Three Mindsets for a More Powerful Life

I love teaching about the mind and the importance of our thoughts. Because I’ve discovered that wrong thinking—or stinkin’ thinkin’—is the root cause of most of our problems.

For example, right thinking can enable you and wrong thinking can disable you. It’s amazing what you won’t do if you think you can’t do it. My mom knew that my dad was abusing me when I was growing up, and she didn’t do anything about it. Years later, she told me, “I’m sorry for what I let your dad do to you. I didn’t think that I could face the scandal and take care of you and your brother on my own.”

Her wrong thinking—that she couldn’t face her fears and confront my father—caused a lot of pain and regret in her life, and it also caused a lot of heartache and trauma for me and my brother. 

It’s so important to understand that our thoughts are literally the forerunner for everything we do. Proverbs 23:7 says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he (AMP). I like to say it this way: Where the mind goes, the man follows.

We set ourselves up for disaster with wrong mindsets, but we can have a good life if we learn how to think right.

WHAT IT MEANS TO THINK RIGHT

Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (NIV). This means that we are transformed as our mind is renewed by the Word of God. As we learn how to think the way God thinks, we discover God’s good plan for our lives.

The enemy attacks us on the battlefield of our mind because he knows that if he can get us to believe his lies (John 8:44), then we won’t trust God or do what He’s leading us to do. And we won’t have the life Jesus died to give us.

We have to change our thinking before anything else will change. To help you do that, I want to share three “power thoughts,” or right mindsets, based on God’s Word.

1. I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ.

Philippians 4:13 says, I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency] (AMP). I love how this verse says “I am ready for anything” and “self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency”!

When we’re hurting or going through a hard time, it’s easy to think, It’s too much for me. It’s too hard...I just can’t take this another day! But as a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit living in your spirit, and He wants to give you the strength to do whatever you need to do.

2. I am more than a conqueror through Christ!

Romans 8:37 says, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (NIV). To be more than a conqueror means that before you ever have a problem you know that, in Christ, you have what it takes to go through it and overcome it.

If you decide ahead of time to have this attitude, then when difficulties come, you’ll be prepared to face them with faith in God, rather than fear or any other negative mindset.

3. In Christ, I am bold and courageous and I will not bow down to fear!

Second Timothy 1:7 says, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline... (AMP).

We all experience fear at times. But when you really believe 2 Timothy 1:7, then even when you feel afraid, you can confidently say, “There’s nothing I can’t do with God on my side. I’m not going to give up or be defeated. And I’m not going to be afraid of life or dread anything I need to do!” This is God’s plan for you—to be strong and able to move forward, fulfilling His destiny as you become everything He created you to be.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Renewing your mind with God’s Word takes time and diligence, but it’s the best investment you can make in yourself. Because the more you have the mind of Christ the more you will be guided by His thoughts and purposes (1 Corinthians 2:16 AMP) and fulfill your God-given dreams.

You can train yourself to do this by having “think sessions”—time spent purposely thinking about truths in God’s Word, like the power thoughts you just read about. If you’ll do this on a regular basis, then you’ll be amazed at how much it helps you consistently focus on God and His presence in your life.

Each day, think on purpose about God’s love for you and build your identity on what His Word says about who you are as a believer in Christ. Having a powerful mind—a mind like Christ—is the key to experiencing the amazing life God has planned for you!