Five Principles to Control Your Thought Life

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The Bible teaches us to become very intentional about controlling our thought life, because we are what we think! Consider this challenge:
 
2 Corinthians 10:5:
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
 
Ways To Bring Our Thoughts Into Captivity
Romans 8:5:
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
 

1.  Guard what goes in your mind.

•What do you read?
         In the last 30 days I've read:
         Books:                                                       Magazines:
 
                                                                                                                          
 
                                                                                                                          
 
         Newspapers:                                              Other:
 
                                                                                                                          
 
                                                                                                                          
 
•What do you watch?
            In the last 14 days I've watched:
            Movies (inc. VCR rentals)                         TV Sitcoms 
 
                                                                                                                         
 
                                                                                                                         
 
            TV Soap Operas                                     News/Other
 
                                                                                                                       _ 
 
                                                                                                                          
 
•What do you listen to?
What kind of music do you typically take in on a daily basis?
 
 
What kind of conversations do you listen to? For instance, what do you usually hear going on around you on your job:
 
           Negative conversations                        Off-color jokes 
    _     Critical conversations                           Gossip
           Sexual innuendos
 
              

2.  Screen Your Thoughts

When we experience wrong thoughts trying to penetrate our minds, it is at that point that we determine whether we will indulge them or not. Learn to say no to wrong thoughts.
 
James 4:17:
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
 

3.  Memorize Scripture

Psalm 119:11:
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
 

4.  Read good books

Here are some classics which I strongly recommend:
 
            Knowing God by J. I. Packer
            The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
            Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
 
These are just three of the many great books. They have helped me change my thinking immensely. They are books to be read more than once.
 

5.  Replace Wrong Thoughts with Right Thoughts

Isaiah 26:3:
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
 
KJV: Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.
 
Colossians 3:2:
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.