If we want our cars or our bodies to function well, we have to give them the right fuel. But what we feed our mind is equally important. Our thoughts influence our emotions and our behaviour. The Bible says: ‘The mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Luke 6:45 NIV). Jesus said a good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit (take a look at Matthew 7:18). Good thinking can’t produce bad results, just as bad thinking can’t produce good results. The Bible says, ‘Do not…be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.’ So how can we think differently? Firstly, we need to think about the unhelpful things we’re filling our minds with. We’ll always end up thinking about what we’re exposed to the most. The things we read, watch, and listen to affect our minds. Secondly, we need to be filling our minds with God’s truth. We need to remember that God’s ‘gracious Word can make you into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need’ (Acts 20:32 MSG). When we spend time reading the Bible, we soak in the truth of who we are, and who God is. The things we focus on can change how we feel. When we’re focused on God, we’ll feel peace. When we’re focused on our problems, we might feel fearful and overwhelmed. The Bible says: ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). The fuel we give our minds is our choice. God doesn’t force us to read the Bible or focus on Him. We have to make the choice to shift our focus away from unhelpful, worldly things, and onto God.

What Now?

Think about what you’ve read, watched, and listened to this week. Was there anything that wasn’t good fuel for your mind? Make some changes in the week ahead.