You’re probably familiar with the saying: ‘WE ARE WHAT WE EAT.’ In other words, our bodies become a reflection of the quality and quantity of food and drink we consume. But our bodies are also a reflection of what we exercise to be. Human beings exercise to be professional or amateur athletes - or, in the case of most of us - just to be ‘fit.’ People also exercise scholastically to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants.
But it’s also true that WE ARE WHAT WE THINK! God puts it this way: “For as he (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he.” So if you think productively - you become productive. If you think violently - you become violent, in word or deed, or both. If you think outwardly in love and concern for all people - you become godly - because ‘God is love’: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (I JOHN 4:16)
Mahatma Gandhi, a pacifist who led India to independence from Great Britain, echoed the statement quoted above in Proverbs, saying: “A man is but a product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.”
American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, warned mankind saying: “Beware of what you set your mind on: Because ‘that’ you surely will become.” So, WE ARE WHAT WE THINK ABOUT MOST OF THE TIME!
Psychologists tell us that the average person thinks 10,000 thoughts a day. That’s a lot of thinking that must be analyzed, and some thoughts mused on - while others - instantly discarded. The apostle Paul was inspired to write to the church at Corinth: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (II CORINTHIANS 10:4,5)
All of our thoughts can be summarized as either positive or negative, helpful or hurtful, constructive or destructive. YHVH is the epitome of ‘constructive thinking’: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (JEREMIAH 29:11)
Christ our Savior modeled ‘constructive thinking’ - when He walked this earth: “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (LUKE 9:56)
Satan, by contrast, is the epitome of ‘destructive thinking’: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (I PETER 5:8,9)
The apostle Paul referred to Satan as ‘the Prince of the power of the air’ (EPHESIAN 2:2), inferring that the devil has the power to broadcast ‘destructive thoughts’ on a frequency that we can’t hear - but which end up entering our minds. Our flesh & ego also produce ‘destructive thoughts’ that appear in our hearts. And through radio & T.V. waves - additional ‘destructive thoughts’ enter our minds. Paul wants us to ‘cast down’ these destructive thoughts flowing from Satan, Society, and Self!
The book of Proverbs warns us: “…the complacency of fools will destroy them.” Complacency, is a mindset that leads to apathy, and Spiritual neglect, as Christ warned the congregation at Laodicea: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (REVELATION 3:15,16) Such Christians are represented by the 5 virgins who are short on oil (Spirit of God) at Christ’s return - and the doors to the wedding supper are closed to them (MATTHEW 25:1-13).
The book of Wisdom also warns: “The perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” (PROVERBS 11:3)
Perversity, which comes in many variant forms of thinking (Perverse lips (PR.4:24; Perverting justice (DT.16:19; Incest & Bestiality (DT.27:20-23), are destructive ways of thinking that too many people drift into under the influence of Satan, Society, and Self.
One text in the New Testament shows us how to keep our minds thinking in a ‘constructive’ manner: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (PHILIPPIANS 4:8)
If you take the time to rehearse these 8 constructive ways of thinking in your morning prayer, as I do, you will find that your thinking will be much more positive throughout the day!