Which Waves
are you Surfing?
“Thoughts
are kind of like waves in the ocean. You can’t stop the waves from coming, but
you can choose which ones you want to surf.”
I came across
this profound statement a while back and it often comes to mind when I begin to
think about thinking.
You know we
need to think about thinking, don’t you? It really is important to give some
thought to our thoughts.
The Bible
is very clear on this point. Do you know that we become what we think?
Proverbs
23:7a KJV - For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
I have done
a LOT of reading on the subject of our thought life and the fascinating science
behind how our brains work and the amazing fact that we can rewire our brains,
creating new neural pathways.
God didn’t
need neurologists and scientists to figure this out. He had laid it out in his
Word, long before man ever thought to study it.
It really
is true that our brains were designed by God to have renewable characteristics.
It is possible to be transformed, changed, made new, by renewing your mind.
Romans
12:2 KJV - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God.
What we
think about becomes a physical reality in our brain and body and affects our
mental, spiritual, emotional and physical health.
There is so
much more on this subject that I would love to share, but for now, I’ll try and
be brief.
So, back to
the quote.
“Thoughts
are kind of like waves in the ocean. You can’t stop the waves from coming, but
you can choose which ones you want to surf.”
There is no
denying that you can’t stop thoughts from popping into your mind. But what you
can do is choose which ones you focus on.
The
waves will come, and you can’t stop them, but you can choose which ones you
surf.
You can choose
which ones you dwell on. Ultimately,
what you focus on is what you’ll feel and what you feel is what you’ll do and
what you’ll do is who you’ll become.
Thoughts
determine actions and actions determine character.
If we
really realized and believed how powerful our thoughts are, we would strive to get
rid of the toxic thoughts before ever they had a chance to settle inside our minds!
Let me
direct your attention to a very powerful passage of Scripture found in 2
Corinthians.
2
Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the
flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God
to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
This
passage reminds us that we, as Christians, are fighting a spiritual battle. I
don’t want to alarm you, but you have to remember that the Devil is out to
destroy you.
1 Peter
5:8 KJV - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Now, I don’t
pretend to understand this passage in 2 Corinthians 10 completely but let me
see if I can explain it a little.
In verse 5
we are encouraged to bring every thought into captivity. We are to take
every thought captive and make it subject to Christ.
Notice it
doesn’t say ignore the thoughts you don’t like. It doesn’t say to simply
neglect the thoughts that are negative. It says take EVERY thought captive
and make it submit to the word of God. Paul is using language of warfare
here. You have an enemy.
We all have
thoughts that set themselves up in opposition to God. We believe the lies that
the Devil feeds us. What do we do with these lies? What do we do with the
anxious thoughts, the thoughts that don’t line up with the Word of God?
You take
them prisoner! You bring them into captivity. When you find yourself harboring a thought that
doesn’t belong in your mind, don’t let it stay there!
You
question it. You interrogate it. You ask it, “Where did you come from? Who
sent you? What door of insecurity did you walk through? What lie did you
believe to get here?”
When you
answer these questions, by lining them up with the truth of God’s Word, you can
then reject them, bring them into captivity and replace them with truth. And
that’s how you win the battle of the mind!
Taking every thought captive and making it subject to Christ
is vital for our spiritual growth. The Bible teaches us that our thoughts shape
our actions and character, and when left unchecked thoughts can lead to sin and
disconnect from God.
Your body is not in control of your mind – your mind is
in control of your body. But guess what? Your mind is stronger than your body!
Your brain doesn’t control you. You control your brain through your own thoughts
and the choices you make in regard to what thinking you allow to live rent free
in your head.
By submitting every thought to Christ’s authority, we align ourselves with His
truth and righteousness, rejecting the lies and temptations of the world and
the Devil. Becoming consciously aware of this disciplined practice renews our
minds, as described in Romans 12:2, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us
and our thinking from within.
Going back to 2 Corinthians 10:5, when you observe your own
thinking with the intention of capturing those rogue, unwanted, unhelpful,
harmful thoughts, you direct your attention to stop the negative impact they
have on you, and you choose to rewire healthy new circuits in the brain.
The brain will do what the mind tells it to do.
I know
firsthand the power of creating new neural pathways in the brain through
replacing negative thoughts with the truth of God’s Word and developing a heart
of gratitude.
We don’t
have to live defeated lives. We don’t have to let our thoughts control us. We
have the power, with God’s enabling, to renew our minds, to bring our thoughts
into captivity, to rid ourselves of the spirit of fear, and replace it with the
sound mind that God wants us to have. (2 Timothy 1:7)
As the Israelites
prepared to enter the promised land, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness,
God instructed Moses to remind the people of the authority of God and of the importance
of obeying his commands. And he left them with an interesting instruction.
CHOOSE LIFE!
Deuteronomy
30:15, 19-20 KJV - See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and
death and evil;
- I call
heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that
both thou and thy seed may live:
- That
thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and
that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy
days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
God built choice into every detail of our being. We do have
a choice as to what we think about. Our genetic makeup is changed by what we
choose to think about. We can choose life!
Follow the formula found in Philippians chapter 4, do your
part and God will do his.
Philippians 4:6-8 KJV - Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(If you would like to read more on how gratitude affects the brain, please read this post -
https://learnliveloveshare.blogspot.com/2023/11/supercharge-your-gratitude-flip-switch.html
God bless xx
