Take Your Mind Back
Have you ever made a decision and immediately thought, “What was I thinking?”
Same here.
There’s this ongoing battle in our minds—a tension between what we know is right and what we do anyway. I’ve had moments where I’ve burned my hand doing something I already knew was dumb. Why? Because even though I knewbetter, my mind was trained the wrong way.
So why do we behave irrationally—even when we know better?
Let’s talk about it. Not just the tension… but the truth that can transform your mind.
The Truth vs. the Lies
The Science Behind the Struggle
Your brain is constantly forming patterns. What you think about over and over again creates neural pathways—mental ruts that are easy to fall into. The more you think something, the easier it is to think it again.
A baby learns, “Smile = good,” and “Hot stove = bad.” Simple. But as we grow, our thoughts get more complex—and often more dangerous.
The truth is: You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
The Bible Names the Battlefield
Romans 12:2 says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”
Here’s the key point: Most of life’s battles are won or lost in your mind.
Your Life Follows Your Strongest Thoughts
You can’t always control your feelings. And yes, feelings are real—but they’re not always right. The good news is: you can train your mind. And eventually, how you think begins to shift how you feel.
Paul, writing from a prison cell, told us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable… (Philippians 4:8). If he can find peace there, so can we.
Three
Ways to Train Your Mind
1. Practice Christian Meditation
Eastern meditation says “empty your mind.”
Christian meditation says, “fill your mind—with truth.”
“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.” – Psalm 119:15
“I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” – Psalm 143:5
Make a habit of meditating on God’s Word and works.
2. Identify and Replace Strongholds
Ask yourself: What lie is holding me back?
- “I’ll never get out of debt” → “My God is my provider.”
- “I can’t stop this addiction” → “Christ in me is stronger.”
Use this tool:
Write it. Think it. Confess it. Until you believe it.
3. Create New Pathways
Start speaking truth over your life. Not because your words have magic—but because God’s Word has power. And when you agree with it, things begin to shift.
Declare:
- “My life belongs to God. Daily I seek Him.”
- “I’m not a slave to lustful thoughts. God has purified my mind.”
- “When I’m stressed, I turn to God—not food.”
- “Because of Christ, I’m not anxious about anything.”
These are truths—not just affirmations. Truth changes lives.
Real-Life Moments
There’ve been times in my own life—college nightmares, parenting struggles, relationship decisions—where the battle in my mind felt overwhelming. But declaring truth, meditating on God’s Word, and surrendering the lies helped me get free.
- When anxiety hit, I memorized Matthew 6—“Do not worry.”
- When I felt out of control with my kids, I remembered: “God loves them even more than I do.”
- When I was unsure about a decision, I fasted and sought wisdom in Proverbs.
You can do this too.
TAKE YOUR MIND BACK
You don’t have to live stuck anymore.
You don’t have to be led by lies.
You can have peace of mind.
Declare it: “The battle rages, but through Jesus, I’ve already won the war.”