Someone once said, ‘You’re not what you think you are, but what you think – you are.’ Lasting change always begins with new thinking. We become Christians by repenting of our sins and putting our trust in Christ. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, and it means ‘to change your mind’. We’re not changed by willpower, but by the transforming power of God’s Word when we use it to renew our minds each day. The Bible clearly teaches that the way we think determines the way we feel, and the way we feel determines the way we act. That means if we want to change our actions, we have to go right back to the source and change the way we think.

Think about a time you acted with anger. You acted that way because you felt angry. And those feelings of anger stemmed from angry thoughts. The same idea applies to resentment, worry, lust, and other destructive or damaging thought patterns. Jesus said, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32 NLT). When we base our lives on truth, when we live with the right kind of thoughts, rather than misconceptions or false beliefs, and when we base our lives and thinking on God’s Word – we will be set free. We'll find old, unhelpful habits, feelings, and actions beginning to fall away.

When we only focus on removing bad thoughts, we leave a gap in our minds that can let the bad thoughts back in. But when we replace bad thoughts with good, scriptural ones, God fills our minds and empowers us to live the lives He has planned for us to enjoy.

What Now?

Do you have any unhelpful thoughts that keep recurring? Try memorising a few Scripture verses to combat those thoughts as soon as they appear in your mind.