What are you thinking about right now? Recent studies suggest that we have over 6,000 thoughts per day – many of which are negative, and most of which are repetitive (though experts can’t seem to agree on percentages here).

Let that sink in for a moment. That means our minds are potentially swirling with repetitive, negative thoughts for the majority of the day. Whew!

Now imagine the impact this can have on how we show up in our lives.

How well do we treat our spouse? How much patience do we have with our kids? How much effort do we put into our work if our mindset is negative?

We’ve all experienced times when we’re going about our day and we suddenly realize that we’re feeling blah or in a “funk.” If we take time to pause and reflect on why, we can almost always trace it back to a thought that entered our mind at some point, whether passively or by choice.

If we’re not careful about what we allow to take up real estate in our minds, we can quickly find ourselves feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed, and just…off.

What we focus on grows.

So what are we focusing on? Current events? That thing that one person said last week? “What ifs?”

Now examine what those thoughts are producing. Are they bearing good fruit like peace, joy, and patience? Or are we finding their fruit to be worry, anger, and discontentment?

While we have little control over the involuntary thoughts that pop up, the good news is we get to choose which ones get to stick around.

Proverbs 23:7 says that “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” So, based on your thoughts,

what are you?

Limiting and self-deprecating beliefs are not from God. If you’re having these types of thoughts, take some time to search out what He says about you.

For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”  – Psalm 139:16-17

He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

Wow! And these are only scratching the surface on the thoughts He has toward you. The God of the universe thinks these thoughts about YOU.

With this understanding, we can see that it’s no wonder the Bible has so much to say to us about renewing our mind, being spiritually minded, and having the mind of Christ! We have the responsibility to renew our minds daily and take every thought captive – it is not something that happens automatically.

We all feel the constant influx of things vying for our attention, and certainly no shortage of negative or anxiety inducing information, but Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, admirable, and of good report.

Now again, consider how keeping our minds fixed on things of this nature would change our outlook and approach to life. Romans 12:2 says that we are literally transformed by the renewing of our minds. That’s something to get excited about!

Where our thoughts go our feelings follow.

Since what we focus on grows, let’s commit to choosing wisely, friends.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord… – Psalm 19.14