Choosing Right Thoughts-The Mind of Christ

For several weeks, I have been reading and studying the book Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. I have come to what I think is the most important chapter in the book.

Our thoughts lead us to our actions. Negative thoughts lead us to a negative life. Our thoughts govern what we become. Choosing right thoughts or right thinking lead us to a positive life.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...Proverbs 23.7. You cannot live a positive life and have a negative mind! Joyce Meyer says " If we think fleshly thoughts, wrong thoughts, negative thoughts, we cannot walk in the Spirit. God-like thinking is a vital necessity to a successful Christian life. Choosing right thoughts - making a decision to improve our thoughts and have a Mind of Christ is a conscious decision. We will never be perfect like Christ, but our Christian walk will certainly improve if we follow scripture and strive for a more perfect walk.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (NIV) Ezekiel 36: 26-27

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take a heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and you will keep My judgements and do them. (NKJV) Ezekiel 36: 26-27

I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. (The Message) Ezekiel 36: 26-27

This Bible verse is self explanatory - Once we have accepted Christ as our savior, we have a new spirit - if we live by God's Commandments, study the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will lead us to live a fuller Christian life.

Joyce Meyer gives us a list of things to do in order to follow in the mind of Christ. I felt this chapter was important enough to write my notes out for me to review from time to time and for anyone who reads my notes. (If you have not read Joyce Meyer's book, Battlefield of the Mind I certainly recommend it .)

1. Think positive thoughts. Have a positive outlook and attitude. Maintain
positive thoughts and expectations. Engage in positive conversation.

Overcome Depression - Psalm 143:3-10 gives a
description of depression and how to come it.

-Identify the nature and cause of the problem (Notice that the cause or
source of this depression, this attack upon the soul, is Satan) For the enemy has pursued and persecuted my soul, he has crushed my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in the dark places as those who have been long dead. Psalm 143:3

-Recognize that depression steals life and light.

Depression oppresses a
person's spiritual freedom and power. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed and faints within me (wrapped in gloom); my heart within my bosom grows numb. Psalm 143:4

-Remember the Good times. Remembering, meditating, and pondering are functions of the mind. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I ponder the work of Your hands. Psalm 143:5

-Praise the Lord in the midst of the problem. I spread forth my hands to You; my soul thirsts after You like a thirsty land (for water). Selah (pause, and calmly think of that)! Psalm 143:6

-Ask for God's help. Answer me speedily, O Lord, for my spirit fails; hide not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit(the grave). Psalm 143:7

-Listen to the Lord. Cause me to hear Your living kindness in the morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to you Psalm 143:8

-Pray for deliverance. Deliver me O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to you to hide me. Psalm 143:9

-Seek God's Wisdom, knowledge and leadership. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me into level country and into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10

-Pray for deliverance.Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to you to hide me. Psalm 143:9

-Seek God's wisdom, knowledge and leadership.Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me into a level country and into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10

Remember: Negative feelings come from negative thoughts. Choose today to be positive--casting down every negative imagination--and bringing your thoughts into the obedience of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)

2. Be God-Minded - MEDITATE ON GOD AND HIS WORKS - Meditating on God and his ways and works will need to become a regular part of your thought life if you want to experience Victory. I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake (to find myself) beholding your form (and having sweet communion with you). Psalm 17:15 Fellowshipping with God early in the morning is one sure way to begin enjoying life. He is always with us, but we need to think on Him and be aware of His presence.

3. Be "God-Loves-Me" Minded - the love of God is meant to be a powerful force in our lives, one that will take us through even the most difficult trials into victory. FEAR NOT - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear... 1 John 4:18

BE RIGHTEOUSNESS-CONSCIOUS NOT SIN-CONSCIOUS--think deliberately according to the Word of God; don't just think whatever falls into your head, receiving it as your own thoughts. Rebuke the devil and start going forward by thinking right thoughts.

4. Have an exhortative mind. He who exhorts (encourages) to his exhortation......Romans 12:8 The person with the mind of Christ thinks positive, uplifting edifying thoughts about other people as well as about himself and his own circumstances. Remember that whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth. Do some "love thinking" on purpose. Send thoughts of love toward other people. Speak words of encouragement to them. The simple rule is: if it's not good, then don't think it or say it. Love always believes the best of everyone. To live in victory you must begin by lining up our thoughts with God's words.

5. Develop a thankful mind. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him bless and affectionately praise His name. Psalm 100:4

BE THANKFUL AT ALL TIMES - Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess the glorify His name. Hebrews 13:15 We should offer thanksgiving at all times--in every situation, in all things --and by so doing we enter into the victorious life where the devil cannot control us. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 Show appreciation in your family, mentioning certain things specifically that we are thankful for. Expressing appreciation is not only good for the other person, but it is good for us, because it releases joy in you. Meditate daily on all the things you have to be thankful for. Rehearse them to the Lord in prayer, and as you do you will find your heart filling up with life and light.

OFFER THANKS ALWAYS FOR EVERYTHING - We can be filled with the Holy Spirit by speaking to ourselves (through our thoughts) or to others (through our words) in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and by keeping out thoughts and words full of the Word of God offering praise at all times for everything giving thanks.

6. Be Word-minded - Meditating on the Word of God is one of the most important principles we can learn. Vines Dictionary of the New Testament defines the words translated meditate as follows: "...to care for," "to attend to, practice," to "be diligent in" "to murmur or to mutter.

HEAR AND HARVEST - And he said to them Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure ( of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you -- and more (besides) will be given to you who hear. Mark 4:24 The greater the amount of time you and I spend personally put into thinking about and studying the Word we hear, the more we will get out of it.

READ AND REAP - (Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.) For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything (temporarily) kept secret except in order that it may be made known. Mark 4:22 The word has hidden in it tremendous treasures, powerful life-giving secrets that God wants to reveal to us. They are manifested to those who meditation, ponder, study, think about, practice mentally and mutter the Word of God. The Lord keeps revealing His secrets to those who are diligent about the Word. Study the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to bless our life with truth. Remember the power to do the Word comes from the practice of meditating on it.

RECEIVE AND WELCOME THE WORD-So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the word which implanted and rooted (in your hearts) contains the power to save your souls. James 1:21 The Word has the power to save us from a life of sin, but only as it is received, welcomed and implanted and rooted in our hearts (minds). This implanting and rooting takes place through attending to God's Word--by having it on our minds more than anything else.

CHOOSE LIFE! Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death (death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter). But the mind of the (Holy) Spirit is life and (soul) peace (both now and forever) Romans 8:6

As a born again Christian you have the mind of Christ, begin to use it. If Christ wouldn't think it, you shouldn't think it either.

...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 in excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them). Philippians 4:8

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. Whatever you have learned or received from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Summing it up friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best not the worst, the beautiful not the ugly; things to praise not things to curse. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what you have heard and saw and realized. Do that and God who makes everything work together will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)