I remember my dad telling me "You have to learn to think for yourself." Sometimes he said this because I did something foolish without giving it much thought. Other times it was because I needed to learn how to make wise decisions without depending on others.
The truth is that if we do not think for ourselves someone will think for us. How many times have you heard someone say to you, "I think..." and then give you advice, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
One of life's valuable lessons I have learned is that every day I have to be intentional with my thoughts. To be intentional with my thoughts I have to be intentional with who I am listening to. Who is the voices speaking into your life daily?
What books are you reading or podcast are you listening to? What voices speaks loudly to you on a regular basis? My prayer is that God will renew our minds daily and help us to think wisely. "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
I remember watching the sitcom in the 70's "Gomer Pyle" where Gomer is sitting in an Army Barrack with a bucket on his head. His sergeant, Sergeant Carter told him it would "help his thinking"! Some kids were made to sit in the corner, facing the wall, because it was supposed to help them think.
I know a better way to improve your thinking. While this is not an all-inclusive list of things you can do, here is five things you can do that will help you be an intentional thinker:
- Spend time worshipping Him. It helps us to focus on Who is important. Listen to music that brings honor and glory to Him each morning as you begin your day and spend time in prayer.
- Read the Bible. Gods ways are higher then ours and his thoughts are greater then ours. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:10 KJV).
- Focus on good things. "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Thank about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippines 4:8).
- Look for ways to encourage others. Look for words that will encourage those around you.
- Choose what you listen to. You cannot always choose what you hear but you can choose who and what you listen to.
The person that chooses not to think for themselves are choosing to allow others around them to shape and influence their way of thinking.
What are you thinking?
