My Life Is Shaped by My Thoughts

In review of Proverbs 4:23 it says to, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT).

Today’s verse is Proverbs 4:23 and it says “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

I’m warned to guard it because my heart or guidance system (feelings of love and desires), will greatly dictate the course of how I live. In this verse Solomon warns me to guard my heart above all else, making sure I concentrate on those desires that will keep me on the right path. My affections should push me in the right direction. Therefore I need to put boundaries on my desires and not go after everything I see. Look straight head, keep my eyes fixed on my goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that derail or lead me to wrong living or sin.

God is far more interested in changing my mind than changing my circumstances. Personally I want God to take away all of the problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness. But God wants to work on me first, because transformation won’t happen in my life until I renew my mind, until my thoughts begin to change.

To manage my mind, and I should:

1). Manage my thoughts, because they control my life.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). My thoughts have the tremendous ability to shape my life for good or for bad. For example, maybe I accept the thought someone told me when I was growing up, “You’re worthless. You don’t matter.” If I accepted that thought, even though it was wrong, it shaped my life.

2). Because the mind is the battleground for sin.

All temptation happens in the mind. Paul says in Romans 7:22-23, “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (TLB). One of the reasons why I get mentally fatigued is because there’s a battle in my brain 24 hours a day. It’s debilitating because it’s intense, and it’s intense because my mind is my greatest asset, and Satan wants to control it if he can.

3). Because it’s the key to peace and happiness.

An unmanaged mind leads to tension. A managed mind leads to tranquility. An unmanaged mind leads to conflict. A managed mind leads to confidence. An unmanaged mind leads to stress. When I don’t try to control my mind and the way I direct my thoughts, I will have an enormous amount of stress in life. But a managed mind leads to strength, security and serenity. “Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT).

Bottom Line:

Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

What this means to me:

I am to be careful to guard my heart, for what's in it will dictate how i think and influence my actions.

In summary, I need to carefully guard my heart (guidance system), what goes in it, for it will dictate the course of my life. Concentrate on desires that will keep me on the right path and not on selfish desires. Keep fixed on the goals, don't get sidetracked. My thoughts have the ability to shape me for good or bad. All temptation happens in the mind. A managed mind leads to confidence.

Father, as I reflect this morning I know I need to let the confidence I have in you and your Word really reflect my actions. I do need your wisdom and guidance. As you provide it, I want to act confidently. I want my responses to reflect an overwhelming confidence so that I can inspire not only my team but those around me. So today I pray for your wisdom, guidance and confidence. With the help of the Holy Spirit, help me to carefully guard my heart and thoughts. Also Father, I ask the Spirit to also guide me in my interaction and responses with others. These things I pray this morning in your Son Jesus name, Amen!