You’re the CEO

Hello and Happy June! 

I hope all is well with you and those you love. A lot has transpired in the past month and unfortunately, it has not been good. Our country has been met with two senseless and evil attacks on innocent people who were simply living their daily lives. The communities of Brooklyn, NY and Uvalde, TX will never be the same. My heart breaks for these families who are faced with unimaginable grief. A day they could never prepare for nor did they think would ever come. May God grant them peace that only He can provide. And may we pray for them but also do our part to be the change we hope to see. Thoughts and prayers are not enough anymore, we must take action. 

May is mental health awareness month and although May is over, I feel compelled to continue the conversation about the health of our minds. And in light of all that’s going on in our world, the importance of taking care of our mental health should be emphasized. Every. Single. Day.  

While I believe that the recent massacres were demonically driven, it still originated from a negative thought life influenced by the kingdom of darkness. We become our thoughts. Our mind is a sponge and whatever we absorb is what will be poured out of our lives, whether good or evil. We have been given complete control over our thought life. We are in charge. Our body simply complies with whatever our mind tells it to do. 

One of the most powerful tools that God equipped us with is our mind. The mind is complex, it’s dynamic, it’s multifaceted and innovative. It can recall, remember and store so much information all at once. The mere fact that we can shift our thoughts at any given moment is amazing to me. Our minds can be used for good or evil, to build up or tear down, to create or destroy, to spread love or hate and to serve God or satan.  

The hardest and biggest battle we will ever face is between our ears. That’s where defeat happens or victory is won before it ever manifests in our lives. Whatever we believe about ourselves and the things we think about the most…is who we become. Our lives reveal the state of our mind. Period.

We are inundated and bombarded with different sources (society, our culture, family, friends and the media) telling us how to think, what to think about, how to view ourselves or how to deal with the pressures of life. 

So, what if I told you that we’re all CEO’s and Adam and Eve were the first ones given that position. God placed them in the garden of Eden to manage it, enjoy it but also use it to advance His kingdom. He gave very clear instructions on what to do and what not to do. But it was ONE wrong thought from Eve that was not properly managed which subsequently led to a life God never intended for them or us. Our thoughts and what we do with them matter! 

Today, many people want to be in charge, in control, call the shots and make important decisions. Well, we’ve all been given the huge responsibility of being in charge of the space between our ears…our mind. So essentially, we’re all CEO’s and how well we manage our mind determines the quality of our life. 

 

Definition of a CEO taken from www.techtarget.com

The chief executive officer (CEO) is the top position in an organization and is responsible for implementing existing plans and policies, ensuring the successful management of the business and setting future strategy.

The CEO is ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the organization. 

So just as the CEO is responsible for the success or failure of an organization, we are responsible for the health of our mind. And a lack thereof will prove to be detrimental to our reason for existence and experiencing God’s best. Everything we say, do, how we respond, treat God, ourselves and others all originates in our mind. An unhealthy mind affects every interaction we will ever have. 

 

Our Thoughts

Some thoughts are ours; some are subconscious, some are God speaking to us and some are from the enemy. The devil loves to hijack our thoughts because if he can get our attention long enough, we start to believe and become the lies he feeds us. 

One thought can take us down a path that was never meant for us to travel, we look up years later and wonder how we got there. It’s because of what we thought, what we believed and the choices we made. Every thought doesn’t deserve to take up residence in our mind. We are the landlord and eviction is our job.

 

Where is your mind set? 

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NLT)

I must know at ALL times where my mind is. Just like you can’t leave an infant unattended, the same goes for your mind. 

Take a typical day and pay close attention to the majority of your thoughts. 

Do you just let your mind run wild? 

Is your mind all over the place?

Do you sit and daydream or replay past scenarios over and over again? 

Do you rehearse what was said or done to you?

Do you feel victorious today but defeated tomorrow?

Are your thoughts steering you towards your goals or away from them?

Is your mind set or “fixed” on things of this world or of God’s kingdom?

What DAILY practices do you have in place to sort through the thoughts that come at you almost every minute? 

 

Managing our mind is a tall order but God never leaves us hanging. He won’t do the work for us but he does provide strategies in His word for this CEO position we’ve all been given. 

Casting down imaginations and taking our thoughts captive…that’s our job. We can waste years of our lives by entertaining and thinking on the wrong things.  We must harness and reign in the thoughts that contradict God’s word and what He’s instructed us to do.

James 1:8 reminds us that being double-minded causes instability in all that we do. Our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual equilibrium is off when our mind is unstable.

 

How do I manage my mind?

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

Our greatest battle will always be between our ears! So, it’s wise to equip ourselves with the necessary weaponry to win. 

First of all, we have to know Christ. Our relationship with Him has to be real, authentic and not pretentious. That’s the starting point. 

Secondly, we have to think about what we’re thinking about. Our thoughts have to be analyzed against the word of God. Just because we have a thought doesn’t mean we act on it nor does it mean it’s true. Reacting to our thoughts typically means that we’re not taking time to examine them. Rather in haste we do the first thing that comes to mind or what will gratify our flesh in the moment. 

When thoughts come to mind, pause and ask yourself, where did this thought come from? Is it helpful or harmful? Is it true? Is it a lie? Can it be backed by proof of God’s word? Will it propel me forward or keep me stuck? Does it make me feel better or worse about myself? 

We have to refuse to ruminate on thoughts of the past, situations we can’t change, people we can’t change, mistakes that we’ve already made or failures that we can’t undo.  The enemy of our mind loves to lie to us so that we react in the moment instead of taking time to decipher the source of our thoughts. 

For the record, God is not against you. You are not your worst mistake. God will forgive you. You can recover. Your past doesn’t define your future. And God’s voice will never speak shame, guilt or condemnation to you. 

At any moment, we can interrupt our thoughts and choose to think something totally different. But how many of us actually do it? It’s as if we enjoy where our self-defeating, self-loathing thoughts might lead us until we realize it’s a place called depression and despair.  

I’m in complete and total control of what I think about. There are a lot of things from my past that I wish never happened…but to keep reliving them is time wasted. I must extract the lessons, apply them and move on. Life is in front of me. 

If I don’t like the results I’m getting, then I have to change my thoughts before I can change my decisions and behavior. 

And thirdly, we must renew our mind! Our mind has to be nurtured and cared for. Just like we shower and put on clothes daily, our minds must be washed in God’s word and renewed every single day. 

Mind renewal happens when we submit our mind to Christ. We must place a filter on our mind which is the word of God. That’s the only way we can distinguish between what we should meditate on and what should be denied entry at the door. 

God took the guesswork out of how our thought life should be in Philippians 4:8. This scripture should be the measuring stick for evaluating our thoughts. Is the thought true, is it honorable, is it pure, is it lovely, something to admire or praiseworthy? God will never tell us anything that goes against His character or His word.

We also can’t over spiritualize caring for our mind. We can’t just pray, quote scriptures and expect to never think negative thoughts again. Apprehending and casting down thoughts that are elevated above God denotes taking action. We must be deliberate and aggressive as the CEO of our mind. 

There are both spiritual and practical ways that we are to care for our mind. Neglecting our mind won’t improve our spiritual, physical or emotional health. It’s all intertwined, spirit, soul and body. 

It’s unfortunate but society and even most churches don’t emphasize or even talk about the importance of our mental wellbeing. However, God did not intend for us to get saved, sing Kumbaya and wait to go to heaven to be made whole. No, He desires that we prosper and be in health even as our SOUL prospers. And if that doesn’t describe our total man, I don’t know what does. 

A prosperous and healthy mind is super important to God. He wants our soul (mind, will and emotions) to flourish.

Speaking of practical ways, I am a huge proponent of Christian therapy. Just like we wouldn’t hesitate to see a medical doctor for symptoms that time and over-the-counter meds won’t resolve. It is wise to use that same approach when it comes to our mental health. Let’s take the shame and stigma out of seeking help for our mental wellbeing. 

We have to live in our body and manage our thoughts 24/7…365. And if our mind is unhealthy, we’re no good to ourselves, God or anyone else. So, let’s be willing to do whatever it takes, let’s make sure we’re good! 

My mental health and wholeness are MY responsibility! Until the day I take my last breath, I will be the CEO of my mind. God deserves the best version of me!

Affirmation (say to yourself daily): 

I am in complete and total control of what I think about. 

I get to choose where my mind is at all times. 

I am responsible for interrupting and replacing any thoughts that contradict God’s word about me. 

My life will always reflect my thoughts.  

If my life is not advancing, then I must examine my thought life. 

My peace is determined by where my mind is. 

I choose to set my mind on things above and renew it daily. 

I am the CEO of my mind. 

 

Please feel free to leave a comment if this blog resonates with you. I would love to hear your thoughts and will be sure to reply too! 

I appreciate you for always hanging out with me…look forward to chatting with you in July! 

Journal and Greeting Card Giveaway: The first 10 people to leave a comment will receive a copy of my Party of ONE journal. You will be contacted via email if you are one of the winners. You must reside in the USA.

 

You are celebrated and appreciated my fellow Party of ONE!

 

God’s best always, 

 

Leslie

Counseling Resources: (I have no affiliation with these resources.)

Better Help: the world’s largest therapy platform and offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and board licensed professional counselors.

Website: www.betterhelp.com

Faithful Counseling: a solution for people seeking traditional mental health therapy who would prefer hearing from the perspective of a Christian.

Website: www.faithfulcounseling.com

 

 

Scriptures to Ponder: 

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 (KJB)

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

“For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”- Romans 7:23 (ESV)

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” – Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

5. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. Romans 8:5-7 (NIV)