We’ve talked about 3 ways to reboot your joy. We reboot our joy with gratitude, we reboot our joy by changing our perspective, and we reboot our joy by changing our words. However, none of these changes are really achievable without renewing your mind – you gotta revamp the old thinking patterns to line up with what God says – that’s our topic today.
Everything starts with a thought.
Question?
How often do you stop to check if your thoughts line up with the Word?
Bondages start in the mind, the Bible calls them strongholds, and God wants to set us free from thoughts that hold us back from becoming all God created us to be.
2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT sums this thought up well
“We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.” 2 Cor 10:4 NLT
Let’s talk for a minute about the word STRONGHOLD.
Definition: A place that has been fortified to protect itself from attack.
From our earliest years, we all develop wrong thinking in areas because of our experiences.
As time goes on, these become strongholds that the enemy fortifies in our mind; and they become the filters through which we view ourselves and our world.
But God . . . has given us the weapons we need to bring down these strongholds.
You and you alone have the power to change your thinking.
Romans 12:2 “(YOU) Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.” ISV
This is not a suggestion: it’s a command
RENEW’, v.t. L. renovo; re and novo, or re and new.
1. To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair.
I like to say it overwriting our bad programming.
Bondages start in the mind and God wants to set us free from thoughts that hold us back from reaching our potential.
Hints your thinking is off: If you use words like always and never frequently.
If you tend to assume you know what others are thinking.
Does your mind always go to the worst case scenario first?
Do you entertain self degrading thoughts?
How about having a knock down drag out in your mind with someone that in reality has never happened?
If you could answer yes to any of those, try applying these tips.
1. Think about what you’re thinking about. Catch it at the first thought.
2. Use negative emotions that seem to hit you out of no where as red flags to check your thinking.
3. Run your thoughts through the “Does what I’m thinking line up with what God Word says filter?” Phil 4: 8 is this thought true, lovely, worthy of praise?
4. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. This is called the Law of Replacement and few people ever do this, because it seems too easy.
5. We all need accountability to stay on track. We also need someone who loves us enough to point out our blind spots.
The best way I know of is to get involved in a small group with people who love you and will help you keep your focus on those things that matter most. If you don’t have access to a small group, find an accountability partner.
scourtneylawson 