Your Mindset and Thoughts Will Impact How This Week Goes

Mondays give us an opportunity to start another calendar week on the right foot. You’ve probably heard the saying, “I got out of the wrong side of the bed,” when things don’t go well for a person on a given day.  Well, today each of us has a chance to frame the kind of day, even week, that we are going to have.  And, this occurs mostly in our minds.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The degree to which we are able to make changes in our life will be determined by the attitudes that we have.  In the above scripture, Paul is telling us that if we change how we look at things in our mind and if we change our thought patterns, then we can change our lives. Not only change our lives – we can transform our lives.

Today, I encourage you to be intentional about choosing the mindset that you have throughout the day. Make a choice deep in your will that you are going to monitor your thought patterns throughout this week. What kind of thoughts are best? In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs us as to what our minds should be focused on.  We’re to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) When we focus our thoughts on God’s truth found in the Bible we are much better off than when we set our minds on our life’s challenges and the things of this world.

So, before the day goes any further, check your overall mindset and thinking. Say a short prayer asking God to help keep your mind on his truths and things that are pure and loving and kind. ( Philippians 4:8) Make a commitment to monitor your thinking patterns for the entire week.  See if this makes a difference in how your week goes.

An Idea: Write yourself a reminder on a 3×5 card or small piece of paper and put it in a visible place – “Monitor my thought pattern.”

Have a great week… not just for yourself, but for the glory of God. Remember, when your light is shining brightly, it’s a reflection of Christ in you that others are seeing, and this brings glory to our Heavenly Father.

Resources on Your Thinking and Mindset:

Affirmations – Receive Affirmations Using Scripture on Facebook and Twitter

Article – Think Spiritual Thoughts/Renew Your Mind

Article – Are Your Thoughts Making You Unhealthy?

Other Blog Posts About Thinking

“How Faith Can Heal” – A Special Mind & Body Issue of Time

The Feb. 23rd issue of Time is a special mind-body issue with the cover story “How Faith Can Heal.” The main article is The Biology of Belief.

There is another article that includes a question and answer forum by three experts that discuss the role that belief should play in science.

A third “User’s Guide” article provides a listing of research institutes, books, websites and pilgrimages that may be a resource for people who want to know more about this topic.

Most interesting to me was the Biology of Belief article as it explores what happens in the brain as a person practices certain behaviors or thinking patterns.

I was bothered by one aspect of this issue however.  A sidebar in the hard-copy of the magazine addressed how various religions view life after death.  Concerning to me is that Christianity is misrepresented.  In that light, I have written the editors of the magazine and asked that a correction be made in an upcoming issue. This is my email to the editors:

On Page 70 in the Feb. 23, 2009 issue you have a sidebar on “How Religions View the Beyond.” Under Christianity, you say the vast majority of Christians believe “that your destination depends on your deeds and faith during life.” This is not at all accurate. We believe in scripture that says:

Romans 10:9-10 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.(after death you will live eternally in heaven – my notes) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

John 11:25 – 26 - “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” ”

Romans 3:28 -  “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”

The bottom line for the Christian faith is that to be saved and have eternal life all we have to do is believe that God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for our sins/wrongdoings. Jesus then was resurrected.

If we believe this in our heart and confess it, we will go to heaven. Our “deeds” do not determine our destination after death, it is our faith – whether we have accepted Jesus as our savior. I hope that you will make a correction of what you wrote in the Feb 23rd issue.  What you printed is not true. It misrepresents the Christian faith and will mislead many people. Sincerely, Dale Fletcher – Founder, Faith and Health Connection

If you’d like to correspond with Time on this issue, they can be reached via email – letters@time.com.

Overall, these articles are very informative.  You may want to run out to a book store and buy a hard copy for your further reading and use.  Enjoy!

P.S. – Thank you Janice, my sweetheart, for alerting me about this issue of the magazine.