Have you ever had a thought that seemed to continue to grow in your mind? Usually, this starts with a word or sentence that someone else said, but you took it the wrong way. You lie there at night and tell yourself it’s no big deal, but no matter how hard you try, you cannot let it go. It has now captured your mind, and you are in a full-blown mental marathon. You are experiencing the runaway mind.
I remember, as a young bride, that I had a runaway mind many times. Now, before I go any further, I want to assure you that this runaway mind did not become a train wreck. We have been married 52 years, and it is all by the grace of God that we have grown to be more like Christ and less like the world.
I remember one evening having a disagreement and feeling like he did not care about how I felt. I convinced myself that if he loved me, he would see my side of things and immediately comply with my wishes. Over the course of a few hours, in what seemed to be a never-ending night, I had taken the situation in my head from a few words to a full-blown divorce. My mind spiraled out of control with the “what-ifs” and the “why nots.” When morning came, he acted perfectly normal, happy, whistling a tune of Amazing Grace, as if nothing had happened. To this, my response was, “He doesn’t even care!” Because I did not follow God’s plan for thinking, I was miserable. I had lost sleep, my peace of mind, and allowed Satan to win the battle.
I was brought up in church and had accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 10. As a married couple, we went to church, read our Sunday School lesson, attended Sunday night worship, and Wednesday night bible study. We were checking the boxes and enjoying life, but we were not maturing in our walk with the Lord. If this is how you live your Christian life, you will often have a runaway mind, and if not captured by the word of God and His plan, the train wreck is just around the bend. Thankfully, God has all the answers to take a runaway mind and change it to one that is controlled by the Spirit.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul shares with us the recipe God gives us to transform our minds. This simple, yet powerful verse has helped me to stay focused and productive for the kingdom. When our thoughts are spinning out of control, God calls us to redirect them. We must refuse to allow the lies of Satan to rule our reality.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Now, before you say, “This is too hard, I can’t control my thinking.” Let me remind you that God will never command us to do something that He does not empower us to do. If we fail, it is because we have chosen our own way and refused the help God offers.
When a thought comes to your mind that invades biblical thinking, Paul gives us the litmus test so that we don’t have a runaway mind. His first instruction is to think on these things. He is not asking us to; he is making a statement implying that we have the ability to do it. We are to exercise control over our thoughts. Why is it so important? Because what we think becomes who we are.
Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
We must guard our thoughts if we are to control our actions. We must use the word of God to build a high fence enforced with contraband wire at the top. We are not to go through life allowing our thoughts to be controlled by whatever comes our way. We must choose and choose wisely what we will allow to take up residence in our minds.
The first test in Philippians 4:8 is to determine whether the thought is true. Ultimately, truth begins with God. He is the truth; his instructions for living are the truth. For instance, one of the most vital truths that affects and should direct our lives is that God loves us; we should also love Him. John 14:15 reveals a truth about our relationship with Him. “If we love Him, we will keep His commandments.” Jesus loves us, died for us, rose from the dead for us, went back to Heaven to prepare a place for us, and intercedes for us. Now that is truth! When there is a thought that crosses your mind, ask yourself, “Is this true?”
Next, examine your thoughts in their purity, honesty, and justice; if they are lovely, and of a good report. You determine this by seeing if your thoughts line up with God’s word. Each of these tests, when followed, will lead you to be more like Jesus.
Finally, Paul says our thoughts are to be praiseworthy! If your thoughts align with scripture, they will be praiseworthy. This will force out the negative soul-draining thoughts that invade your minds and pull your focus away from God. We are to be vigilant and protect our minds. When a wrong thought comes to mind, replace it with God’s word by meditating on His truths. Satan will do all he can to throw you off game. I Peter 5:8 teaches us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” You can take your runaway mind captive, and with the help of God, you can have a productive, holy, thought life because “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” I John 4:4b
