Change Your Mind, Change Your Future

In this Attitudes and Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson shares an important truth about how changing our mind can take us a new direction.

I've always heard, "It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind." We can change our mind any time or day without notice! (On the other hand, I'm told a husband must never change his mind without consulting his wife!)

Women are said to change their minds because we're more emotional (blame it on the hormones); but really, gender has nothing to do with making choices.

Decision-making is a skill we learn. We might change our mind because information changes, or because we have a new perspective.

But one thing is sure: Changing your mind will change your circumstances, because ultimately, it will change your behavior. We become what we think about.

The apostle Paul exhorted us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).

God cares that our thoughts are right, because He knows where those thoughts will lead us!

I want to unpack three thoughts about "changing our mind."

1. You can Change Your Mind about the PAST.

I've discovered what I tell myself about myself, as a result of my past experiences, colors my perspective today. But I've also learned I can challenge my learned beliefs by holding them up to the truth of scripture.

We don't want to hold onto beliefs that are based in the enemy's lies (John 8:44), or cling to unhealthy thinking. We don't want to be paralyzed by our past either. Maybe we made a wrong choice that led us down a path of wickedness. Maybe someone injured us—abused or molested us, perhaps—and left us with deep emotonal scars.

We have to decide we'll no longer play the victim role. It's healthier to move into an "in Christ" victor's role!

In order to change my thinking about the past, I had to learn the gift of the lessons God had for me in my past circumstances--even the horrible ones.

2. You Can Change Your Mind about the PRESENT.

Ifa doctor told you you would have to spend the rest of your life in debilitating, excruciating pain--unless you spent 15 minutes today (and every day from now on) doing one thing ... exercising. Would you miss an exercise session? No! Every 15 minutes would more than justify the cost of a pain-free life.

But what do we do with our thought life? We're content to live with stinkin' thinkin'. We allow poisonous thoughts to cause us to live in pain and frustration. We need to take action and replace those stinkin' thoughts with right thinking. This is the Replacement Principle found in Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:8-11. 

There are some thoughts to "put off," and some to "put on."

For example, if my wrong thinking leads to people pleasing, I can replace this thinking with biblical thinking as found in Galatians 1:10 (which explains the importance of seeking God's approval instead of always trying to please others. We need to rehearse the truth in our thinking—one precept at a time—until our mind changes (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Isaiah 28:13a). Right thinking takes practice!

3. You Can Change Your Mind about the FUTURE.

You can design your future just like you freshen up and renew your home.

Peter Walsh from TLC's past series "Clean Sweep" helped people get a vision for what they wanted in their rooms, and then showed them how to eliminate everything that didn't belong. That's what we need to do in our thinking.

We need a clear understanding of how the Lord wants us to think (see Philippians 4:8), and then eliminate the thinking that doesn't belong. 

John 8:32 says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." That's what we want in our future, isn't it? Freedom to be what God created us to be? Freedom to serve Him without giving in to the discouraging, defeating lies of the enemy?

Our thoughts can determine our destiny, and when our thoughts are God's thoughts, our entire perspective for the future changes!

We know we will spend eternity with the Lord. We need to be sure our thoughts are conducive to building Kingdom-ready lives.

With that in mind, here are some parting thoughts:

• We become what we think about, so we need to guard our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23).
• We need to challenge unhealthy thinking and replace it with healthy, biblical, life-building thoughts.
• We need to examine our choices, because they are often the voices of our heart (what we're thinking).
• We need to daily renew our minds with the scriptures.

Is there anything in your past that still clouds your thinking? Are you struggling with thoughts today? How might changed thinking propel you into a more satisfying and God-honoring future?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God(with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. She is the Director of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in MInistry (NEWIM San Diego). Dawn is the co-author of LOL with God and contributed "The Blessing Basket" in It's a God Thing. She and her husband Bob have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net/