Train Your Brain: The Power of Right Thinking
Life has a curious way of following our thoughts. Where we end up tomorrow is largely determined by what we're thinking today. It's a profound truth that bears repeating: our life always goes in the direction of our strongest thought. The ancient wisdom of Proverbs confirms this: "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."
You Are What You Think
We all know the saying "you are what you eat." When we fill our bodies with junk food, we feel sluggish, unhealthy, and depleted. But when we choose nutritious foods, even though they require more effort and planning, we experience better health, more energy, and longer life. The same principle applies to our minds.
What are we feeding our thoughts? Are we consuming mental "junk food"—toxic thoughts, fears, worries, and negativity? Or are we deliberately choosing to nourish our minds with truth, hope, and faith?
Proverbs 4:23 warns us: "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." We must guard every gateway into our minds—what we see, what we hear, what we dwell on.
The Battle for Your Mind
Make no mistake: your mind is a battleground. There are forces fighting for control of your thoughts, and if you don't take charge, your thoughts will control you. It's like allowing a wild, unruly three-year-old to run the household. That child doesn't know what they're doing or why—they just run from one thing to the next without wisdom or direction.
Your thoughts can be the same way unless you take authority over them. You need to train your brain. Just as people go to the gym to shape their bodies, your brain is being shaped by everything you see, hear, and rehearse. Scientists tell us that repeated thoughts create neural pathways—literal roads in our brains that make those thoughts travel faster and more automatically. These become strongholds.
So instead of doing repeated reps of fear, anxiety, worry, and guilt, why not do some spiritual supersets? Build yourself up through scripture reading, prayer, and praise. Get spiritually strong.
The Danger of a Double Mind
James 1:8 warns that "a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." What does a double-minded person look like? Someone who makes on-again, off-again decisions. Someone unable to commit or constantly living in confusion. Someone who can't decide where to eat lunch, let alone make major life decisions.
If you don't know what you want your life to look like, stop saying "I don't know" and start saying "God will show me." Trust that your steps are ordered by the Lord. Even a wrong decision is often better than no decision—it's hard to steer a parked car. Once you start moving, God can open doors or close them as needed.
Recognizing Spiritual Attack
Sometimes confusion isn't just indecision—it's spiritual warfare. When you feel paralyzed, unable to decide, overwhelmed with thoughts from every direction, you may be under attack. God is not the author of confusion; the enemy is. He works like an agitator in a washing machine, constantly stirring everything up, keeping you unsettled and unable to move forward.
How to Fight Back
First, confront the confusion by seeking wisdom from others. There is wisdom in a multitude of counsel. Find someone you trust who can speak truth into your life.
Second, establish your heart in God's Word so you have a firm foundation for decision-making.
Third, pray in the Spirit and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers.
Isaiah 26:3 offers this beautiful promise: "I will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me." Peace isn't the absence of trouble—it's the presence of God. Remember Peter walking on water? He was fine in the storm as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. The moment he focused on the waves, he sank.
Cast Your Cares
First Peter 5:7 invites us: "Cast all your cares upon the Lord because He cares for you." What a humbling, inspiring truth—God cares about what you're going through. He cares about your pressure, your struggles, your worries.
The word "cast" in Greek paints two vivid pictures:
A fisherman throwing a net with all his strength as far as possible
Taking a burden off yourself and placing it on a pack animal created to carry loads
You weren't created to carry burdens. When you try, they break you down—raising your stress, your blood pressure, affecting your health. Give them to God. He can handle what you cannot.
Don't be a "Christian atheist"—someone who loves God and believes in God but doesn't trust God. Don't say, "I'll give You the big things, God, but I'll handle the small stuff myself." Give Him everything.
The Most Important Choice
When thoughts of hopelessness, worthlessness, or even suicide enter your mind, recognize them as lies from the enemy. These thoughts don't tell the truth just because they're loud. You are not a burden. The world would not be better without you. Your family loves you. Things can change.
If you're struggling with such thoughts, the most dangerous thing you can do is stay silent. Reach out to a friend, a loved one, a pastor. Simply say, "My life is really hard right now. I could use some help." That's not weakness—that's wisdom.
Deuteronomy 30 presents the ultimate choice: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life."
Choose life. Not just continued existence, but abundant life. Choose a life-giving community. Choose hope. Choose Jesus, who is the author and giver of life.
When you choose Him, all the other pieces of life begin to fit together. Life's puzzle makes sense because you've taken it to the Creator. What's broken, He can fix. Life begins to change.