Managing our thoughts as of late seems to be one of the most challenging events ever. Specifics would reveal that our thoughts are managing us as oppose to us managing our thoughts. Unfortunately, this can be quite challeging, particularly if we give no resistance to this very common activity.
In our teaching today, we’ll discover that, in not managing our thoughts, we become slaves to our thoughts in a negative way that will automatically result in negative actions and most importantly we are in direct violation of God’s word concerning this very important issue. “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23. The word heart here speaks of our mind, and the scripture here is suggesting that we monitor and scrutinize what we allow to traffic in and out of our minds (through thoughts via sight, sound, and environment), because it is in our minds where all our issues originate.
Most of us have little control over the thoughts that are basically ruling us. For example you have a Doctor’s appointment tomorrow and presently your mind is flooded with the worst that could happen. Even if you share these thoughts with someone and they say to you it will be ok, this means nothing to you because your ruling negative thoughts has already determine that only bad can come out of this. It is almost as if you can not stop the thoughts from coming. You’ve literally become a slave to these negative non-productive thoughts. What’s even worst, you’ve become so frustrated because you want these evil negative thoughts to stop, but it seems hopeless because as quickly as one leaves another is waiting to invade your mind to further frustrate you.
What we don’t realize is that we are giving these negative thoughts the legal right to not only dominate us, but leave us with the oppressive spirits such as depression, hopelessness, anxiety and panic attacks and worst case scenario suicidal thoughts.
Now I know you’re probably screaming in your mind right now saying how in the world do I over come this mental torture Kevin? Well I am happy that you asked, because I am about to instruct you biblically how to switch from being managed by our thoughts to managing our thoughts.
Firstly let’s look at the law that governs this situation and the authority we have concerning this that we have not been applying. The Apostle Paul told the church of Corinth in his letter to them that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty through God to the PULLING down of STRONGHOLDS 2Corinthians 10:4-5. Now the Apostle Paul here is speaking about thoughts trafficking in and out of our minds unchecked to the point that they have set up strongholds. A stronghold in this sense speaks of a thought process that has become contrary to God’s word and has set up its own belief system that has superseded the laws and knowledge of God which ultimately ends in frustration to its victim. As a result of this the victim will exhaust every form of relief except the spiritual weapons provided in the word of God for them.
The Apostle further goes on to say that we must cast down imagination (imagination: meaning negative mental images that we’ve conjured up through uncontrolled thoughts) and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ. So the law here which is God’s word commands us to bring our thoughts and anything that exalts itself against his knowledge into captivity to the obedience of Christ, this is not a suggestion but a command. To be commanded in bringing something into captivity by God clearly suggest that it is roaming about illegally, and we have been given the charge to subdue and dominate it.
So what is the revelation here? The revelation here is we’ve allowed negative thoughts to run rampant in our minds without policing them or bringing them into captivity. Captivity, meaning to restrain these thoughts and exchanging them with what God’s word says about them, which is bringing them under the obedience of Christ. As an example of this you’re sitting up every night worrying about your financial crisis or that broken marriage and every thought is negative. To the point it has consume every form of hope or solution that you’ve had previously. You need to begin reversing this process and begin speaking to these thoughts just like they are speaking and dictating to you. These thoughts are spirit entities constantly speaking to your subconscience conjuring up anything negative and hopless and ultimitly suppressing God's word that is in you, which is the only thing that has any influence on them .
Begin saying to these thoughts, I bind these evil thoughts in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the beginning process of controlling your thoughts by exchanging the evil thoughts with the word of God. Say to fear, “God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind”. Say to the negative thoughts of worry, “I must be anxious for nothing but through prayer, supplication with thanksgiving I will make my request known to God”. Say to confusion, “God has given me a Peace that passes all understanding, and great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them. Again, we’re replacing evil thoughts with the word of God. This is the only way you can bring these thoughts into captivity and redeem your piece of mind.
In doing this you will eventually regain control through consistent practice by knocking down unwanted thoughts by the power of God’s word (God said to remind him of his word). You have failed previously in this area because you tried doing it your way and by your words, and God word is clear when it says we can do nothing without him (God)……..
I want to make mention of a very important scripture that directly relates to what we’re discussing and it reads, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also Matthew 6:21. Now, the word treasure here is symbolic of things that are of importance or of great value. So our thoughts will always be consumed by things that are important to us. However it is the quality of those thoughts (positive or negative) that will determine the state or condition of our heart/mind. Meaning negatives thoughts produce depression and anger and positive thoughts bring encouragement and an overall good feeling.
Jesus said in his teaching, that the thing that proceeds out of a man’s mouth comes from the heart and it is these things that defiles him. For out of the heart proceed evil THOUGHTS such as murder, adulteries, fornication, theft, false witness etc. Matthew 15:18-19. So again all of this began with thoughts that were never monitored and brought into captivity and as a result has placed this person in bondage, and has shackle him mentally to a state that he would prefer not to be in.
Unfortunately for this person, the condition of their mind is exactly how they view life in general, and that is they see life as frustrating and confusing with no evidence of hope at all. These people are very unhappy with themselves and overtly and covertly spew this evil venom in their present environment. Their minds are saturated with bitterness, rage and anger, and they will make every attempt to convince others that this is the way life is. The truth is this is the way they perceive life to be because of their obsession to think negatively. I have also observed that folks that are overwhelmed by negative thoughts posess two very distinct characteristics and they are selfishness and insecurity. These are the two dominating spirits that feed their minds with negativity.
The bible has provided us with the ability to diagnose this evil when it said, " For as a man thinks in his heart/mind so is he, Proverbs 23:7. The reality of this scripture is displayed in all of us everyday, because we are the products of our most dominant thoughts. The change in any human being begins with the altering or changing of the way he thinks. A change in our thought process automatically changes our perception of anything. Our adversary wants us to believe we can not change our uncontrolled negative thoughts, but contrary to what he says God says that all things are possible to us that believe.
My dear readers, my words of wisdom for you this morning is, be transformed or changed by the renewing (repairing, fixing or restoring) of your mind and that can only be done by replacing your unwanted thoughts by the life changing word of God. However this requires you reading God’s word and meditating on it day and night and to do all that is in it. For then shall your way be made prosperous and then you shall have good success Joshua 1:8.
Heavenly Father you've done it again with your revelatory insight. I thank you for affording myself and the many readers of this article the understanding of the power of our thoughts and the necessity of renewing our minds to master our thoughts. It is no accident the readers of this article has stumble upon this read for it was all apart of your divine will, so I thank you and bless you for everything you’re doing in our lives, in the matchless name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Written by: Kevin L A Ewing
kevinewing@coralwave.com
