Practical Steps to Change Your Thinking and Your Life
How to Choose Positive Thoughts in a Negative World
Have you ever felt like there are multiple voices in your head, each giving you different advice? It's like having several coaches, all shouting different instructions at once. It can make life complicated. You may struggle with constant negativity or second-guessing yourself.
For many years, I coached my sons in little league baseball. One of the most fun but frustrating times in little league is when kids transition from t-ball or parent pitch to kid pitch. There's absolutely nothing natural about baseball pitching mechanics. When you're teaching 8 or 9-year-olds how to pitch from 36 feet away to a tiny target, it's incredibly challenging.
“You can't always control the thoughts that come into your head. What you can control is which of the thoughts that you actually give time and energy to, which ones that you pay attention to, which ones that you dwell on.”
—Bart Blair
Often, we'd have multiple volunteer dad coaches, each working on different skills with the kids. One problem we encountered was that these kids would often get frustrated because they weren't receiving consistent coaching, especially when it came to pitching. One coach would say, "Start with your hands in this position," while another would instruct, "Your hands should separate down at the belt." The poor kids just wanted to throw a strike, but they didn't know which advice to follow.
This scenario isn't too different from what we experience in life. We often have multiple "coaches" in our heads, giving us conflicting advice. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, addresses this very issue and guides us on how to choose the right coach – the voice of the Holy Spirit.
The Battle In Our Minds
Did you know that according to research, the average person has between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day? That's a lot of mental chatter! Even more surprising is that for the average person, 80% of those thoughts are negative. This means we're dealing with anywhere from 9,600 to 48,000 negative thoughts daily!
As followers of Jesus, we recognize that we have the Holy Spirit in us, who will never give us negative thoughts. The Holy Spirit is like that one coach who's always guiding us to do the right thing. Yet, we still struggle with the negative coach, constantly pushing us towards the wrong choices.
Paul addresses this battle in Colossians 3:1-2, saying, "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (CSB)
Putting Off the Old and Putting on the New
Paul continues by urging us to actively put to death our earthly nature. It's like we've died to our old self, but we need to keep killing it. He lists specific sinful behaviors we need to eliminate:
"Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, CSB)
But it's not just about getting rid of the bad; it's also about embracing the good. Paul tells us to "put on" positive attributes:
"Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13, CSB)
This process is like changing clothes. We need to take off our old sinful habits and put on new, Christ-like behaviors. It's an active, intentional process that requires effort on our part.
The Importance of Unity and Love
Paul emphasizes the significance of unity and love within the Christian community. He states, "Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." (Colossians 3:14, CSB)
Unity is a defining characteristic that the church sometimes loses sight of. Jesus prayed for his disciples to be unified, saying, "May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me." (John 17:21, CSB)
When we're unified as a church, there's a special anointing that comes. It's like the oil dripping off Aaron's beard in Psalm 133. There's power in unity, and it's something we should strive for in our faith communities.
Practical Steps to Rewire Your Brain
So, how do we practically apply Paul's teachings to our lives? Here are some steps we can take:
Keep a thought journal: At the end of each day, reflect on your thoughts. Which "coach" were you listening to most?
Scripture meditation: Choose a verse from Colossians 3:1-17 and meditate on it daily. Write it down each day; you might even memorize it by the end of the week!
Gratitude practice: Before bed, write down three things you're thankful for. Focus on how God has blessed you.
Holy Spirit check-in: Before making decisions, pause and ask yourself, "Which voice am I listening to here? Is this my old nature, or is it the Holy Spirit guiding me to be more like Jesus?"
Remember, this is a process. You won't conquer everything in a single week. It's a lifetime journey, but with consistent effort, you can train your mind to focus on "things above."
The Power of Community
We're not meant to go through this journey alone. The early Christians never saw their relationship with God as purely individual – it was always communal. That's why we need to commit to supporting each other in this process of transformation.
Here are some commitments we can make to each other:
Create a safe environment where people can openly discuss their struggles without judgment.
Regularly study the Bible together.
Practice forgiveness and extend grace, recognizing we're all in the process of growth.
Encourage each other to focus on "things above" through our conversations and shared activities.
Cultivate a culture of worship and gratitude.
Hold each other accountable with love and gentleness.
As Paul concludes this section of his letter, he reminds us: "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, CSB)
By intentionally choosing to listen to the right coach – the Holy Spirit – and supporting each other in community, we can transform our minds and lives to better reflect Jesus. It's not easy, but it's worth it. So, which coach will you listen to today?
Check out this article for folks just starting out in their faith journey