You Are Not Your Thoughts...But They Reveal Who You Could Become

Over the holidays, I saw a book titled You Are NOT Your Thoughts. I agree completely. But I also believe your thoughts indicate what you could become.

Thirty years ago, long before "neuroplasticity" became a buzzword, I wrote in my journal about how thinking works. I compared it to the paths through the fields behind my childhood home.

The first time I walked through those fields: briars, tall grass, resistance.

But walk the same route repeatedly? A clear path emerged. Easy to follow. So easy I'd take it automatically, even when it led somewhere I no longer wanted to go.

Cutting a new path as my destination changed? That was the hard part.

I discovered this phenomenologically, by watching my own brain work. Three decades later, neuroscience confirmed it: neurons that fire together, wire together. In other words, as you repeatedly entertain thoughts, your brain wires itself to automatically think that way. Your brain hardwires itself to think the way you have allowed your mind to pursue. But you can change the wiring by intentionally changing your thoughts.

The Battle for Your Mind

Not every thought originates with you. Many thoughts enter our heads from elsewhere, including from Satan. Dallas Willard argued that planting thoughts is Satan's primary tool. He used it on Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness. Satan operates in the spiritual dimension, so naturally his tactics do too.

Every thought isn't coming from your soul or your heart's desires. But if you don't take them captive for Christ, you could head down that path.

That's why Paul's battle strategy in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 is so crucial:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

The Problem Without Christ

This is a challenge for people who have no power or presence of Christ. What do they have to take those thoughts captive? Their own willpower? Yes, that works for a while. But as we see with some of the sociopaths in our news recently, it doesn't work all the time.

People far from Christ can utilize these techniques of dealing with outside influences by having a higher purpose or calling. But it's inconsistent and somewhat arbitrary. Depending on their context or season of life, that goal changes.

In Christ, we have a North Star. A consistent power and presence. A direction I've followed throughout my whole life, not just for a short season. As I've written elsewhere, this surely matures through seasons, but His Word provides the anchor.

When the Battle Gets Real

During one sexual temptation, I asked myself in a lucid moment: Do I really want to waste 48 years of my life, my family, my calling, my purpose, for this one fleeting moment of pleasure?

As the gravity of that question sank into my soul, the temptation faded quickly into oblivion. No visceral drive or urge remained to entertain such fantasies.

I am anchored in Christ, in my identity and calling as a husband, father, mentor, and kingdom creative assessment architect of leaders.

The Arena

So we are not our thoughts, but our minds are the arenas where the battle is often fought. In that arena, I must choose to fight as Paul tells us: by taking thoughts one by one that are contrary to Christ's life, teaching, and presence, and replacing them with His Word, which I have memorized.

Psalm 119:9-11 says it succinctly:

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Still Fighting

You are not your thoughts. But your thoughts are the arena where the battle is fought for what you can become.

I'm still in the arena. The battle is easier the older you get, because you know how to fight better.