What happens if someone tells you not to think of the number "eight?"
It's likely that "eight" will be all you can think about. The more you try not to think about it, the more it fills your mind.
But if we think of other numbers, work equations, read or concentrate on something else, then it's easier not to think about "eight."
Erwin Lutzer shared that helpful illustration in How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit.
When we try to avoid doing the wrong thing, too often we concentrate on that thing even in an effort to keep from it.
Every dieter knows that if your mind is filled with trying to avoid a certain temptation (chocolate for me), sooner or later you're going to find an excuse to partake of it.
We once knew a preacher whose main sermon topic was battling sexual sin. What happened to him? He fell into sexual sin.
The Bible does tell us what things are wrong, what things we should stop doing. We shouldn't minimize or overlook the "don'ts" in the name of love and positivity or an effort to be inoffensive.
But the Bible doesn't stop with telling us what to avoid.
It also tells us what to pursue.
For instance, Ephesians 4:28 says, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." It's good and necessary to stop stealing, but the converted thief shouldn't stop there. He needs to work not only to provide his own needs, but to give to others.
Likewise, 2 Timothy 2:22 instructs us to "flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart." Telling yourself over and over "Don't think about lust" is probably not going to work. We not only flee youthful passions, but we pursue "righteousness, faith, love, and peace." And we don't do this alone, but "with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
The next couple of verses in 2 Timothy tell us to avoid "foolish, ignorant controversies" which lead to quarrels. Instead, "the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness."
Colossians 3:5-9 tells us to "Put to death " or "put away" "sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry . . . anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another."
But then it goes on to tell us "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
And how do we do this?
We're not aiming just for "positive thinking": we're seeking a balanced focus. We don't do good things in order to gain favor with God. We focus on these good traits not to become righteous but rather to demonstrate that God has changed us and made us righteous.
Ephesians 4:17-32 tells us to "be renewed in the spirit of your minds."
Colossians 3:16:17 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"
Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind."
Colossians 3:10 says us our "new self…is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
How do we renew our minds in the knowledge of Him? By beholding Him in His Word: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18).
As we see Him in His Word, we get to know Him better, and we become more like Him. As we pursue the pure and good and holy, lesser things fall away.
(Revised from the archives)
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
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