Every moment of every day, from the moment we wake until we fall asleep at night, we make decisions. Some of those decisions we aren’t even aware of. We decide what to eat, what to wear, what to do, who to talk with, where to go, and even how to feel. Sometimes these are deliberate decisions, and sometimes they are a result of our inner ‘self-talk’.

People often tell us ‘we are what we eat’ or ‘what we think determines how we act’. Well, I made an interesting discovery today. How I feel is a direct product of what I think about. I discovered what is meant in Scripture by the phrase ‘taking every thought captive’.

Early this morning as I was out taking my morning walk, enjoying the delights of a beautiful cool summer morning, I realized that my mind had wandered, thinking thoughts that were absolutely false! There was no truth in the thoughts and their very fabric was designed to make me dissatisfied, discontent, disgruntled, and thoroughly unhappy! And it was working!

Idle thoughts run through our minds all day long. Some we discard. Some we entertain, and even let them control our actions. But entertaining idle thoughts is unhealthy, emotionally. Those random thoughts can control us, if we let them. With a conscious effort to allow only healthy or ‘good’ thoughts to remain in our conscious, we can discipline our minds to dwell on what is good, pure, and holy. And with that comes a peace that passes all understanding.

Well, that’s what I did. I took control of those thoughts, casting them out of my mind and deliberating focused on something edifying and uplifting. I decided what I would think about.  What followed was true peace, true contentment, true happiness. In the midst of horrendous trials and what could be overwhelming circumstances, I am standing in perfect peace. I know that I cannot change people by thinking about them. I cannot change circumstances by thinking about them. I CAN change ME by what I think.

Today is a good day.

So. I ask you. What are you thinking about?