Philippians 4:8- “And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.”
TRUTH: Psychologist are convinced that our lives move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts.
TRUTH: Your life will always follow your thoughts.
TRUTH: You will never change your life until you change the way you think!!
WHAT ARE YOU ALLOWING YOUR MIND TO DWELL ON? WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
WE NEED BOUNDARIES ON OUR MIND BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM
- We let our self image define us.
Judges 6:15 – “But Lord Gideon asked, How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
Gideon had a poor self-image! Listen to what the angel had already told him.
Judges 6:12- “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
GOD BELIEVED IN GIDEON BUT GIDEON DIDN’T BELIEVE IN GIDEON!
- We let our past torment us.
Psalm 13:2- “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
You do not have to allow your past to determine your future!
Why allow something in your past, that you can’t change, determine your future, which you can change!
Isaiah 43:18,19- “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
- We let the world influence us.
1Corinthians 15:33 -“Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”
2Corinthians 6:14-17- “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. God Himself put it this way: I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good, says God. Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.”
- We let the devil accuse us.
John 8:44-“………..When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Our enemy’s number one target is the arena of our thoughts. He knows if he can control and manipulate your thoughts he can control and manipulate you’re your life.
Revelation 12:10- “…………For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before God day and night, has been hurled down.”
WHY GOOD BOUNDARIES ON OUR THOUGHTS IS IMPORTANT
- Everything begins with a thought.
Genesis 3:1 -The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
The first place we must win the victory is in our minds! Everything begins with a thought!
- What we think determines how we feel.
Proverbs 23:7 – “For as he thinks in his heart so is he….”
- Our thoughts determine our attitude.
Romans 8:5,6 – “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind there is life and peace.”
Your thoughts determine your actions, attitude and self image. Your life will always follow your thoughts!
THE GREATEST NEWS OF ALL:
- God can change the way we think.
Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
CONCLUSION:
FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON GOD!
Isaiah 26:3-“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
Let’s pray