Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [Colossians 3:2].

QUOTE: If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely. If we understood the awesome power of our words, we would prefer silence to almost anything negative (Betty Eadie).

Our thoughts, words, and choices are the most powerful resources that we have available to us. What we think about guides our actions. How we feel about ourselves, is guided by our thoughts. Some of the things in our lives happen because of what we think. Whatever we put into our minds is there to stay until Jesus delivers us. It has been said that our life is an outward expression of what we think. Our thoughts have consequences. Even if we are not acting on them, our unseen thoughts still produce visible consequences. Our thoughts are the control center for the rest of our body. In some instances, where we are in life is in direct correlation on exactly how we have been thinking and the choices that we have made.

Words and thoughts have energy and power with the ability to help, heal, hinder, hurt, harm, humiliate and to humble. Words have the power to change things instantly. We can choose to use our words in love or destructively use words of discouragement.

We as believers have a responsibility for what and how we think. So, may I ask you: what or who determines how or what you think??? This book is about how and what we think based on biblical principles. The bible, the handbook of life, the truth, and the holy word of God. A lot of principles and teachings in the world have picked out pieces of the bible according to what feels and sounds good; but they have left out the foundation of God Almighty and where true power comes from.

The world teaches us to say affirmations or mantra’s daily, which is good to a point because repetition is the way that we can change our thinking. Just be mindful of what words you are repeating. Be sure the words you use are what God says about you. Use scripture (in context) as your affirmation because there is power in speaking the word of God out loud.

We have a choice on what we do with our thinking, which we will talk about throughout this entire book. We can choose to accept a thought and then express it in some fashion. We can choose to wrestle with it or even tweak it to fit our life. We can outright deny it. Or we can allow the Holy Spirit within us to control how we think and what we do with our thoughts.

Take a closer look at our main scripture for this week (Colossians 3:1-4). This passage alone tells us that since we are now with Christ as a believer, we need to set our heart and mind on things above. Which includes taking control of our thoughts. We want to constantly seek those things above and learn to think like God thinks (Stellar Thinking). This should become a habit and part of our lifestyle. Remember we have let our old life go, along with our old ways of thinking. The Spirit of God will help is lay down our thoughts and wrong thinking down. The rest of our body will travel where our mind is set, guard what you think. We have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to make wise decisions.

As we start out on this hike/journey of Godly Thinking/Stellar Thinking there are three things to be aware of, which I will go into more detail in subsequent chapters:

TOTALLY BLINDED: If you are not a believer, the enemy will blind you from the truth and you will simply follow any doctrine that feels good (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is one reason why these seeker friendly churches and name and claim it theology is so popular.

WATCH OUT: For those of you who are believers, please remember the enemy can sneak in and blind you also, if you are not aware. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

shows us that we can be fooled and fall into false teaching unless we fill our hearts and minds with the word of God. We want to have the wisdom and knowledge of God richly and extravagantly overflowing within us. This is the most powerful resource we have. However, if we only open the bible on Sunday morning in a church service, we can easily be led astray.

EMPOWER VS HIM-POWERED: The word empower is running rampant through our personal development industry. But may I introduce you to a new term? I want to be filled with God’s power, Holy Spirit power, true power; so, I choose to be HIM-POWERED, vs simply just being empowered. Empower, is relying on yourself for inner strength. Where being HIM-POWERED is being filled and relying on Holy Spirit power!  So, while on this journey please keep this thought of being HIM-POWERED in the forefront of your thoughts because that is the foundation of this book and Stellar Thinking.

There are ten questions that I want you to consider and think on during this journey.

TEN STELLAR THINKING QUESTIONS

1. Where will these thoughts lead me?
2. Will these thoughts get me to where I want to go?
3. Are these thoughts Scripturally acceptable?
4. Will these thoughts build me up or tear me down?
5. Could I share these thoughts with someone else?
6. Where did this thought come/originate from?
7. What will these thoughts do in my life?
8. Do I feel guilty thinking these thoughts?
9. Do these thoughts fit with who I am as a follower of Jesus?
10. Will these thoughts bring honor or disgrace to Jesus?

POWER OF THOUGHT: The book you are holding is intended to be a yearlong and lifelong study. By using this book along with the Bible, the goal is to help you transform your thinking to be able to think more like God thinks (Stellar Thinking). Also, by doing the action steps and asking yourself powerful questions it should Him-Power you to believe that You Are Who God Says You Are.

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Say to yourself out loud
DAILY ACTION STEP
Say to yourself out loud
I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM
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FRIENDLY REMINDER: Take out your journal and write down your thoughts, takeaways, and progress for this week!

TAKEAWAY GEMS

• You Are Who God Says You Are.
• Our thoughts, words, and choices are the most powerful resources we have.
• Whatever we put into our mind is there to stay until Jesus delivers us.
• Our thinking has consequences.
• We can choose the words we use to speak to ourselves and others.
• As believers we have a responsibility for what and how we think.
• Use scripture (in context) as your affirmation.
• Godly thinking should become a habit and part of our lifestyle.
• Unbelievers and believers can be blinded by the truth.
• Be HIM-POWERED!!

QUESTIONS TO “THINK ON”

STELLAR THINKING: For this chapter only, refer to the Ten Stellar Thinking questions listed above.

ACTION STEP

STELLAR THINKING STATEMENTS: This is going to be an ongoing action step for the year. Each week create TWO stellar statements about yourself. If you are having trouble, use some Scriptures where God tells you how awesome you are. At the end of the year, you will have ONE HUNDRED Stellar Thinking statements about YOU. Post these statements somewhere you will see them. Repeat them out loud daily in the morning, during the day as needed, and right before you go to bed.

SCRIPTURES (New Living Translation NLT)

DAY 1: So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. [1 Peter 1:13]

DAY 2: If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies (especially about yourself) [1 Peter 3:10]

DAY 3: Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. [2 Corinthians 4:4]

DAY 4: Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth [Colossians 3:2]

DAY 5: In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. [John 1:1]

DAY 6: Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. [Luke 21:34-35]

DAY 7: Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe. [Proverbs 28:26]

 

YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE