Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)  For as he thinketh in his heart (mind, will emotions, intellect), so is he:

The principle of the above scripture is a Biblical truth. Basically, you are what you think. People can put on a good front – temporarily. No one can sustain a false front forever.

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues (forces) of life.

Easier to understand translations are: 

(GNB)  Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
(ERV)  Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.
(CEV)  Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.

How? Here are a few ideas. I will start with something that affects most of us – internet:

Be careful about social media and internet:  Be careful what you read and what you post. Watch out joining in a frenzy with people getting into arguments (especially “holy” ones). Block certain sites and people. Don’t spend hours researching the virus, sickness, disease, politics, or famous and infamous people.  

Remember, you may be the only “Jesus” some people will ever see. Make sure it is the right view. Clean, holy and righteous.

Cultivate selective hearing and viewing):  BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR AND SEE. Don’t listen to rude, argumentative, doubting, and arrogant people. Don’t allow them to steal your time or fill your spirit with their attitudes.

Pay attention to the types of movies, music, television, and even books (so many are audio now) that you listen to and watch. They can train you, desensitize you to wrong, create lies in you.  Whatever it is – it will affect you – for good or for bad. For life or for death. For positive or for negative.

God said to speak words of life, to choose blessing: A good way to guard your heart is to guard your mouth. Ephesians 4:29 states not to allow unwholesome talk to come out of your mouth.

I’ve heard it said that we believe the words we speak over what anyone else says. You hear (and believe) yourself better than anyone else speaking. Speak life over yourself.

If what you think dictates your now and your future, then make sure you want what you’re thinking! If your thought life is affected by what you hear, see, read, watch, speak – make sure those things are what you want in your life. 

Remember – what you think you will become.

♣