Thursday, August 16, 2012

Your Thoughts Determine Who You Are

Finally, brothers, 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

What did you think about today? What occupied your mind? What did you consider? What did you determine? Did you think good thoughts about people? Did you berate yourself for not meeting your own expectations?

Why is it important? Because where your mind goes, you go too. If you think you’ve failed, you did -- whether you really did or not. If you think bad thoughts about someone, you’re going to turn them into someone they probably aren’t -- because our imaginations have a way of seeming like reality.

How about another question: What are your goals? Where are you headed? How do you see your life unfolding? I know. That was more than one question but I do have a point to make. How you visualize your life, is how it will likely unfold.

So, do you see yourself as someone who is kind and giving, compassionate and patient? Or are you a go-getter willing to stomp on anyone to advance yourself and your own agenda? The answer could determine how willing you are to make right choices in your life.

It comes down to making conscious choices to follow God -- and to resist the lures Satan dangles before you. You refocus your mind on who you want to be in Christ. Not because it feels right and good. Because it might not. Instead, you do what is right and good until it becomes natural and feels right. It’s that old cliché of faking it until you make it.

I know it sounds kind of overwhelming. And like I don’t get how hard it can be to retrain your thoughts. But I do. It’s an ongoing process that I work on everyday. That’s the key: it’s a process.

Any task can seem overwhelming until you break it down into manageable chunks. Or moments. Or choices. Ask God where He wants you to begin. Maybe He wants you to think nice thoughts about that neighbor who drives you nuts. So you do. It isn’t easy. For every nice thought, you think 20 not nice thoughts. But slowly that changes and you find yourself thinking nice thoughts instead of harboring the negative ones in your heart.

And you know what happens? You begin to see your neighbor through God’s eyes. You’re kinder. More compassionate. And, slowly, you become the person you wanted to be. One choice at a time.