Start Your New Life Today Part 5

Much of our thinking is habitual. If we regularly think about G.o.d and good things, G.o.dly thoughts become natural. Thousands of thoughts flow through our minds every day. We may feel we have no control, but we do. Although we don't have to use any effort to think wrong thoughts, we have to use much effort to think good thoughts. As we begin to make changes, we will have to fight a battle.

The mind is the battlefield, and Satan's primary way of initiating his evil plan for us is through our thoughts. If we feel we have no power over our thoughts, Satan will entrap and defeat us. Instead, we can determine to think in G.o.dly ways. We constantly make choices. Where do those choices come from? They originate in our thought life. Our thoughts become our words and our actions.

G.o.d has given us the power to decide-to choose right thinking over wrong. But once we make that choice, we must continue to choose right thoughts. It's not a once-and-for-all decision, but it does get easier. The more we fill our lives with reading the Bible, prayer, praise, and fellows.h.i.+p with other believers, the easier it is to continue choosing right thoughts.

It may sound as if I'm saying that trying to live the Christian life is nothing but one continuous struggle. At times we may all feel as if that's true, but that's only a piece of the story. Too many people want to live victorious Christian lives, but they don't want to fight the battles. Victory, however, means winning and overcoming obstacles. We must also remember that living a life of disobedience to G.o.d is harder than choosing to live in victory. Yes, there are struggles but they are worth it in the end.

To think in the right way takes practice, and it is not always easy, nor does it feel natural for us to focus only on the good. But if we know this is the pathway to life-both now and in eternity-it's worth the effort and the struggle to think positive thoughts.

When we're bombarded with doubts and fears, that's when we need to take our stand. We don't ever want to say again, "I can't help it." We want to believe and say, "G.o.d is with me, and He strengthens me. G.o.d enables me to win." The apostle Paul said it this way: "But thanks be to G.o.d, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]" (1 Corinthians 15:5758).

We can choose. Not only can we choose, but we do choose. By not pus.h.i.+ng the bad thoughts from our minds, we're allowing them to invade us and take us captive. It takes time to learn to choose good and push away evil. It won't be easy, but we're moving in the right direction every time we take responsibility and make right choices.

CHAPTER 20.

Be Careful What You Think In the early days of computers, they used to say, "Garbage in, garbage out." That was a way of explaining that the computer only worked with the data put into the machine. If we wanted different results, we needed to put in different information.

With computers, most people have no trouble grasping that concept, but when it comes to their minds, they don't seem to get it. Or perhaps they don't want to get it. So many things demand our attention and beg for our focus. And not just sinful things. The apostle Paul said that although everything was lawful for him, not everything was helpful (see 1 Corinthians 6:12).

Those who meditate on G.o.d's Word are those who think- and think seriously- about what they're reading.

If you are going to win the battle of the mind and defeat your enemy, where you focus your attention is crucial. The more you meditate on G.o.d's Word, the stronger you'll become and the more easily you'll win the victories.

Too many Christians fail to realize the difference between meditating on the Bible and reading the Bible. They like to think whenever they read G.o.d's Word, they're absorbing the deep things of G.o.d. Too often people will read a chapter of the Bible, and when they get to the last verse, they have little idea about what they've read. Those who meditate on G.o.d's Word are those who think-and think seriously-about what they're reading. They may not put it in these words, but they are saying, "G.o.d, speak to me. Teach me. As I ponder Your Word, reveal its depth to me."

Psalm 1 begins by defining the person who is blessed, then points out the right actions of that person. The psalmist wrote that those who meditate-and do it day and night-are like productive trees, and everything they do prospers.

The psalmist made it quite clear that meditating on and thinking about G.o.d's Word brings results. As you ponder who G.o.d is and what He is saying to you, you will grow. It's really that simple. Another way to put it is to say you become whatever you focus on. If you read about and allow your mind to focus on G.o.d's love and power, His love and power operate in you.

The apostle Paul says it beautifully in Philippians 4:8: Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

Sadly, most Christians don't put much effort into their study of the Word. They go to hear others teach and preach, and they may listen to sermon tapes and read the Bible occasionally, but they're not dedicated to making G.o.d's Word a major part of their lives.

Be careful what you think about. The more you think about good things, the better your life will seem. The more you think about Jesus Christ and the principles He taught, the more you become like Jesus and the stronger you grow. And as you grow, you win the battle for your mind.

One of the things I like to think about is what I can do for other people. Galatians 6:10 says to be mindful to be a blessing to others. To me, that means to have my mind full of ways I can bless other people. I once spent a lot of time thinking about what others could and should do for me, and it only made me unhappy. Now that I've formed a new habit, I find my joy has also increased.

There are many ways to bless people. We can encourage them, compliment them, or help them with a physical need like moving, baby-sitting, or transportation. We can help meet a financial need, we can pray for them, or we can simply listen. Actually, when we help someone, we do more for ourselves than for them. The Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive. Giving does not always come naturally. The natural man is quite selfish, but learning how to change our thinking can form new habits. Instead of thinking, What about me?, think, It's all about G.o.d and other people.

CHAPTER 21.

Meditation Produces Success When we refer to meditating, we mean to ponder something and give it our full attention. A French couple helped me see that meditation is like eating. They take a bite of food after they have enjoyed the way it looks on the plate. They comment on the pleasant aroma and often mention one or two special ingredients. They chew slowly and deliberately, and they sometimes even comment on how it makes the insides of their mouths feel.

That seems a bit too much for most Americans, but that's a good picture of meditating on G.o.d's Word. We don't just wolf down a few words or a verse and hurry on to the next. We pause to reflect on a word, a phrase, or a concept. We compare that scripture with others that come to mind. We feel in no hurry to dash to the end of the chapter. The words are there for us to savor and enjoy. We should learn to be more concerned about quality than quant.i.ty. It is more important to grasp a deep understanding of one verse of scripture than it is to read five chapters and understand nothing.

Meditating on G.o.d's Word demands discipline. We live in such a fast-paced world few of us make time to meditate. We should form a habit of setting aside time just to sit and think about G.o.d's Word and the wonderful promises He made to those who believe in Him. The blessed person mentioned in Psalm 1 is the person who meditates on G.o.d's Word "by day and by night" (v. 2). The expression "by day and by night" means it is a major part of a person's life. It's a way of saying that thinking about the Word of G.o.d should be a regular part of daily activity. This will require casting down wrong thoughts when they come and choosing to think on things that will benefit us. Keeping ourselves focused will pay off spiritually.

I spend time with G.o.d in prayer and in study of His Word each morning, but I also apply the Word to situations I deal with throughout the day. During the writing of this segment, I received some bad news by phone, and my response was to quote and think about various promises in G.o.d's Word. His Word strengthens us and helps us keep our peace and joy. For many years all I did when I got bad news was get angry and frustrated and begin to think all negative thoughts. The change in me didn't come because I wished it; I had to choose it, and you will have to do the same thing. It wasn't always easy, but I am sure glad now that I did it.

I t.i.tled this chapter "Meditation Produces Success" because it is important for us to understand that contemplating the meaning of scripture isn't simply a good thing to do or an activity reserved for scholars. It is G.o.d's command to all of us and a requirement for true success.

I thought of the instructions to Joshua as he prepared to lead the people into the Promised Land. The first few verses of the book of Joshua provide G.o.d's direction for him. There were at least two million people going into the land, and the responsibility of leading them was immense.

Contemplating the meaning of scripture is G.o.d's command to all of us and a requirement for true success.

G.o.d promised to be with Joshua as He was with Moses, and He urged the new leader to be very courageous. Then He said, This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success (Joshua 1:8).

The instructions seem clear. Joshua had the commands of G.o.d, and his primary responsibility was to contemplate those words. By immersing himself in the law, he was learning to understand the mind of G.o.d more fully. G.o.d went on to say that if Joshua kept his mind and heart on the law, he would be prosperous and successful.

Too often people focus on their problems instead of meditating on G.o.d's promises. As they do, their problems seem to get bigger, and G.o.d's power diminishes. Do you have a problem right now? If so, this is a great time to start practicing your new way of thinking. Think about a breakthrough, not a breakdown. Don't think about the way things are; think about the way they can be with G.o.d on your side.

G.o.d doesn't want Satan to fill your mind. He doesn't want you to give Satan the opportunity to inject wrong and negative thoughts into your head. For the devil to control your life, all he needs to do is to control your thoughts. Make a decision right now that you will not allow him to do that. Don't let him defeat you. Proverbs 4:2022 is another scripture that tells of the importance of meditation: "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh" (NKJV).

CHAPTER 22.

"I Want a Mind Change"

I find a great deal of comfort in thinking about who I used to be and who I have become. It helps me to not be discouraged when I make mistakes or find I still struggle over some issues. I'm greatly encouraged when I consider where I started and where I am now.

In Ephesians 2, Paul describes those outside Christ in verses 1 and 2 as dead (slain) by their trespa.s.ses and sins in which they habitually walk and writes that unbelievers follow the prince of the power of the air, who is Satan, and they follow the way their master leads. He also pointed out that all were once dead through their sins, but believers are now alive in Jesus Christ and are not governed nor led by our lower nature-the impulses of our l.u.s.ts and unG.o.dly desires.

Many Christians have trouble in this area because they haven't learned to control their thoughts. A lady once told me, "It simply didn't occur to me that I needed to direct my mind and keep it healthy and positive. If ministers preached or taught about the control of our thoughts, I never heard it. One day, however, I read an article about the power of thoughts, and G.o.d convicted me. That's when I knew I needed to change my thinking."

This lady said she drove down the street of a busy city and spotted a sign, a cartoon of a car with big eyes for the front lights and tears flowing, and the words "Please help me! I need an oil change." As she pa.s.sed, she thought, I need a mind change. I don't like being the way I am, letting my mind go wherever it wants. Part of my responsibility as a child of G.o.d is to keep my thoughts healthy and strong.

"I want to make it clear that I went to church," she said, "and I had been active for years. I knew a lot of scripture, and I even did some volunteer work at the church. But I didn't control my thoughts. Even when I sang in church, my mind jumped from subject to subject. We'd be singing about joy and grace, and I'd think about the dishes still in the sink, the unfinished laundry, or what I wanted to eat for lunch.

"I attended church and I was faithful, but I was not faithful in attending to the Word. I listened when the preachers quoted scripture. I usually followed along with my own Bible, but I didn't really think about what I was hearing or what my eyes were reading. I was doing the right things outwardly, but I wasn't thinking the right things. My mind was a mess, and I didn't know what to do about it."

When she finally said, "I need a mind change" aloud to herself, she actually pondered the words she spoke. She was like the car on the sign-she needed a change-a mind change. She needed to let the Holy Spirit direct her thoughts instead of the devil. As she prayed, she felt confident there would be a positive change.

She thought to herself, Is there anything I am supposed to do? She realized that if she didn't make lifestyle changes, the devil would soon make the new thinking as muddy and gunky as the old thinking was.

For the next several days, she looked up all the scriptures she could find that used the word study or meditate. She also looked up scriptures that talked about the mind or thoughts. Among them were Proverbs 23:7, Ephesians 4:23, and Psalm 119:48. She read the verses, wrote them on slips of paper, and pondered them. The more she meditated on the right things, the less trouble she had with Satan trying to control her thoughts. That's how it works with all of us: The more we focus on G.o.d, the less often the devil can defeat us. Many people would love to have her result, but they don't want to do the work. Are you willing to do your part? If you are, I can a.s.sure you G.o.d will do His.

The more we focus on G.o.d, the less often the devil can defeat us.

CHAPTER 23.

Transforming Your Mind and Your Life The apostle Paul used two interesting words in Romans 12:2: conform, "be not conformed to this world," and transform, "but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" for the result that you: "may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of G.o.d" (KJV) "[in His sight for you]" (AMP).

I asked a friend who is a Greek scholar to help me understand the difference between them. He told me the word translated conform referred to the outward form. For example, my outward form at age twenty was quite different from what I'll look like at age seventy. The body changes, but it was more than that. He said the Greek word carried the idea of the changes we make according to the fas.h.i.+on-what was in vogue at the time-much like the way our culture goes today. One year, skirt hems are above the ankle; another year, above the knee. Those things are constantly changing.

The word Paul used for being transformed from the world refers to the essential part of ourselves-the part that doesn't change, our ident.i.ty. He was saying that if we want to wors.h.i.+p and serve G.o.d, we must undergo a change-but not only of our outward form. The change must be inward, and it involves our personality, our mind, and our essential being. Outward fas.h.i.+ons may change, but inner purity is always in style.

The preceding verse, Romans 12:1, exhorts us to present ourselves to G.o.d as living sacrifices. Only Christians can do that. His words are not about becoming believers, but about living as believers. This scripture challenges us to present all of our members to G.o.d for His use. That means our mind, mouth, will, emotions, eyes, ears, hands, feet-all of us.

If we want to see G.o.d's perfect will proven in our lives, we can-but we have to have our minds transformed. We have to think different thoughts and look at life differently. We have to have disciplined minds. We must begin to think in agreement with G.o.d's Word and not the devil's lies.

Although G.o.d has a different plan for each one of us, one thing applies to all: We are to have inwardly transformed minds. If our minds are transformed by the Holy Spirit, we will act differently. When He began transforming my mind, I know I acted differently. Church became a place for me to celebrate and to learn with my brothers and sisters in the faith. I began to understand wors.h.i.+p, and I became a partic.i.p.ant rather than someone who simply went through the motions.