejection, know God will never leave you.
Everything begins with a thought. Our actions are a result of the thoughts we entertain. We need to know that just because a thought pops into our head does not mean we must keep it there or act upon it. We must fight thoughts of us, selfishness, arrogance, pride, fear, inadequacy, with the opposite. Fight the battle of the mind: Daily!
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7
Instead think of these things, and see how much your attitude, actions, and decisions change! God has given you the power!
"Finally, brothers and sisters, 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." Philippians 4:8
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