To Overcome Anxiety, Think On these Things

What you feed your mind upon matters a lot. The mind of man can be likened to a magnetic force. It attracts and stores things. Have you ever read books that got so glued to your mind, the movies that you saw literally got ingrained in your mind? The mind can be that powerful in retaining information that comes into it.

The thoughts you feed your mind with as a believer are crucial to your Christian walk. The world offers its own thought patterns, which you have to reject. The media on its own wreaks havoc on the minds of people; what you see and hear daily may be very unhealthy. However, you are not left to figure things out on your own about managing and being a king over your thoughts.

Before a man chooses to hurt another intentionally, the kind of thoughts that would have come across him could never have been that of love. Likewise, your thoughts control your actions, and Apostle Paul admonishes us on what we should focus our thoughts upon.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

What is listed in Philippians 4:8 does not depict anything negative at all. You and I are admonished to meditate on these things – whatever things are true, just, pure, lovely, good report. Not every thought is pure, some thoughts are defiled, and they can come in different forms.

It is not everything that you crave to see. It is not everything that you yearn to watch. You do not have to hear everything. You don’t have to dwell on the media all day long. Guard your mind. It is not healthy to begin the day by feeding the mind with bad news full of fearful accounts. Focus on the Word of God, meditate on the word, fellowship with godly brethren through a short phone call if necessary.

Your mind is your greatest asset and also the greatest battleground. In developing godly character, the mind has to be continually renewed by God’s word. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God.” You act on what you think and meditate upon continually. Conformity with the world will not cause any transformation because the God of this world, satan, has been and is polluting it. Rather, be conformed to the Word as God’s word is not against things that are true, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.

Father, I ask You for grace that my thoughts would be always in line with Your Word. I now surrender to Your will. Thank You Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.