The brain is a powerful machine. The mind thinks 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s 2,500 to 3,333 thoughts an hour. And that’s 42 to 56 thoughts a minute. Depending on what our thoughts are, they can cause so much good in our lives, or can do much harm, causing destruction to how we see ourselves, how we see others, and the condition of our faith…how we see God.
In 2 Corinthians 10:5, it shows us a conviction that we must train ourselves to have about our thoughts.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
If we find ourselves thinking thoughts most of the day that do not encourage us, do not uplift us or do not keep us grounded in truth, then there are arguments and pretensions (claims) going on in our mind that are not faith building. God has given us a solution to that—a daily goal if you will. Make those thoughts obey Jesus.
The verse right before this passage tells us what to use to make our thoughts obedient to Jesus.
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4
Answer: Scriptures. God’s words.
Action:
- Pay attention to your thoughts within this hour starting now.
- Write down any thoughts that are not compatible with what the Lord says / the Bible says.
- Search for scriptures that combat that thought, a counter-thought that is biblical.
- Write that scripture down on an index card and post it somewhere you’ll see it often.
- Commit that scripture to memory or the address of that scripture i.e. where to find it in the Bible.
5 steps to getting control of your thoughts.
Breakfast: Seeded toast, avocado, paprika, herbs, cayenne, olive oil, salt + pepper