The Source of Our Thoughts

Thoughts come and go. But from where? Do we always “think”

them? Do we choose them? Are they based in what we believe
to be true? Or are they truly random?
We already know that thoughts affect our feelings and
body. But we have to remember: Our thoughts may or may not
reflect reality.
It’s common to wonder, as Stephanie frequently does, Am I
responsible for all the thoughts I think? For the answer, we can
look at Scripture.
We can have great intentions to follow this directive: “Set
your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher
things), not on the things that are on the earth” (Col. 3:2 AMP).
But even when we’re trying to do that, we have those other
not-so-good, not-so-healthy, not-so-Christian thoughts that
flash on the screens of our minds. We didn’t want them. We
didn’t invite them. They just showed up.
In most cases, we can’t stop specific thoughts from coming
to mind. Our task is to manage them once they arrive.
It’s like the different individuals who come to your door.
Some might walk right in without being invited. Do you invite
them to stay? I doubt it. You evict them.
Once unwelcome thoughts pop in, you have the choice to
either allow them to stay or kick them out. That’s where your
responsibility lies. Think about it: What does the word set
mean to you in the verse from Colossians?
Thoughts about recent trauma, or even trauma from far in the
past, all the way back to childhood, also may flash through
your mind.
Vivid dreams or nightmares, as well as thoughts, may take up
residence in your mind. You feel as if you’re reliving the event
over again. The experience seems embedded or tattooed on
your brain.
It’s like the crash scene Stephanie sometimes imagines as
she drives. She probably saw a crash like that as a child. It
made an impression on her then. And even though she is no
longer aware of the memory, her brain has never “let it go.”
Scientists aren’t sure why thoughts like these come to mind.
But they have confirmed differences between the brains of men
and women. Stephanie’s right in sensing that her brain is
always “on,” even though it seems her husband’s brain
switches off when he’s not specifically thinking about
something. Research using brain scans has shown that a
woman’s brain really is “on” all the time, whereas a man’s brain
“turns on” when he uses it, and “turns off” when he’s no
longer thinking about something purposefully.[11]
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Bottom line: We need to kick out unwelcome, uninvited,
negative thoughts, and “set our minds,” as Scripture instructs,
on thoughts that are good, healthful, uplifting, and positive.
I look at it like this: Every now and then, a strange animal
wanders into my yard. I didn’t invite it. And if it shows
potential to do harm, I must engage in damage control before it
affects me or my property.
We need to treat our thoughts with the same urgency.