Thoughts bombard our minds all day long. Experts estimate that our minds think between 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day—an average of 2,500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour. That’s amazing and almost hard to comprehend.  If we paid attention to all these thoughts, how many of them would be useless and negative? Some experts believe that 70% of our thoughts are negative. That is sad and is possibly one of the reasons so many people are living with depression, anxiety, stress, etc.

What are the thoughts that occupy your mind?  Could they be words that have been previously spoken over your life and are played over and over in your mind? Or are they words that you’ve heard on the TV, such as the news or a commercial, and are repeated throughout the day and night in your dreams?

In doing a search, I found 50 scriptures related to what God says about thoughts. Here are several for you to think and meditate on:

• 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. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
• 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 and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
• You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
• 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)
• And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

Negative thoughts are going to come; however, 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we can cast them down. This means that we should recognize they are negative and replace them with positive thoughts. If you were abused or rejected growing up and that feeling of rejection comes into your thoughts, you can replace it with, “God loves me and I am a child of God.” Romans 12:2 (above) says to renew your mind. To do this, you continue to think on good things, like “I am the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) and I have favor with God and favor with man” (Luke 2:52).

What does the word “meditate” mean? It means to think deeply and carefully about something or focus your mind for a period of time.  Philippians 4:8 gives great examples of what to think or meditate on—things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and are of good report. John 8:32 adds to this knowledge by indicating that the truth will set you free. If you are thinking and meditating on a lie, that will keep you in fear and bondage.

If you are listening to the news and the negative reports about how many people are dying from the coronavirus, that will keep you in fear and your mind focused on death versus life. While it is true that people have gotten sick and died from the virus, some of the media and political figures are trying to create an environment of fear. Statistics have shown that over 98% of those infected have survived.

We can either pay attention to what the world is saying or what God’s Word promises. Proverbs 4:20– 22 says, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” Psalm 118:17 says, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.”

Make sure the 2,000 plus thoughts each hour are on God’s promises for healing, prosperity, deliverance, and things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and are of good report.

~Donna Jones