Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. 

Did you ever wish you could be a better person? Maybe you struggle with sin, habits, or addictions and want to get free, but you find yourself back at the same old place time and time again. God has made a way; you can be who you want to be if you are willing to make one change, and I warn you, it is a hard one! 

Proverbs 4:20:24 - My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 

Notice the Bible says that the issues of life flow out of your heart flow. If you want to see real change, begin to take charge of your thought life.  I know what you are thinking: if everything comes from my heart, why must I work on my mind?  The answer is simple: your thought life is the gateway, and whatever is in your heart has passed through your mind. 

Think of it this way: If you have wrong things in your life, they have come from your heart. If you have wrong things in your heart, it is because you have wrong things in your thoughts. If you want to fix your life, it is not about self-control or being spiritual. You have to get to the root of the problem—what are you allowing yourself to think about? This is the area that must be dealt with.  

When you monitor your thoughts, the wrong stuff cannot get into your heart or life. Taking authority over your thoughts will shut the door of opportunity to the enemy. When the door is closed, the devil cannot bring fear, worry, sin, etc.. We shut the door on the enemy by casting down imaginations. 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

Refuse to allow the lies of the enemy into your mind when he tries to tell you who you are:  You are a sinner, you are no good, you are a loser, etc. That is not who you are; you get to define who you are and your life.  Look to the Word of God and see who God created you to be; that is who you are!

You need to be ruthless, relentless, and consistent when it comes to your thinking.  Please do not allow your mind to go wherever it wants to; control what you think about.  Choose to think about the right things. This may also mean you need to evaluate what you are feeding your mind. There’s an old kids' song “Be careful,” that warns children to watch what they see, hear, say, etc. You may have to weed some things out of your life to control your thoughts. (Read Phil 4:8)

You need to be fully convinced of who you are in Christ Jesus and what He has given you as a born-again believer. 

Romans 4:20-21 - He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 

Become fully convinced of what God has said, and monitor your thought life to ensure your thoughts align with what the Word says. When you have it right in your mind, all the other parts will fall into place.  Your heart will be right before God, and what comes out of your mouth will be right because it comes from the heart.  (Luke 6:45)  

Prayer - Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me guard my thoughts and life.  I cast down ideas, thoughts, and suggestions contrary to your Word. I refuse to think about the wrong things. Instead, I choose to set my mind on you and your Word and focus on who you say I am.  I thank you for setting me free in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.