You Are What You Think
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
––Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
I was raised with the motto, “You are what you eat.” It’s actually one of those older expressions that has stood the test of time. The more we learn about nutrition, the more our grandmothers’ expressions ring true. (Except for, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That one makes no sense.) It seems like the more medical science advances, the more the old, common sense rules are proven true. Avoid the “white foods” (refined sugar, bleached flour, etc.) and eat foods in the natural state in which God designed them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You are what you think all day long.” It’s true. And we all do a lot of thinking. In fact, the average brain processes a staggering 60,000 thoughts per day, of which 45,000 are negative. It stands to reason, then, that the more we can do to get back to the “natural state” of how God designed us to think, act, and believe, the better. Philippians 4:8 (above) is a really good place to start. When we dwell on God’s truth, our thoughts turn to Christ and His love for us. When we focus on what’s honorable, we honor our relationships and commitments. Meditating on what’s pure helps us filter out the junk that accounts for a lot of those negative thoughts. And so on.
Is it possible to reduce the percentage of negative thoughts from 75% to, say, less than 50%? Absolutely. But it doesn’t happen passively. We need to activate our prayer life, delve into—and absorb—His Word, and then turn those edifying elements into the filters that strain out the bad thoughts and allow in the good.
Stop and think about your day. What is on the news? What’s the latest from loved ones and friends? How did conversations flow at work? But you can counter the negative flow by filling your mind with His truths. Start small. Feed your mind with His Word and strain out the negative. Change is possible.
Father, let my thoughts be Your thoughts. Renew my mind today.
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https://onewealthmgmt.com/you-are-what-you-think/
http://insights.peak-dynamics.net/post/102ia4i/the-impact-of-45-000-negative-thoughts