When we choose to see things from God’s perspective, it changes how we feel. The thing that fuels our old negative feelings is our thinking. What we think produces how we feel. In Romans, we’re told not to ‘conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). When we start thinking the right way, our life starts going the right way. But changing our thoughts is a process. Some of our thoughts, and our reactions to the thoughts, are so engrained in us that they’ve become automatic. So how do we start transforming our minds? Firstly, we need to replace our negative thinking with thoughts that are ‘praiseworthy’ (Philippians 4:8 NIV). It’s empowering to remember that we can choose our thoughts. And if some of our thoughts have become overwhelming, we can ask for help in replacing them with good things. The more we read the Bible and spend time with God, the more we’ll be able to see which of our thoughts are godly and which aren’t. The Bible encourages us to take our thoughts captive and see if they line up with God’s truth (take a look at 2 Corinthians 10:5). Secondly, we need to remember God’s goodness to us in the past. David said: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV). We can choose to worry about the problems we have now, or remember the times God’s come through for us before. The more we remember how good and faithful God is, the more we’re able to see things from God’s perspective. 

What Now?

Write down a few of the thoughts you have about yourself throughout today. Then look at each one in turn and see whether it lines up with God’s truth about who you are.