When we have grown accustomed to believing the narrative in our own minds, it will take time to train our minds to think righteously. Positivity is not the goal. Righteousness is.
Our mindsets can shift like the sand in a moment. We don’t even detect it many times and can become a victim of our own mindset as we leave our thoughts unchecked. But we can trump our thoughts—discouragement, loneliness, anxiety, anger—with God’s thoughts IF we are willing to believe His thoughts over our own.
Sitting on my favorite spot on my couch (everyone knows it is momma’s writing spot), I was suddenly under siege for every kind of interruption one could have within five minutes: Weeping with one of my children on the phone, emails pouring in and demanding attention, and texts from people asking for help, not to mention the people surrounding me. And y’all, it wasn’t even 7 a.m. yet!
My early morning writing and devotional routine is a stabilizing force in my life. When I miss it due to unexpected circumstances, I can struggle to get my brain oriented to the things of God. But God has made a way to help us overcome and renew our minds when our thoughts overwhelm us.
Be Transformed
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 ESV
We likely know this verse by heart. But we don’t always live it out. I think it has to do with not always understanding what this transformation is and what our role is in that transformation.
Our emotions can be so very strong, and our mindsets can make us feel as if we cannot escape them. But admitting our need sets us up to be freed.
When we admit to God the burdens we carry in our own minds and set aside the unbelief that tried to get us to believe our own thoughts over God’s, we discover just how much our own thoughts have been trapping us to shrink back from God’s word and promises. Just because we remain in a difficult circumstance does not mean that God is not helping us.
For instance, depression does not have to win, even though it is so very loud within the walls of our minds, and it is so difficult to go against our senses and emotions. We can reprogram our thoughts to God’s by thinking about what He said to think on. I know this sounds oversimplified, but if God said it, He meant it.
Be Reformed
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 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 ESV
This new narrative will take time to cultivate, and it will not feel natural at first. It is easy to give in to the negative thoughts that weigh us down, but if we do what God says to do, we position ourselves for victory.
So, when we have a thought like, “she doesn’t like me,” we can reflect on Philippians 4:8 and ask ourselves if it is true? Honorable? Just? Pure? Lovely? Commendable? Excellent? Praiseworthy?
Assuredly, our thoughts will not meet all these litmus tests, but the exercise is not just an external one. It is an internal one. As we deny the lies in our minds and rehearse the truth, the repetition begins to cement a new spiritual reality that can help us overcome the negative mindsets that beset us.
Be Informed
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 GNT
We get to choose our thoughts, though sometimes we feel incapable of doing so. But feelings are not facts. We need to inform our minds with truth and saturate our minds with God’s word in order to think rightly and righteously.
The saying, “What Would Jesus Do,” or “WWJD” has served as such a sweet reminder that I want to do what Jesus did. I modified this phrase to be “WWJT,” “What Would Jesus Think?”. This has helped me to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my thought life.
So, when we begin to think about something that we know Jesus wouldn’t consider, like, “I will never lose this weight,” or “I am a failure,” or “[fill in the blank],” that inner narrative is likely not something we picture Jesus thinking, right?
But we all know that just telling ourselves not to think something just makes us think it, right? So, this informing of our mind is not just willpower or good work. It is learning how to think righteously. And as we think on the things of God rather than man, we see transformation in our lives and our lives being shaped by God’s thoughts over our own.
WWJT
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 ESV
It is intimidating to consider how very far our thoughts are from God’s. He is perfectly holy. It seems insurmountable to have His thoughts. But as believers, Scripture says that we have the mind of Christ:
“For, ‘Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?’ But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)
We can know God’s thoughts found in His word and spoken to our souls by His Spirit. We can change the negative narrative in our minds by being transformed as we yield to Jesus’ thoughts over our own through repentance, as we are reformed by reflecting and meditating on what God says and taking captive what God doesn’t think. And lastly, by informing our minds rather than letting our own minds inform us.
Today, it has become popular to say that each person has “their truth.” We tend to believe the thoughts in our minds because we thought them. But our truth must bow before Christ’s. We cannot allow multiple "truths" trying to water down what the real truth is.
When we have grown accustomed to believing the narrative in our own minds, it will take time to train our minds to think righteously. Positivity is not the goal. Righteousness is.
The battles in the mind and for mental health can be the most difficult fight of our lives, but it is worth it to stay in the fight. Depression, anxiety, scarcity, loneliness, and countless other mindsets are a reminder of our need for God to help us manage our thoughts. They are not a life sentence. Mental battles are not just physical and emotional battles. They are spiritual battles, too.
We change the narrative in our minds when we choose to be aware and to, by faith, make our thoughts line up with God’s word. It might mean finding a new circle of friends who aren’t negative, who will help hold you accountable when your thoughts become actions and attitudes that try to limit the freedom Christ gave. It will also entail guarding our eye gate and ear gate as music, television, and social media are all vying for our attention and training us to have a negative narrative unless we have godly influences in our lives to promote godliness.
You have the mind of Christ. Christ is your strength, and He is willing to enable you to rise above negative mindsets and change the way you think.
Photo Credit: ©Paola Aguilar
