April 7, 2026
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Sometimes we don’t even realize
the influence our thoughts have on us, nor do we realize how much our thoughts
matter. The truth is our thoughts hold great power over us emotionally,
spiritually, and behaviorally. The things we dwell on and ruminate on are like
the rudder of a ship; they steer and guide our emotions and affections. …
As believers, what we think
matters. Because Jesus bought and redeemed us from sin, we are new creations.
We have died to our former selves (Romans 6:6). This includes our thought life. …
Because we are new creations in
Christ, Scripture charges us to be on guard in our thinking. The Apostle Paul
wrote that he took every thought captive and made it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This is strong military
language. We need to be aggressive and forceful, intentionally searching out
disobedient thoughts. That’s because we are in the midst of a spiritual battle,
and in wartime, we cannot be passive (see Ephesians 6:10–18).
This also means we need to be
intentional in the kinds of thoughts we think. We must conform our thoughts so
that they obey and glorify Christ. As Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, anything worthy of praise, think about
these things.” Thoughts like these are ones that we want to foster, take root,
and grow. …
The true and right thoughts we
are to think are found in God’s Word. There He tells us who He is and what He
has done for us in Christ. We need to dwell on such truths, on God’s love for
us in the gospel and what Christ accomplished for us through His life, death,
and resurrection. We need to meditate on who we are in the sight of God because
of Christ and what it means to be a child of the living God. We need to think
these thoughts, not as part of some spiritual to-do list, or as an exercise to
greater self-fulfillment, but because of who we are in Christ (Colossians 3:1–2).
Though we are prone to wander,
especially in our thinking, Jesus has not left us alone. He has given us His
Spirit, who convicts us of sin, reminds us of truth, and even prays on our
behalf when we can’t do so for ourselves. If you struggle with wayward thoughts
as I do, pray for the Spirit to prompt you when your thoughts go astray. Ask
for discernment to know what is true and what is untrue. Assess your thoughts
and compare them with God’s Word. Be alert, watchful, and on guard. And above
all, set your mind on Christ.—Christina Fox1
Taking
on the mind of Christ
God’s Word tells us that we have
been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Having the mind of Christ is
a guide to all we do, and it needs to impact our thinking. It doesn’t mean our
thinking will be exactly like God’s, but it does mean we can think and act more
and more like Christ as our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2). …
As God’s peace guards our hearts
and minds (Philippians 4:7), we will
find ourselves thinking on the Lord’s promises and His provision for us. It is
going to change our thought life to no longer dwell on fleshly thoughts but on
ones that are spiritual and Christ-focused. We have been given whole new minds.
What we choose to think on matters.
God’s Word doesn’t leave us
wondering how to take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5); we have a detailed list of
what we are to think about as Christians laid out for us in Philippians 4:8. Scripture is our source for
knowing what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.…
Our minds are a gift from the
Lord to be protected. In Christ, we are now able to choose thoughts that please
the Lord and honor Him. Paul ends Philippians 4:8 with “if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,”
because we need this reminder to protect our thinking continually. We need to
be proactive in the thoughts that enter our minds. Our minds are renewed
thought by thought. …
When we see Jesus as the perfect
picture of all that is true and lovely and pure, we will find our thought life
is filtered through the lens of the gospel. As we meditate on what is true and
lovely and honorable in the gospel, and as we practice these things as Paul
said, the peace of God will be with us (Philippians 4:9).—Marci Ferrell2
Turning
thoughts into prayers
The Bible has a lot to say about
our thoughts, and it makes an interesting study. For example, it says we can
hardly count the Lord’s thoughts toward us (Psalm 40:5), and He knows our every thought
before we even think them (Psalm 139:1–2).
Think of all the things each of
us thinks about in a day and all the thoughts that tend to run through our
minds. It is helpful to weigh our thoughts from time to time and size them up,
take stock, and analyze them. Are we directing our thoughts to where they can
do some good and have a positive effect? Are we transforming our thoughts into
prayers that will bring about some good in the lives of others?
The Bible teaches us to “set our
minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). As we make a conscious effort to
focus our thoughts on the things of God’s kingdom, His Spirit can speak to our
hearts and guide us (John 16:13). He can also
help us to filter unfruitful thoughts or thoughts that cause anxiety, despair,
depression or unhappiness as we focus on the things that are good, true,
lovely, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).
God wants us to learn to convert
our thoughts into prayer, as we grow into praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Thoughts turned into
prayers will result in a closer walk with God, His blessings, solutions, and
intervention according to His will, and His comfort and peace for us and for
those who are in need. He can help us to see situations with fresh eyes and to
see the good and possibilities that we were not even aware of as we bring
everything to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6).
Thoughts turned into prayers
will draw us closer to Jesus and strengthen us spiritually. On the other hand,
thoughts left idle often slip away into the gray mass of nowhere-land or into
the cracks and crevices of complacency. All day long, no matter what else we’re
doing, we’re thinking thoughts, but it’s how we filter and direct them that can
make a difference.
What we decide to do with our
thought life and where we direct our thoughts matters. As we learn to direct
our thoughts, filtering them through the sieve of His Word, we will be able to
set our minds on Christ and fulfill this mission of prayer.—Maria Fontaine
Praying
our thoughts
Through prayer we come
face-to-face with God and do a work of self-examination. In God’s presence, we
look at our thoughts, look at God, and consider how God looks back at us. God
transforms our thoughts as we process what we’re thinking while consciously
aware of his presence.
When you pray your thoughts, how
do you imagine God looks back at you? Psalm 139:23 offers us a picture. “Search
me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” As we
approach God, He searches and knows our hearts, tests and knows our anxious
thoughts. He sees the offensive ways that are in us, yet still he chooses to
lead us in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24). In other words, God sees our true
selves and loves us anyway.
As you pray your thoughts to
God, he looks at you with love, mercy, and compassion. His love does not
materialize because you just had a true, honorable, praiseworthy, or pure
thought. It does not disappear because you … can’t seem to escape thoughts filled
with suffering. God’s love for you is present amid your unwanted thoughts. It’s
not a reward for changing them.
Look at your unwanted thoughts,
and you’ll likely see your suffering and sin. Look at God with faith, and
you’ll see his love and acceptance. Look at how God looks at you in Christ, and
you’ll see in yourself the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). It’s when we see God
accurately and see ourselves as God sees us that we find the power we need to
change.
Our thoughts are transformed not
through force and willpower but through relationship and connection. God’s
presence is powerful because in it we encounter His character. We see who He is
and what that means for our lives. ...
The stillness we find in His
faithful presence calms our racing thoughts and worry. His compassion and love
help us to believe the truth when it doesn’t seem to match our present reality.
We leave behind thoughts of regret as we receive his forgiveness. We find help
for thoughts of hopelessness as we meditate on his goodness. ... Encountering
God and experiencing who He is in our lives has the power to change
everything.—Esther Smith3
Published
on Anchor April 2026. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Fogarty.
1 Christina Fox, “Our Thoughts Really Do
Matter,” ibelieve.com, September 21, 2021, https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/our-thoughts-really-do-matter.html
2 Marci Ferrell, “Six Thought Patterns of a
Christian Mind (Philippians 4:8),” thankfulhomemaker.com, https://thankfulhomemaker.com/six-thought-patterns-of-a-christian-mind-philippians-48/
3 Esther Smith, “Pray Your Uncensored
Thoughts,” The Gospel Coalition, August 7, 2022, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pray-uncensored-thoughts
Copyright © 2026 The Family
International https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/why-thoughts-matter/
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