Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. - Romans 8:5

In his book As A Man Thinketh, James Allen says, 'All that a man achieves or fails to achieve, is the direct result of his thoughts.' Do you believe that? If you do you'll place a high value on good thinking. It will become a priority in your life. Success doesn't come by accident. You don't stumble into it then figure it out afterwards. Whether you're a businessperson, a minister, a teacher, a parent, or anything else, your level of success will increase dramatically if you place a high value on good thinking. The better your thinking, the better your prospects in life.

As believers, right thinking is something that is so important we simply can't live without it. Just like our heartbeat, it's vital because many of the problems we deal with in our lives are rooted in wrong thinking patterns, which are not based on the truth.

Right thinking is a result of regular, personal fellowship with God through prayer and the Word. It is important for us to come to grips with the fact that our lives will not get straightened out until our thinking gets straightened out. Thoughts bear fruit. When you and I think good thoughts, our lives produce good fruit. When we think bad thoughts, our lives produce bad fruit.

An old German proverb says, 'Better an empty purse than head.' Good thinkers overcome difficulties, including lack of resources. And generally, poor thinkers are at the mercy of good thinkers. Ponder these words: 'Capital isn't so important. Experience isn't either. You can get both these things. What's important is ideas. If you have ideas you have the main asset you need, and there isn't any limit to what you can do with your life.' Solomon writes: 'As he thinketh in his heart, so is he...' (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). And the good news is it's not too late for you to become a good thinker!

The longer I serve God and study His Word, the more I realize how important it is for me to be aware of what's going on in my mind. Where the mind goes, the man follows. Continually watching over our thoughts is the only way we will ever be able to keep them in line with God's Word and win our battle against the enemy.

Holy Spirit, You have shown me that right thinking is absolutely vital. I will seek You regularly so that I can think the right thoughts.

"It is important for us to come to grips with the fact that our lives will not get straightened out until our thinking gets straightened out."

This sounds (in my ear) like you're saying until I get my thinking 100% inline - my life will be a mess. And that (in my opinion) is not true. God looks at the heart, not the head. If your heart, your intentions, are on Him, then "messed up thinking" is not going to result in "messed up life". Yes, spending time in His word and with Him in prayer and conversation and worship are all vital - but none of them guarantee that "care free life".

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt 5:45)

Yeah, good thoughts are definitely a way to go, as is "taking every thought captive" ... but [to me] this looked like "if you don't do it this way you're doomed". And that, thanks to our God of grace, is just not true.

And if I totally missed what you said - my apologies. I can only respond to what I understand.

It is all good man , I am not really trying to say anything . Just wanted to share and email I got because there most certainly is not ONE thing anyone can point to that is a fix all solve all

all things healing whether it be renewing the mind with scripture , thinking more positively , prayer , devotion , self help what ever a culmination off all

what ever helps i am just sharing something that might help and that line stuck out to me

Really really good book written by Bob Hamp on this topic: Think Differently Live Differently.

Jim