If you’re unhappy with where you’re at ... or how life feels ... or the direction you’re headed, it’s time to start looking at what you’re thinking.
Because your mind is the steering wheel of your life. And that “background noise” you keep hearing is the map you’re either actively or passively creating with your mind.
Recurring toxic thoughts like “I’ll never get past this” or “I’m just a worrier” may feel harmless, but over time they become our destination -- only because we buy in ... and act out ... what we continually (habitually) tell ourself.
The Mind Shapes the Heart
Heart is one of those words that we use all the time and yet, if pushed, would find it hard to define. So, given that mind shapes the heart, it would be wise to give a working definition of the word here at the outset.
In our world the word “heart” is most often used as a synonym for the emotions, our feelings. This is quite different from the way the word was used in the ancient world. Then, heart meant something more comprehensive – it identified the entirety of one’s inner life.
That is to say...
The heart is really the mind, emotions, and will working in concert.
With that understanding in mind, we can easily see that it is from this inner life ... the heart ... that we operate. Let me show you what I mean:
-- Sometimes our thoughts determine feelings, and sometimes feelings determine thoughts.
-- Sometimes we act out of feelings and sometimes we act out of reason (thought).
-- Sometimes our mood is set by our behavior and sometimes by our thinking.
What this confirms is that thinking, feeling, and behaving are interdependent and together constitute our inner life – our heart.
Both Scripture and psychology tell us that while the Big Three (thoughts, feelings, actions) work together, the mind drives the train in the sense that our thinking is the powerhouse.
In other words...
The mind shapes the heart.
A verse every believer should memorize and engrain is Proverbs 23:7, “As he thinks in his heart, so he is,” because habitual thought patterns determine the course of one’s life, dictating both emotions and behavior.
We need to realize how our heart is impacted by such readily accepted thought strongholds as:
-- It’s too late for me
-- I’ll never get past this
-- I’m just a worrier
-- I can’t do it
-- People don’t like me
-- can’t do anything right
-- I’m ugly
Toxic thought patterns such as these will cripple your inner life – your heart.
This is why it is so very important that we remove toxic strongholds from our minds.
If I’m truly committed to crafting a well-lived life, I must learn to reject detrimental thought habits based on erroneous information (lies) and replace them with citadels of truth.
Do you want to begin experiencing great heart health?
Then follow the advice of Philippians 4:8 …
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Throughout your day, pay attention to what’s running through your mind.
Ask yourself:
-- Is this thought true?
-- Is it honoring to God?
-- Does it lift me up or tear me down?
When you notice a thought that doesn’t align with God’s truth like “I’ll never change” or “I’m not enough,” pause and reject it. Then replace it with truth, such as: “I can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13).
This simple practice trains your mind to build a heart that is strong, healthy, and resilient.
And how liberating it is to begin practicing this kind of thinking!
Remember, the mind shapes the heart.
So begin monitoring the content of your thoughts. Dismiss every thought pattern that fails to align with truth, and you will be astonished at how quickly this powerful practice will begin bearing fruit in your life.
Blessings,
In this world of ever-increasing “fakery” it matters to us that you know everything you read here grows out of our training, experience, and heart for helping hurting people. None of our content here, or in our courses and workshops, is artificially generated.