The Narrow Door

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What you think controls everything about you. Your money, your relationships, your social circles and influences every aspect of your life

 

Firstly, you choose what you think  I’ll expand in a minute.

Secondly, your outcomes in life depend on that

 

Where you are at in life right now was set up in your earlier years, by your environment and circumstances at that time, but what you thought about them and yourself created the path to where you are now and where you get to in your future  depends on what you think and do now.

 

You chose your path based on those circumstances and the beliefs that you created around them. I remember hearing about an alcoholic who had 2 sons, one never touched alcohol because he didn’t want to become like his father, the other became an alcoholic and said he was destined to become an alcoholic because that is what his father was - The same circumstance with 2 people who chose different paths because of it. They both chose what to think and that choice sent them in different directions, their outcomes depended on what they thought rather than their circumstances. You choose what to think and that determines your future, you are now a product of what you thought.

 

Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." In Hebrew thinking, heart, includes your mind. The actions you take and the words you speak are a direct result of what you think and believe internally. Guard it, to protect yourself from negative influences.

 

Now I didn’t say you are what you wanted to be, that’s totally different. We don’t always set a path on what we want to be or what we want out of life. What we want usually involves many other things like our abilities, our determination etc. So many people are not where they want to be. But we are all where we directed our lives to be, consciously or subconsciously. And the subconscious has the greater power of the 2.

 

You can change your subconscious, though. We can mould the way we think to a large degree. That too is a choice. It’s up to you, don’t expect others will make your life good. If you're not having a wonderful life, it’s time to make those changes, firstly in what you think.

 

Ephesians 4:22–23 "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds." Mental renewal your thought life is where real transformation starts. 

You can't change your life without changing your mind.

 

Remember, it’s not just what you think, it’s also what you do based on those thoughts.

 

How? Start by writing yourself notes in places you will see them often, create a daily routine in which you give time to changing your thoughts by memorising what is important and go through that routine daily. Research online for any other tips that may help make the changes you want, and put them into practice.

 

Get a good social network, people that support you rather than tear you down, people that can teach you, when you’re around them, seek their advice, etc (but don’t pressure them) and avoid those who are bad influences in your life. You choose who you spend time with.

 

If you try to tell your brain what not to think, you’re actually thinking on it fill it with what you want instead. Good qualities.

 

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things."

 

Our brains respond to how we train them and our character, our essential being, becomes what we think of most, psychology has proven that time and time again.

 

Proverbs 23:7 "For as he has thought in his soul, so he is..." This is about who you are, not what you have, but what you have is also affected by who you are.

 

So, let me take you on another path to reinforce this and maybe help you understand. I have said this part before, in fact I’ve said a fair bit of this message before in one message or another so if you’ve been watching them in order you already know this.

 

I believe most but not all primary information - what I see and or hear directly, 

I believe very little secondary information - from a direct source, someone who was there, and basically no tertiary information - from sources that were not even there.

I try not to forward any information that I didn't get as a primary source.

 

Now, All I know is that I don't know. I can't be certain of anything, so I choose to accept. I’ll explain that, but my explanation may be difficult for some to understand

I see a fair amount within my potential illusion, but I can't even prove that either you or I exist; My or your entire life may be a physical dream. I could be somewhere else in existence but whatever I or wherever I may be, I may have physical dreams and be able to touch in my dreams and this is just a dream. Having said that, I’ll now say I don’t believe that but I can’t prove that true or false. Though I believe I have enough evidence to the contrary. I can't prove that the moon exists or that men have walked on it, but I chose to believe there is enough evidence for me to accept that as true. So again I say All I know is that I don't know. I can't be certain of anything, so I choose to accept. 

 

So if you are real [I believe you are], why not choose to believe that you can have a wonderful life, more so, that you will have a wonderful life, and better again, believe that you are creating a far better life, right now. Tell yourself that you are determined to become the best, most successful person, but don’t just tell yourself because here's the key: you must believe it, and remember belief is just a choice. Is the world flat? I believe it’s round, but I can tell you I know of people who actually believe it’s flat. Are they wrong? I think so, I believe so, I have decided on the evidence before me that I will believe it’s round. But I can’t prove it, all I can do is present the evidence that my belief, my faith in it being round, is based on. But they may still not believe it, so I can’t prove it to them. Why? Again, we believe what we choose to believe, which doesn’t make those beliefs true or false, because all I or they can do is choose to believe.

 

If on the other hand we choose to think negative things like “I can’t do this or that” then we certainly won’t, as we won’t even try in the first place, even simple things -  if you think you can, you have made the first step, and depending on what it is you either can, or maybe can’t, but if you think you can't, you have no chance at all.

 

Romans 12:2 "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." This isn't a passive process but an intentional one, leading to a profound change in your life and enabling you to live out God's purpose for you. Your thought patterns direct your ability to understand and live out a positive and purposeful life. 

 

I know many people won’t understand this in its full intent, they think they are what the world made them to beand they can’t change. I also realise many people know this already.But if you didn’t know this before and now both understand itand accept it fully, you will never see the world the same way again. But for this change of view,you must truly understand and accept those things by pure faith.

 

So, what do I think? I think I’m a worthwhile person who can make a valuable difference in this world. I think all the resources I need are coming to me, and I will create whatever plans and steps I may need. I think of those in future tense, but here's another key as I think of needs yet to come in future tense, I think of outcomes, especially personal outcomes in who I am, etc in the present tense. I am successful, I am loved, I am a winner, I am a teacher of millions, and I have millions of followers, because the brain also takes hold of who you are better in the present tense. I also don’t see time as linear, especially as the brain doesn’t work as well when seeing it as linear. The brain grabs hold of current belief better than future belief, after all, it understands time is also not limited. So to think I will be X, it says to itself, “when? tomorrow or in 20 years?” it then hinks, “I guess I have a lot of time to make that change”. But when it is presented with current belief, it adapts in the current moment, and the change is far more immediate. So think in the now, as much as you can.

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The battle for your mind as a spiritual warfare. It calls for a deliberate, active effort to take every thought captive. This means challenging and rejecting thoughts that are contrary to God's truth and aligning them with the teachings and will of Christ. It's an exercise of spiritual authority over your own mind. directing your life successfully requires winning the battle in your mind first.  

 

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." The state of your mind directly affects the state of your spirit (your peace). Where your thoughts dwell can either anchor you or unsteady you. Fixing thoughts on God is shown to have the power to bring perfect peace, guiding emotional and spiritual well-being.

 

Again, what do you think? Would you benefit from changing it? Do it now! And use the tools and methods mentioned to make it work as much as you can.