Change Your Way Of Thinking

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. (9) "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:8-11 NKJV

God's way of thinking is very different to our way of thinking. Most of our thinking has been influenced by our interactions and experiences in this world. Our failures, our successes and the people we spend most of our time with influence the way we think. The problem is that much of what the world thinks and values is vastly different to what God thinks and values.

For example, the world teaches us that you have to see it in order to believe it. Consequently, we hear many people claiming that unless they can see God or a miracle they won't believe. This type of thinking has crept into many churches also. There are vast numbers of believers who can't believe that God is with them unless they have some sort of vision or supernatural experience.

God's way of thinking is completely opposite to the world's way. The world says 'you have to see it in order to believe it'. God says 'you need to believe it in order to see it'. You'll never see a miracle unless you believe in miracles. You'll see very little of God's blessing flowing in your life unless you believe for them first. You'll never see supernatural manifestations unless you believe they're coming your way. You must believe before you see.

• The world says 'live for yourself' but God says 'die to yourself'
• The world says 'hate those who hate you' but God says 'love those who hate you'
• The world says 'leaders should be rulers' but God says 'leaders should be servants'

It's so important that we change the way we think. Our wrong thinking is the major obstacle that prevents us from experiencing greater victory in our lives.

There's a story told about an Indian merchant who was selling doves in a market place. The merchant didn't use a cage; instead he fastened one of the birds' feet to a pole by a piece of string. The doves could move around the pole but the string stopped them from flying away. Consequently, all of the doves just walked around in circles determined by the length of their strings.

One day, a Brahman (Indian holy man) came through the market and when he saw the doves just walking in circles he felt tremendous compassion for the imprisoned doves. He complained to the merchant that it was cruel to keep the doves imprisoned and that he should set them free. The merchant replied that it was his trade but if the Brahman felt so strongly he could buy one and set it free. The Brahman then asked how much for a dove and when he was given the price, he paid the merchant the total amount to purchase all of the birds.

Once the transaction was completed, the Brahman ordered the merchant to untie the birds and set them free. The merchant did so but the birds, having been bound by the string for so long, continued to walk in circles – even though they were no longer tied to the pole. The Brahman then waved his arms and stamped his feet to try to startle the birds and make them fly away to enjoy their new freedom. But they only fluttered away a small distance and when they landed they began walking in circles again.

• How many believers make little or no progress in their lives even though Jesus has purchased them with His blood and set them free?
• How many walk in circles encountering the same problems periodically because they've never learnt how to move in the freedom that has been granted them?

The only way we can see our lives change in a positive way is by changing our way of thinking to line up with God's way of thinking.

If you want to learn more about this then checkout the messages below.

Part 1: The Importance of Changing the Way You Think

Part 2: How to Change the Way You Think