If you were having weight issues, are you supposed to stop eating altogether!? Obviously not. Thought management is very similar to weight management. We cannot avoid “thinking” in order to avoid harmful or negative thoughts. The question is, “how do we manage our thoughts?”
The scripture gives us direction in this area:
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7a
The above scripture could be good news or bad news depending on our thought patterns. If we have the right self-concept and think the right thoughts about ourselves, then we reaffirm the reality of who we are. The right thoughts keep us grounded and stable. However, if we have wrong thoughts about ourselves those thoughts shape our reality falsely.
For example, someone with anorexic eating disorder may look at the mirror and think they are fat. Others may even see this person as too skinny to be healthy, but what this person thinks of herself shapes her reality. No one can convince her that she is too skinny. You cannot even use an objective tool like a scale to prove to her that she is too skinny. Because she believes she is too fat, she will continue to starve herself or abuse her body to ensure she continues to lose weight or maintain the low weight.
Our mind is very powerful in creating a reality that may or may not be based on truth. People who have negative thoughts about themselves, think less of themselves and often times believe that’s how others see them too. There are times that due to pain or shame individuals are in denial of their condition. When you talk to them they are very convinced that they are right, and everyone else is evaluating the situation wrongly.
When our view of ourselves doesn’t match up with the view of those around us, we need to be open to the fact that we may not see the truth clearly. We should give permission for at least one trustworthy person to speak truth to us.
Our negative or false thoughts about ourselves have a serious impact on our lives, and they are dangerous to our spiritual well-being as well. Just as we may need weight management if it’s causing health or quality of life issues, so should we pay attention to our thought management.
How are you managing your thoughts?
2 thoughts on “Thought Management”
Tim Merfeld
Our daily decisions to dwell on what is good and holy can’t be minimized. Renewing the mind is a process of a believer that never does end. Choosing life in all the decisions We have helps Us to discipline our thoughts. We cannot permit the enemy to build unhealthy thought patterns by agreeing with the enemy in those areas. Thoughts will always come bad and good, but our choices have power and that is where right choices and victory can occur.
Our daily decisions to dwell on what is good and holy can’t be minimized. Renewing the mind is a process of a believer that never does end. Choosing life in all the decisions We have helps Us to discipline our thoughts. We cannot permit the enemy to build unhealthy thought patterns by agreeing with the enemy in those areas. Thoughts will always come bad and good, but our choices have power and that is where right choices and victory can occur.
Amen brother Tim! I have two more devotionals related to this subject. Check them out. God bless