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God makes it clear in His Word that thinking is directly connected to quality of life. Through many years of studying, teaching, and writing about the mind, I can honestly say that your thinking will be transformed and your life will be changed if you will follow God’s instructions concerning your thoughts. In this section, I want to share with you three keys to great thinking. They all work, but none of them happens accidentally or without effort. If you want them to be effective in your life, you will have to incorporate them into your thinking on purpose.
The apostle Paul gives us valuable instruction about our thinking in Colossians 3:2: “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” He clearly tells us to think about things that are important to God (“the higher things”), and doing so will always fill our minds with good thoughts.
“Setting” your mind are probably one of the greatest and most beneficial things you can learn to doing. To “set” your mind means to make up your mind firmly. Wet concrete can be moved with ease and is very impressionable before it dries or “sets.” But once it does set, it is in place for good. It cannot be easily molded or changed. The same principle applies to setting your mind. To set your mind is to determine decisively what you will think, what you believe, and what you will or will not do-and to set it in such a way that you cannot be easily swayed or persuaded otherwise. Once you set your mind according to the truth of God’s principles for a good life, you need to keep it set and not allow outside forces to reshape your thinking. To set your mind does not mean to be narrow-minded and stubborn. We should always be open to learning, growing, and changing, but we must consistently resist the temptation to conform our thoughts to the world and its ideas. To set your mind on things above means to be firm in your decision to agree with God’s ways of living no matter who may try to convince you that you are wrong.
When I began to conform my way of thinking and living to God’s Word I met with a great deal of opposition and had to be firm in my decision. For example, I discovered that when I tried to be positive it was not received well by those who had a habit of being negative. They told me that I was trying to live a fairy tale and that real life just wasn’t that positive. They told me that I could not “think” my way into success. I was actually accused of trying to operate in “mind control” as if it were something evil and even demonic. But, the truth is that God does tell us to control our minds and not to do so is inviting every form of misery into our lives.
Although it is sad, I had to realize that Satan would even use my family and closest friends to try to prevent me from making progress. They loved me but just did not understand and, sadly, we usually find fault with what we don’t understand. I had to know for sure that God was leading me, and I had to be firm in my resolve to think right thoughts so I could see right results in my life. My friends were accustomed to doing the same thing I had always done, which was to think according to what we saw and felt. It seemed strange to them that we could believe and think according to what could be instead of what was.
The reason setting your mind and keeping it set is so important is that there’s really not much hope of being able to resist temptation if you don’t make up your mind ahead of time concerning what you will do when you are tempted. The Bible states that because Abraham was “fully assured” concerning the promise of God, he did not waver or doubtingly question (see Romans 4:20, 21). In other words, he had set his mind and was able to keep it set during temptation. You will be tempted; that’s just a fact of life. So, you need to think ahead of time about the situations that can pose problems for you. If you wait until you are in the midst of a situation to decide whether or not you will stand firm, then you are sure to give up.
When we go on a diet, we must apply this principle of “setting your mind and keeping it set,” in order to be successful. You can easily commit to a diet after dinner on Sunday evening, but the real test comes on Monday afternoon when you start to feel really hungry. People who have set their minds will stick with their decisions, realizing that they have to make it through the hungry times in order to eventually get the result they desire. This same principle must be applied to every area in which we need to make a change.
It can be applied to exercise, getting out of debt, cleaning out the garage, or any number of other things.
Make up your mind ahead of time that you are going to go all the way through with God. Some people spend their entire life starting and quitting. They never follow through. They may set their mind but when temptation comes, when things get difficult, they don’t keep it set. I strongly encourage you to be one of the ones who finishes what you start by keeping your mind set in the right direction all the way through to victory.
But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each of you to show the same diligence and sincerity [all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the full assurance and development of [your] hope until the end. (Hebrews 6:11)
Whatever challenges you the most, decide now that you are going to set your mind for total victory.
Talking to yourself ahead of time is one of the ways to set your mind. Some examples of what you might say to yourself as you set your mind in areas that commonly cause temptation include:
• “I am not going to think bad thoughts about other people and I am not going to gossip. I will not gossip. When someone around me begins to talk to me about someone else critically, I will not let myself get involved in it. I am not going to participate in ruining someone’s reputation. I will not offend the Holy Spirit.”
• “I am not going to overeat when I sit down for meals today. I will stop when I begin to feel full. I will make good food choices and I will not eat emotionally.”
• “I am not going to be excessive in any area of life. I am a balanced person. I am not going to complain about anything. I have a lot to be thankful for and I will think on those things.”
• “I am going to live to please God, not people. I want to be accepted but I will not compromise my faith and moral integrity.”
• “I am going to eliminate unnecessary stress from my life. I will slow down, not over commit, and try to keep life as simple as possible.”
• “I am going to think positive thoughts and speak positive words.”
If you think thoughts such as these, then when you are tempted to gossip, overeat, or face whatever your particular temptation may be, you already have a foundation in place. The message you have recorded inside yourself will begin to play back to you, and making the right decision will not be nearly as difficult s it would have been had you not yet made up your mind about what you would do when that situation presented itself.
If you prepare your mind ahead of time, then when temptation comes, you’ll be in good shape to say “no” to it. Don’t just wait to see what you feel like when temptation arises. Jesus told His disciples to pray that they would not come into temptation (see Luke 22:46). This is another way of setting your mind and heart in the right direction. Recognizing your weak areas and knowing what kinds of situations are challenging to you in life is wise. Firmly setting your mind to overcome them is the pathway to victory.
Think about It
In what specific situations can you apply these principles of preparedness?
The Eleventh Hour
World War I has been ranked by many as one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. Millions lost their lives in the first global modern war. On November 11, 1918, a ceasefire was observed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. During that historic moment, millions around the world observed moments of silence while they reflected upon the war’s terrible cost—the loss of life and suffering. It was hoped that “the Great War,” as it was called, would truly be “the war that would end all wars.”
Despite the many deadly military conflicts that have followed, the hope for lasting peace has not faded. And the Bible offers a hopeful and realistic promise that someday wars will finally end. When Christ returns, Isaiah’s prophecy will come true: “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa. 2:4). Then the eleventh hour will pass and the first hour of lasting peace in a new heaven and new earth will begin.
Until that day comes, those who follow Christ are to be people who represent the Prince of Peace in the way we conduct our lives and in the way we make a difference in our world.
Only in Christ can true peace be realized.
Insight
In today’s reading, Jesus predicts events that will accompany His imminent return. The Lord Jesus Christ ministers in the offices of Prophet (Mark 6:4), Priest (Heb. 4:14), and King (Luke 1:32). What a comfort it is to know that Jesus speaks God’s Word, represents us to the Father, and is sovereign over heaven and earth.
Read: Matthew 24:3-14
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore.
Bible in a Year:
Leviticus 25; Mark 1:23-45
