If you were to begin thinking about it, how much of your life do you think has been effected by what you have been taught to believe? Do you think it is possible that your thinking is influenced by culture, society, and media? If you thought about it, would you find that some of your thinking patterns have been actually handed down to you? What we pay attention too, watch and listen too, has a way of embedding itself into our thinking behaviors and thought habits. Much like a computer, the software you install is the software you are going to end up using.
It is very important for us to be careful what we listen to. Many people have become programmed with erroneous belief systems that not only falter, but lead them astray. One day I realized that I had been handed down some thinking habits and misconceptions that were intended to mislead me and manipulate my thinking behaviors in order to achieve worldly outcomes. I came to this realization when God began to replace the false programming with truths and insights. Lots of people have opinions, but opinions that lack truth only offer misdirections. Truth remains constant, opinions will never change truth.
It can be very difficult to accept that you have been mislead, and that you need to change thinking patterns that you have been accustomed to for significant periods of your life. Suddenly this little voice inside comes up and says; "I do not want to admit that I have been decieved, I don't want to admit that I have been wrong, or I don't want to admit that I need to change". It's a stripping process where years of blotted paint need to be removed from your inner vehicle. However, something inside says; "I want to see what I have not seen, I want the truth."
Take a good look around and do some thinking about it, there is corruption all around. Corruption is defined as moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles, undermining moral integrity, lack of integrity or honesty, in a state of progressive putrefaction, and decay of matter; like that of rot or oxidation. Corruption breeds corruption and it attempts to infect us with it's poisons. Chances are you have been handed down some erroneous beliefs and misconceptions that were never in your best interests. We have been programmed from early stages to think like this, be like that, and to acquire our status by the acquisition of things.
Today women are programmed by media and advertising to wear provactive attire, that the size of their busts matter more than the size of their hearts. Men are programmed likewise, take this pill to be a bigger man. Your assets are not in your bra or in your trousers, don't accept that kind of thinking metality and sell yourself short. There is a lot more to you than your physical attributes. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” – 1 Samuel 16:7. Both sexes buy into programming that says that people are defined by their incomes. Accepting that thought programming is decay for your self value. We need to start thinking with our own brains in order to see the implants that society is attempting to plug in to us. Everyone was designed uniquely and perfectly by the hands of the Lord to fulfill specific purposes. Altering yourself in order to meet the approval of society or to gain approval from others will only leave you with a lessor feeling of who you are. It's a misguided trap that looks to steal your confidence, personal value, and set you down a misdirected path. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says; Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
All to often people fall prey to living for the wrong audience, life is not a popularity contest, nor is it a money chase. In Matthew 23:26 Jesus says; First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. The thinking changes we need to make begin within us, with a spirit of humility we will grow wiser and be far less gullible. Nobody likes to feel like they have been decieved, however the best way to alter this is to change the way we are thinking by acquiring and accessing the wisdom of God. We can simply trade out the wrong spark plugs for the right ones by accepting that our primary ignition source comes from God alone. This is not burger king, life is not about having it all your way, nor is it about doing it societies way. Reposition your thinking mannerisms, alter your thinking position, and improve your overall condition.
Romans 12:2 says; Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Change the way you are thinking and you will drastically change your outcomes! Suddenly you won't buy into things you used to, you will say no to things that lack love, wisdom, or that are not in your best interests. You will avoid more traps and scams, make better choices and decisions, and choose your friends more wisely. You won't attempt to be a crowd or people pleaser, but instead be a God pleaser.
There is one more area that requires some thinking, that area is the one were your feelings take over, and your emotions rule your judgements and your mouth. How many times have you said something in the heat of a moment that you wish you could take back? We all have at one time or another, but we can choose to rule ourselves rather than allowing our emotions to get the best of us. Proverbs 16:32 says; He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. You can rule your own spirit, nobody makes you mad, nobody makes you say or do things from your emotions. They are your emotions, what you "make" is of your own making. Learn to have control over yourself, keep your composure, rule your emotions and your thinking. Take some time and start thinking about what and who you are listening to. What you allow into your thoughts will be the thoughts you access in critical moments. Hopefully in a critical moment your thinking will be true and wise, but that will depend on what programming you have installed, if you know what I mean.