Fix My Thoughts, Finding My Strength

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

God wants me to be healthy in every area of my life—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be strong mentally, I must focus my mind on the right things. Three things I can think about to improve my mental health.

Think about Jesus.
You’ve heard the saying, “You become what you think about most.” If I want to become more like Jesus, I have to focus my thoughts on him.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

Think about others.
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB).

This is very countercultural. Our world teaches us to think about ourselves and nobody else. But Jesus was countercultural, and when I think like him, I'll more naturally think of others.

Think about eternity.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When I start focusing on truths like that, all of my problems seem inferior compared to the glory, joy, and pleasure of the things awaiting you in eternity.

My mind is my greatest asset and also my fiercest battleground. I can ask God to help me make the choice every day to feed on his Word, free my mind of destructive thoughts, and fill my mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then I'll be well-equipped to fight the battles in my mind.

In summary:

Hebrews 12:3 reminds me to think about Jesus’ perseverance through suffering so I don’t grow weary or give up. God desires me to be healthy in every way, and a strong, healthy mind comes from focusing on the right things. To improve my mental health, I should fix my thoughts on Jesus—becoming more like Him through reflection on His example, think of others instead of just myself—embracing the selfless mindset of Christ, and think about eternity—gaining perspective and hope beyond any present struggles. By choosing daily to focus on these truths and asking God to renew my mind, I equip myself to overcome the mental battles I'll face.

Mastering My Mind, Transforming My Life

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

God is far more interested in changing my mind than changing my circumstances.

I want God to take away all my 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.

Why is it so important for me to learn to manage my mind? The Bible gives three reasons.

1. Manage your mind because your thoughts control your life.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). My thoughts have a tremendous ability to shape my life in positive or negative ways. For example, maybe I've accepted a thought someone told me when I was growing up: “You’re worthless. You don’t matter.” If I believed that, even though it was wrong, it has shaped my life. I must choose which thoughts I allow to affect me.

2, Manage my mind 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 reason I get mentally fatigued is because there’s a battle in my mind 24 hours a day. It’s debilitating because it’s intense, and it’s intense because my mind is my greatest asset. Satan wants my greatest asset!

3. Manage your mind 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. When I don’t try to control my mind and direct my thoughts, I will experience an enormous amount of stress in my 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).

When my circumstances are out of my control, take the time to manage my mind. Ask God for his help, and I'll find that I can find peace and happiness despite tough times.

In summary:

Proverbs 4:23 teaches that my life is shaped by my thoughts, and God is more focused on transforming my mind than changing my circumstances. Real change begins with renewing how I think, because my thoughts influence my actions, emotions, and ultimately, the direction of my life. The Bible gives three key reasons to manage our minds: our thoughts control our lives, our minds are the battleground for sin, and a managed mind leads to peace and happiness. An unmanaged mind brings stress, tension, and spiritual defeat, while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts brings strength, serenity, and victory—even in difficult circumstances.

God's Promise of Provision: Trust Over Worry

“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32 (NLT)

The major cause of stress in life is worry. I worry because I wonder if I will have what I need when I need it. But anytime I expect other people to meet my needs instead of God, I'm going to be frustrated and disappointed—because nobody on earth can meet all my needs. Only God can do that.

If I want a cure for stress, I must learn to look to God to meet my needs.

Some people find their security in their job, and when they lose their job, they lose their peace of mind. Others put their security in their marriage. Then their spouse dies, or they go through a divorce, and they ask, “Who am I? What is my identity?” Or maybe putting security in money—but there are a lot of ways to lose money.

Instead of putting my security in things that can be taken away from me, I need to put my security in something I can never lose: my relationship with Christ. I can always trust God to meet my needs.

Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).

If God loved me enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross, shouldn't I think he loves me enough to take care of every other need in my life? He does.

Every time I start to get stressed, pause and say, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 ESV).

God’s going to provide. He’s going to take care of me. Instead of stressing out, look to him to meet all my needs.

In summary:

Romans 8:32 reminds me that if God was willing to give up His own Son for me, I can trust Him to meet all my needs. The root of much stress is worry—often caused by relying on people, jobs, relationships, or money for security, all of which can fail or be taken away. But true peace comes from placing my trust in God, who never changes and never fails. When I look to Him instead of earthly sources, I find lasting security and relief from stress. Every time worry creeps in, I can rest in the promise that “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

 

Celebrate What God Has Done in Your Life

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . His name is the LORD.” Psalm 68:4 (ESV)

To get back in a right relationship with God, I first need to get fed up with the way I'm living, own up to my sin, and hand over control of my life to God. Then, I celebrate what God has done in my life.

In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, it’s important to notice the father’s response: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him . . . The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20, 22-23 NIV). 

The prodigal’s father is like my heavenly Father. No matter what I've done, when I come home to God, he wraps me in his love. He gives me his best and says something like, “All is forgiven! Go get the robe. Go get the shoes. Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.”

I come home to a celebration, not condemnation. And God wants me to join the celebration by giving him my praise. 

I can celebrate my spiritual transformation by simply saying, “Thank you, God. Thank you for your grace, love, and goodness. I lift up my praise to you!”

The Bible says in Psalm 68:4, “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . his name is the LORD” (ESV).

One of the easiest ways to celebrate my own transformation is by singing to God. Worship songs give me a chance to celebrate what he has done in my life and to thank him.

Even if I'm not good at singing the Bible doesn’t say to make my singing sound pretty. It says to make my singing joyful. I can do that! Anybody can make a joyful noise.

So I'll sing my praise to God—not just for who he is but also for the spiritual transformation he’s made in my life.

In summary:

To return to a right relationship with God, I must first acknowledge my brokenness, confess my sin, and surrender control to Him—just as the prodigal son was welcomed with compassion, celebration, and restoration by his father. God, like that father, eagerly embraces me with love and grace, not condemnation. In response to His goodness, the natural outpouring of my heart is praise—offering thanks for His forgiveness, transformation, and unwavering love. As Psalm 68:4 encourages, I lift my voice in joyful song to celebrate who God is and what He has done in my life, knowing that it’s not about sounding perfect, but about expressing gratitude with joy.

Rest for the Weary, His Yoke, My Peace

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (RSV)

The answer to any burden that is weighing me down lies in Jesus.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 RSV).

To understand this passage, I needed to know what a yoke was. When Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you,” it sounds like he was going to give me something else to deal with. “My burden is heavy enough already, Lord! I don’t need to take your problems on me!” 

A yoke is actually a board with two arches in it that you put over two cattle so they can pull a cart.

The value of a yoke is that it halves the load. Without a yoke, one cow has to pull an entire load by itself. But if you yoke up the cow with another cow, then the two animals pull the load together, and the load is half as heavy.

When Jesus says to take his yoke upon you, he’s not saying he’s going to give you his problems. Jesus doesn’t have any problems! He’s saying he’s going to share my problems. He’s going to share my load. He’s going to take my stress on himself and bear it with me.

Wow!

Jesus uses three notable verbs in this Scripture: come, learn, and take. Jesus basically says, “Come to me. Team up with me. Then, learn how I do it. Take on a lighter load. This is going to reduce your stress. This is going to make life easier for you to navigate.”

When I'm yoked with Christ, I move together with him. I move in the same direction and at the same speed. And I move in the right direction and at the right speed.

In summary:

Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, not by adding more pressure, but by offering to share their load. In Matthew 11:28–30, He uses the image of a yoke—not to burden us further, but to lighten our struggles by partnering with us, just as two animals yoked together share the weight. Rather than walking alone, Jesus calls us to team up with Him, to learn from His gentle and humble heart, and to find deep rest for our souls. By moving with Him, we find a lighter, more peaceful way of living, guided in the right direction and pace.

 

The Safest Place for My Worries and Concerns

“I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”

2 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)

When I've got something that’s precious to me, whether it’s rare, expensive, or an heirloom, and I don’t want it to be stolen, broken, or burned up, I might take it to the bank and entrust it to the protection of a safety deposit box.

But whatever I entrust to God is safer than the most secure bank vault. He will take care of it—I can count on it. He has a perfect track record. Other people may not have a consistent track record of taking care of things for me. But whatever I entrust to God, he will take care of. 

So what do I need to entrust to God today? It’s whatever I'm worrying or concerned about. Whatever’s keeping me up at night or that occupies my thoughts, I need to entrust it to the safety deposit box of God’s love.

Worry is practical atheism because it’s acting like I don’t have a Father in heaven who loves me and who can be trusted; it’s like I'm a spiritual orphan. Worry is unbelief; it’s saying I don’t believe the thousands of promises God made in the Bible.

For most people, it’s not easy to place things in God’s safety deposit box when they’re in pain. It’s hard to trust anyone when we're suffering, even God. I just want to pull back and hold on to it myself.

Paul knew this, but he also knew that when we are in pain, that’s when we need to trust God the most. He said, “I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return” (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT).

Personally I have a hard time and can struggle with keeping commitments. I will mess up! Thankfully, my salvation doesn’t depend on my ability to keep a commitment. It’s based on Christ keeping his promise and taking care of what I've committed to him.

In Summary:

When I entrust something to God—whether it's my worries, pain, or future—it's safer than the most secure vault, because God is faithful and trustworthy. Like Paul, who confidently trusted God even while suffering in prison, I can place everything I care about into God’s hands, knowing He will guard it perfectly. Worrying is essentially doubting God's promises and acting as if I don’t have a loving Father who is capable of caring for me. Though it's hard to let go—especially in pain—trusting God with my concerns leads to peace, because my security doesn’t rest on my ability to keep commitments, but on Christ’s ability to keep His.

Step by Step with Purpose

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize.” Philippians 3:12 (CEV)

Here are three more reasons why goal setting matters.

I need to set goals because they give me the hope I need to keep moving.
Job says, “What strength do I have left that I can go on hoping? What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?” (Job 6:11 GW). To keep moving forward, I need to have a goal.

A goal doesn’t have to be big to motivate me. For instance, if I had surgery, my first goal in recovery could be to sit up in bed. Then I might work toward standing up and then later walking down the hallway.

Each of those goals is very small, but they’re all important—because getting from where I am to where I want to be isn’t one big leap. It’s many small steps. A goal doesn’t have to be big to be important—it just has to encourage me to carry on.

I need to set goals because they build my character.
The greatest benefit to my life will not be my accomplishments but rather what happens inside me while I'm moving toward my goal.

God is more interested in my character than he is in my accomplishments. While I'm working on my goal, God is working on me. He is building my character, and that’s what’s going to last for eternity.

That’s why Paul says in Philippians 3:12, “I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize” (CEV). It takes energy, effort, and focus to reach a goal, and the result is that I become more like Christ.

I need to set goals because good goals will be rewarded.
Proverbs 11:27 says, “If your goals are good, you will be respected” (GNT). When I give my life to a good goal, it brings honor and builds a legacy on earth.

But the real reward in setting good goals will come in eternity. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:25-26, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step” (NLT).

Paul was a purpose-driven goal setter. I need to be that, as well, so that I can win the prize that God has prepared for me in heaven.

In summary:

Setting goals is essential for spiritual growth because they provide motivation, build character, and lead to eternal rewards. Even small goals can help me keep moving forward, especially during tough seasons, by giving me hope and direction. As I pursue meaningful goals, God uses the process to shape my character, making me more like Christ. Philippians 3:12 reminds me that reaching my goals takes effort, but it’s through that struggle that transformation happens. Good goals not only earn respect here on earth but also lead to eternal rewards, as I live with purpose and pursue the prize God has prepared for me in heaven.

Living with Purpose: Setting God-Sized Goals

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)

The Bible tells us that Jesus set goals. In fact, he often announced publicly what his goal was for the next phase of his ministry.

So why should I set goals? There are six reasons to set goals, here are the first three.

I need to set goals because it is a spiritual responsibility.
If I don’t have goals, I have already decided to let other people run my life. In other words, when I don’t decide in advance what’s important, I'm letting other people decide for me. I end up wasting my life because I never clarify how I want to grow as a follower of Christ.

The Bible says that to be spiritually mature, I need to set a goal and move toward it—always keeping my eyes focused on it. The apostle Paul said it this way:

“I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. . . . I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. All of us who are mature should think in this same way” (Philippians 3:12, 14-15 CEV).

I need to set goals because they are statements of faith.
If I'm a believer in Jesus Christ and I set a goal, I'm saying, “I believe that God wants me to accomplish this by this time. This is what I believe God is going to do in my life.”

Goals aren’t just statements of faith; they also stretch my faith. The bigger my goal, the more my faith will be stretched. And that pleases God.

The Message paraphrase of Ephesians 3:20 says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (MSG).

I need to set goals because they focus my energy.
Focus is the key to an effective life. If my energy is scattered across too many things, I end up making little to no impact. But if I focus my life, it’s going to be powerful—and it can change the world.

Besides I don’t have time to do everything. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t expect me to! The key to being effective in life as a man of God is to do what matters most and forget everything else. Goals help me maintain that kind of focus.

That’s why Paul put it this way about living with focus and purpose: “I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NCV). 

So I'm to stay focused on my goals and ask God to guide as I commit to living out his purpose for my life.

In summary:

Setting goals is a vital spiritual practice that reflects my commitment to living purposefully for God. Jesus modeled goal-setting, and Scripture encourages believers to do the same to grow in maturity, express faith, and focus their energy. Without clear goals, I risk letting others dictate my priorities and wasting the life God gave me. When I set goals in faith, I'm declaring my trust that God can do far more than I could imagine, as Ephesians 3:20 reminds us. Goals not only stretch my faith but also sharpen my focus, helping me live effectively and intentionally. Like Paul, I'm called to run with purpose and pursue the prize of God’s calling in Christ.

Plans with Purpose: God’s Way to True Change

“We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.” Proverbs 16:9 (MSG)

We all get to make our own plans about how we live our lives. But it’s only through God that we have the power and energy to actually make transformation happen.

The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 16:9 says, “We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it.”

There are three things I need to reach my goals and change my life—and only God can provide them. 

I need God’s Spirit to empower me.
God’s Spirit can help me make changes I can’t make on my own. Change isn’t the result of willpower; it comes through God’s power. It’s not based on trying; it’s based on trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD All-Powerful” (NCV).

I need God’s Word to guide me.
The Bible is the owner’s manual for life. The more I read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, the more successful and fulfilled I'm going to be.

When Joshua was given the great dream of taking over the Promised Land—a goal that was going to take him the rest of his life to reach—God had these words for him: “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success” (Joshua 1:8 NASB).

I need God’s people to support me.
I will not be able to reach my goals on my own. It takes a team to fulfill a dream!

A crowd can’t support me, but a small group can. They know when I'm sick, when I'm having a tough time, and when I need a break. I can share my goals and my successes and failures, and they will rejoice with me and encourage me to keep going. I'm going to need that kind of support as I make the right kind of goals and pursue them wholeheartedly.

In the Message paraphrase, Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”

I can make plans and set goals—but only God can give me the strength, direction, and support I need to live the life he’s called me to.

In summary: 

True and lasting transformation requires more than good intentions or personal effort—it needs God’s involvement. Proverbs 16:9 reminds me that while I can make plans for my life, only God gives me the ability to live them out. To reach my goals and experience real change, I need three essential things from God: His Spirit to empower me beyond my own strength, His Word to guide me with truth and direction, and His people to support me with encouragement and accountability. On my own, I’ll fall short, but with God’s power, guidance, and a spiritual community, I can walk the path He has planned for me and fulfill His purpose for my life.

Living Out Love in Community

“Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.” Galatians 6:2 (GW)

Small groups are one way I can obey the Bible when it says: “Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings” (Galatians 6:2 GW).

Here’s an interesting thing: When I share a joy, it’s doubled. When I share a sorrow, it’s halved.

If I come to a small group and say, “Guess what! I just got promoted,” everybody rejoices with me. My joy is exponentially multiplied. When I share my joy with others, it is maximized.

If I come to a small group and share that a family member just died or that I've got bad news from my doctor, then my sorrow is halved. I don’t have to carry that burden alone.

In either case, sharing is good for me. The Bible tells us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV). And 1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it” (GNT).

In a stressful event a small group shows up. They don't always need to do or say anything. They just need to be there for you. That’s what a small group does.

Do I have anybody like that in my life? Am I that kind of support to anyone else? I may think I don’t need one, but a small group can be a lifeline when the disasters of life come. 

Whether they’re maximizing joy or sharing a pain, a small group is where the body of Christ exemplifies Jesus’ teachings to love and care for each other.

In summary:

Being part of a small group allows me to live out Christ’s teachings by sharing both joys and burdens with others. According to Galatians 6:2, helping carry one another’s burdens is a direct way to follow Jesus, and in doing so, I experience the power of community—where joy is multiplied and sorrow is divided. Whether it’s celebrating a success or grieving a loss, small groups provide emotional and spiritual support simply through presence and compassion. This kind of Christ-centered fellowship brings healing, strength, and a tangible expression of God’s love in everyday life.