BY VIDHYASANKAR
We all know the famous saying that, “We are what we are because of our thoughts.” What we think ultimately shapes our perception of our world.
Most of us don’t care much about our thoughts because we’re busy living our daily lives—lives filled with ambitions, work, unmet goals, cares, worries, problems in our relationships, and a preoccupation with our own pitfalls and weaknesses.
Dwelling on such things can gradually become a thinking habit, and that habit can shape our personality. No wonder the Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”
We become whom we deeply desire to become by changing our thinking. Transformation of thought results in transformation of heart because the Bible says man thinks with his heart. Our thoughts drastically affect the joy, peace, and happiness of our daily life. Not only that, our thoughts affect our future happiness and even the happiness of others around us.
Scripture says that God judges people based on the thoughts and intentions of their heart. Hebrews 12:4, for example, teaches us that, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
God’s word encourages, helps, and empowers us to think right thoughts, which leads to peace, joy, and life everlasting. Scripture guards, transforms, and purifies our thoughts. “The word of the Lord is upright and pure,” says Psalm 33:4. Reflecting on God’s word will transform our lives and the lives of those around us. According to Psalm 1, a blessed life depends on our meditating on God’s word day and night. In other words, God wants us to be preoccupied with his thoughts in order to live a joyful, peaceful, and pure life. His words are gracious, loving, and beautiful.
Psychologists emphasize that the secret to a successful life is positive thinking. No doubt this is part of it. But many who are “successful” are not happy. The reason many who are successful aren’t happy is that the secret of happiness is rooted in the pursuit of pure thoughts. I am personally encouraged by Matthew 5:8 (GNT): “Happy are the pure in heart.” God loves us so much, and he graciously gave us his words to realign our thoughts with his thoughts, which in turn will transform our heart.
In John 6:63 we read, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” We also read in John 15:3-5, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
God calls us to pursue both positivity and purity in our thought life to become truly successful and happy.
“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” (Philippians 4:8).