How does the Spirit of God change us? He enrolls us in the University of Godly Thought. Little by little, day by day, year by year, he creates a new person!

We learn to:

• Take thoughts captive
• Test each message against the truth of Scripture
• Interrupt poisonous thought threads before they infect us
• Think and act like Jesus

Does this appeal to you? More faith, less fear? More grace, less guilt? More love, less lust? More security, less insecurity? It is yours for the asking.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Remember who you are! You aren’t just anyone; you are a covenant partner with God, a full-fledged member of his kingdom development program.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).

God has pledged to remake you by changing the way you think. He has equipped you to tame your thoughts.

Being a disciple comes down to letting God change the way we live by changing the way we think. Good actions follow good thoughts. Behavior takes its cue from beliefs. If our belief is wrong, our behavior will be wrong. But, if our belief is godly, our behavior will be godly.

Let God lead you. Pray specific prayers about your specific thought patterns. Identify the tendencies that steal your joy and pilfer your peace. Take them to Christ like you would take a broken chair to a carpenter. “Can you please fix this?”

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Christ has a grand dream for you, my friend. He is shaping you into an image of one worthy of walking the streets of heaven. And it all begins with a simple choice: Tame your thoughts; think about what you think about.

I hope you will.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for giving me the ability to retrain my brain. Thank you for equipping me to tame my thoughts and change my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Giant-sized challenges are won not with bigger biceps but with better thought management. Your mindset is your most valuable tool. It’s time to screen thoughts, interrupt thoughts, extract and replace thoughts. And I know just the fellow to help us.

God called him “a man after my own heart” in Acts 13:22. Such words were never said about Abraham or Moses. Paul was called an apostle; John was called “beloved”—but never “a man after God’s own heart.” God crowned only David with this title. Why? What was unique about this son of Jesse? A case can be made for this answer. He made this six-word motto his mantra: “The battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47).

1 Peter 5:8 ESV Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

What giant seeks to liposuction the life out of your life? Does he come in the form of a disease? Is he wearing the garb of debt? Or defeat, one put-down after another? Is it time for you to use some thought management tools?

Psalm 34:17-20 ESV When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.

David resolved to shift his gaze away from the mess that surrounded him and focus on the God who sustained him. He meditated on God’s works. Maybe he made a list of miracles. Counted his blessings. Recalled God’s goodness. He took thoughts of death captive and replaced them with thoughts of life.

Negative thoughts lead to negative feelings. Thoughts of faith create feelings of hope. Be God-minded! Meditate on him.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, bring me peace when I am overwhelmed. Thank you for hearing my cries no matter where I am or what overwhelming giant I am facing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The joy Jesus offers is unlike the one promised at the car dealership or shopping mall. He is not interested in a joy that depends upon circumstance.

Did his joy hinge on the approval of others? No, even his family didn’t believe in him. Did his joy depend upon possessions? He didn’t even have a place to lay his head. Was his joy based on the loyalty of people? Peter denied him. Judas betrayed him. The Romans murdered him. Yet, “for the joy set before him he endured the cross”.

Jesus enjoyed a resilient joy.

What about you? Have you buried a dream? Have you buried a marriage? Buried a friend? As you look at these burial plots of life, is your joy buried there as well?

If so, you may have anchored your vessel of joy to the wrong place.

During my single years, I lived on a houseboat that was docked on the Miami River. The water level would rise and fall with the tide. The boat would rock back and forth with the river traffic. But though the river changed and the boat rocked, we never drifted. The boat was anchored to a concrete wall.

Courageously joyful people have done something similar. They have tethered their hearts to the foundation of God.

Is that to say your life will be storm-free? No. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV).

Is that to say no sorrow will come your way? No. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).

Is that to say you will never cross the drylands of sorrow? No. But that is to say your sorrow will not last forever. “Your sorrow will be turned into joy” (John 16:20b NKJV).

The boat will rock. Moods will come and go. But will you be left adrift on the Atlantic of despair? No, for you have found a joy that remains courageous through the storm.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, Help me anchor my soul in Jesus and find complete joy. Thank you for your constant guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.