“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
To develop great habits, we need to be intentional in both driving out bad habits and ushering in new habits. So how do we do that? Where do we start? Well, a good place to start is to take what we have learned in the study of the Word of God and make them great habits in what we do in our daily lives.
Let me offer a few suggestions of how to Develop the Habit of Great Thoughts
I. Take inventory
We cannot have good godly thoughts if we do not purposely evaluate our current thoughts and sources of those thoughts.
Go through this exercise, for one day just take note, write down any negative thoughts you may have and note what you were doing when you had those thoughts. At the end of the day, evaluate them. This holds a mirror up in your face and allows you to face your thought life.
This also puts in to practice 2 Corinthians 10:5, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
II. Purge your impure thoughts
You would not pour a drink into a dirty glass, would you? Neither should you attempt to have pure Godly thoughts in a mind that is filled with filth.
The best way to start great thoughts is to trim the fat out of your entertainment and information diet.
Another personal challenge is to take an actual fast for a weekend from entertainment and information mediums. Start with prayer and ask God for direction. Replace that time with reading good Godly books, read the Bible, listening to nothing but good and Godly music, do something for someone else, do some activities either by yourself or with your family.
After your experience, take note on your thoughts. You would be surprised of the reduction of negative and impure thoughts. If we are going to develop habits of great thought, let us seriously consider the removing of some things that create negative or impure thoughts.
III. Intentional in feeding things that are good and Godly
Find time to read Godly books. Read your bible daily. Join or Start a small group that studies the Bible. Listen to Godly music. If possible, use your remote, change the station when things come on tv that are not good. Or better turn the tv off and do something else that will feed you spiritually.
Engage in conversations about God. Walk away from conversations that tear down others or become impure and avoid conversations with people who criticize or complain. Memorize scripture. Let me recommend you start with Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.
Pastor John Punni