The Paradgm Shift:Changing Your Thinking

The Paradigm Shift: Changing Your Thinking Philippians 4:4-9

The wisest man, other than Jesus, to ever walk on the earth once said, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”

So, how do you think?

Norman Vincent Peale, made the term 'positive thinking' popular back in the late 60s with his talks, sermons and book “The Power of Positive Thinking”.

Dr. John Maxwell spoke of several ways of thinking to address the issues of life in the books he has written.

I was encouraged to read “Psycho Cybernetics” written by Maxwell Maltz about twenty years ago. It expresses that there is potential inside us that can only be brought to the surface by changing our thinking.

In the Bible passage of Philippians 4, the apostle Paul urges us to do something to alter our thinking.

Besides this, there is overwhelming support that we as believers in Christ need to stay on top of our thought proses and control our way of thinking and what we think about.

After all, prior to the first murder committed, Cain was warned by God to get control of his bad mood. God said to Cain, “

Why are you angry and why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do what is not right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Stop and think about it! God would never of instructed Cain or required from me and you what we could not deliver. As we grow in Christ, we also need to change our thinking to think like God thinks so that we will exhibit and show that we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8Finally, 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.

9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

1. Rejoice always, Amid every circumstance there are blessings of God to observe.

2. Let everyone see your moderation. Don't be greedy, God is watching.

3. Be careful for nothing. Understand that God will provide all of our needs if we are doing His will.

4. Think about the truth. God's Word is truth. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth (John 17:17).

5. Think about honest things.

6. Think about pure things.

7. Think about lovely things.

8. Think about good reports (and don't make good reports into bad reports just because it's not what you wanted.

9. Think about virtuous things (good things).

10. Think about the praises and be thankful, not grumpy.

11. Think about the good lessons you have learned form teachers who have exhibited those lessons in your presence.

12. Think about how no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing God is with you and God is for you.

    Do you need to change some facet, some part of your thinking?

    That begins when you accept the offer of eternal life from God through His Son Jesus.

    The price has already been paid by Him on the cross of Calvary.

    Perhaps your a believer already but you've gotten trapped into some bad thinking trends where you are looking more on the negative side than the positive side of life.

    You can make a new start today if you really want to.