What do you think about? What consumes your mind? There is much to fixate your thoughts on each day. Many of them are good, they help you to discern your next steps. Others, though, are what I would call time wasters. All they do is distract, destroy, or hinder. You are less productive when you focus on time wasting thoughts.
God is very aware of this issue that humans have. Because of the separation you (and I) experience from Him, due to sin, the mind has become a playground for the enemy. Satan knows very well that what you think about dictates your actions. For believers, God gives clear direction in how to keep the enemy from gaining ground and sabotaging your faith. If Satan can’t outright get you to not believe God, he will keep your heart divided. What I mean by this is your life will have God in it while you mingle around in the world loving it’s offerings; read 1 Kings 18:21, 1 Samuel 7:3, Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 6:24, and James 4:4. Thus, it is imperative that you flip the script in your mind and fill it with biblical truth and become a follower of Jesus Christ.
Look at Colossians 3:1-4, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory”
From Mindset Therapy, think about this: “It’s EASY to spot a yellow car when you are thinking about a yellow car. It’s EASY to spot opportunity when you are always thinking of opportunity. It’s EASY to spot reasons to be mad when you are always thinking of being mad. You become what you constantly think about. Watch yourself.”
What do you constantly think about? What draws your attention away from God?
It is important that Jesus becomes the center of your thoughts. Let a rubber band represent this idea of fixating your thoughts on Christ. In its relaxed state, you are focused on Christ and His truths, talking with Him and listening as the Holy Spirit leads you to the next thing. When a task is at hand, the rubber band gets stretched and your focus is on that task. When it’s over, the rubber band relaxes back and you once again are focused on God.
May I encourage you to memorize Philippians 4:8, “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.” Also know Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior ad customs of this world, but 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.” What else do you learn when you read Colossians 3:1-3 and 1 Peter 5:8?
Why the urgency in flipping the script in your mind? Because Satan is the father of lies; read John 8:44 and 2 Corinthians 11:14. If whatever it is that you face is not from God, you are being lied to, and you must take action and stop his lies! Every believer has the power to shut him down. Sin causes blindness that keeps you from being all that you were intended to be, until Jesus steps in. Jesus changes everything! Your sight becomes clearer and clearer and clearer as you abide in Jesus. For those without Christ, they are stuck in the lies and there is no way out. You can see the effects of this by how our society is being shaped. It would explain the soaring suicide rate or the debacle with abortion.
The Bible is your guidebook in how to think correctly.
God will lead you to pertinent Bible verses that will speak to your heart, soul, and mind. The latest ones He has me chewing on to help in flipping the script in my own mind is Psalm 144:1-2, “Praise the Lord who is my Rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield and I take refuge in Him. He makes the nations submit to me.” As I am memorizing these verses, God is helping me to refocus first on Him. Notice how the verses start out. Then He tells me that He will train me for battle. What battle is He referring to? The battle against the father of lies. Notice how He is with me in verse 2. He is with you too.
To help in flipping the script, continually ask yourself, “What is God doing?” Realize that He is always working. Even when you can’t see firsthand, know, believe, and trust that GOD IS ALIGNING GOODNESS AT ALL TIMES. He sent His Son to save the world which means abundant living is at hand. Goodness is all around you and me. We are to celebrate it rather than focus on Satan’s lies of doom, gloom, and doubts.
God’s hand is everywhere!
You will see victory when you focus your mind on God’s goodness and His truth. As you learn and grow in faith, God loosens the grip of those pockets of unbelief that have settled in your heart from the lies you have listened to. He is loosening the chains of self in the process. You can confidently say, “I am victorious!”
I will end with 2 Samuel 22:2-4. May these verses given today help pave the way to flipping the script in your mind. “The Lord is my Rock , my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my Savior, the One who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.”
Carol J German 