Scripture: Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Devotional: One of the most critical things to consider when seeking to change is your mindset. We often get stuck in our bad habits because of the way we think. Today’s passage encourages us to consider what we think about.
If you find yourself with repeated patterns of negative thinking, this may be the very first place you need to begin to train. The apostle Paul writes of this to the church in Corinth: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
It takes a concerted effort to be mindful of your thinking, to stop yourself amid your negative patterns, and to train yourself to think positively and more truthfully. So, as you are seeking to either start a new habit or eliminate a bad one, consider the thought patterns that may be obstacles to your efforts.
Reflect:
- What’s your current mindset like when it comes to making a lasting change in your life? What truths about your identity do you need to embrace to make the changes you want to see?
- Identify one thought that may be keeping you stuck or preventing you from making progress and commit to taking that thought captive when it comes to your mind.