10 verses to start changing the way you think

meditation positive god-talk scripture transforming your thought life Jun 03, 2020

I embarrassed myself yesterday. I walked into a situation with joy and confidence, and left feeling humiliated. And the worst part is, it was in the evening… so when I went to bed, my embarrassment played on a loop, keeping me awake long into the night.

Ugh.

It took a while before I remembered my own advice: It’s time to change the tape. I can’t change what happened, but I can change how I think about it. I can replace my inner critic’s taunts with my Heavenly Father’s comfort and love.

Meditating on Scripture

I have long been a fan of using Scripture instead of Positive Self-Talk to adjust my attitude. But recently I was blessed to help launch a new book, Transforming Your Thought Life by Sarah Geringer. I jumped at the chance to be part of the launch team, thinking the ideas might be helpful for my kids as they traverse the teenage years. And yes, they will. BUT I was completely unprepared for how very much I needed to read Ms. Geringer’s words.

“Nothing strengthens your mind more than meditating on Scripture,” she writes. “God’s Word will cover your thought life like a shield.” What I had thought of as a helpful practice took on new life as I realized how right she was. I didn’t need to just pull out a Bible verse now and then as a reminder; I needed to immerse myself in the richness of God’s Word and let it transform my thought life!

 

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I highly recommend Transforming Your Thought Life for everyone. I can’t think of a more important message to get into the world than the encouragement to seek God in the ups and downs of our life and cling to His Word. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” Paul encourages us in Romans 12:2. How do we transform our minds? By intentionally and repeatedly focusing on God’s truth.

 

Getting started

If you are ready to transform your thought life, go grab a copy of Sarah Geringer’s book right now. While you wait for your two-day shipping, though, here are a few of my favorites to help get you started…

 

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 43:5 (ESV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Psalm 68:19 (NIV)

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace  Isaiah 55:12 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1 (ESV)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2 (ESV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13 (ESV)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

Now what?

What do you do with these verses? Read them out loud. Repeat them over and over. Write them out. Pray them. Journal about them. Print them and put them where you’ll see them. Make them your lock screen. Meditate on them.

Will this make all of the hard stuff in your life disappear? No, we still live in the same broken world. Will it guarantee you never make a mistake again? I wish—if I could spare myself the shame of sin or even just the humiliation of an embarrassing mistake, I would jump at it. But this isn’t about changing our circumstances, it is about transforming our minds so that we can more fully live out of the love God has for us.

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