Joyce Meyer's daily devotional September 19, 2016 – Invest Your Thoughts

Topic: Invest Your Thoughts [September 19, 2016]

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8

If we can learn to agree with God in our thoughts—to think the way He wants us to think—then we can have what He wants us to have, be who He wants us to be, and do what He wants us to do. But it won't just happen. We have to be intentional. We have to invest our thoughts, instead of wasting them.

I have said many times, "We have to think about what we're thinking about," and I believe it now more than ever. If you're in a bad mood, ask yourself what you have been thinking about, and you'll probably find the root of your mood. If you're feeling sorry for yourself, just think about what you're thinking about; your attitude may need an adjustment. Remember, "Where the mind goes, the man follows." Our moods are directly linked to our thoughts, so good thoughts will produce good moods.

We need to take responsibility for our thoughts. We must stop acting as if there is nothing we can do about them. God has given us the power to resist the devil by choosing to think on things that are Godly and good. It gives me tremendous hope when I realize that I can be assured of a better life by thinking good thoughts. That is exciting!

God will show us what to do to "clean up" our thinking, but He will not do the cleaning for us. He gives us His Word to teach us, and His Spirit to help us, but only we can make the decision to do what we should do. You can learn to think properly and powerfully if you want to; it will take time but it is an investment that pays great dividends. The Bible is a record of God's thoughts, ways, and deeds. As we agree with it, we are agreeing with God!

Trust in Him: Have you taken personal responsibility for your thoughts and attitudes? Are you investing them? If not, make a commitment to begin trusting God to give you the power to think responsibly