We have all heard that the definition of insanity is ‘doing the same thing and expecting a different result.’ Many of us have been going insane too long. This year we must regain our right mind by doing something different—and expecting a different result. If we are willing to think and act on our thoughts, we will do some amazing things for God in this New Year of 2013.
Our thoughts are powerful. Unfortunately, we do not think or process ideas because we have relied on other people to think for us. This year, we need to think for ourselves and allow God to open our minds up to what God wants us to do. We need to get our minds right. Paul wrote: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God,” Romans 12:2. The United Negro College Fund’s logo is true: “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” We have been wasting our minds, and we have not given thought to the plans God has for us; we have not given thought to our divine destinies; and we have not given thought to those ideas God wants to reveal to us. In 2013, we need to renew our minds so that we can have the courage to think.
For many years we have defined ourselves by the thoughts of others. We permit other people’s thoughts of us to define our thoughts about ourselves. People who do not have any thought of us have told us that we are nothing, unworthy, no good, and ugly. We have permitted this negative thinking to infect our minds and limit what God can do with our lives. We need to get our minds right so that we can know the perfect will of God—not the will and beliefs of others. We need to think. Stuff has happened to us that has attacked our minds. An extra-marital affair can mess with the mind. The death of a child, mother, or father can mess with the mind. Violence and rape can mess with the mind. Rejection can mess with the mind. Abuse and neglect can mess with the mind. Through God’s grace (no matter what has sought to attack our minds) our minds can be renewed. Jesus Christ is a mind regulator.
This is why it is important to renew our minds—to get our minds right. We go to church to get our minds right. Reading the Bible can get our minds right. Prayer can renew our minds. When our minds are right, we can think a thought that will bring healing to our souls. When our minds are right, we can think our way through a storm, a trial, and a tribulation. When our minds are right, we can think thoughts that will carry us to our next destination. When our minds are right, we can think out of the box. Rather than having thoughts that have limited us and focused on what others have thought about us, we can begin to discern the perfect will of God for our lives. We need to stop being afraid to think. Thoughts are powerful.
This is why the devil does not want any of us to think. So a person thinketh, so is the person. Our problem is not a lack of money or resources—our problem is our failure to think. It was a thought that created the light bulb. It was a thought that created a democratic government. It was a thought that brought creation into existence. It was a thought that led a man named Jesus to Calvary, because he was thinking about us. For this New Year, let us not be afraid to think. Let us get our minds right and put the thoughts God has given us into action. Get your mind right.
