In his book Blueprint for Life, Mike Kendrick writes, “All of us have struggled at times with negative thoughts, either from learned patterns in our relationships or from distorted perspectives we’ve picked up along the way.”
You’ve probably noticed that you can’t change your behavior without changing your thoughts. Scripture urges us to change our thinking to renew our minds.
I read a list on LifeHack on things mentally strong people avoid. It reminded me of renewing ones mind to be all you can be for God. I want to share five of my favorites from her list along with some of my own ideas.
1. Avoid Spending Energy On Things You Can’t Control
Mentally strong people don’t complain about bad situations beyond their control. They recognize the one thing they can always control is their own attitude.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”
2. Avoid Dwelling On The Past
There is strength in acknowledging the past, especially in things learned from the past. But a mentally strong person avoids letting past mistakes define them. They invest the majority of their energy in the present and the future.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, ”Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
3. Avoid Giving Up After Failure
Every failure is a chance for improvement. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
4. Avoid Resenting The Success of Others
It takes strength of character to genuinely feel joy and excitement for other peoples success. 1 Corinthians 13 says, “Love rejoices with others. Love doesn’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed.”
5. Avoid Worrying About Pleasing Others
Know any people pleasers? People who go out of their way to please others? Who want approval?
People who are mentally strong are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset with them, even if they speak up.
Join me in becoming mentally strong by aligning your thought life with God’s truth so you can be who you were created to be in Christ.
Hal White serves as Chief Operating Officer for iDisciple. His varied background includes Student Minister for Fellowship Bible Church (Roswell, Ga), FL/GA/ALA Area Director for Campus Crusade for Christ, and Vice-President for North America with Crown Financial Ministries. Hal and his wife Carla, reside in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Reposted with permission. Article originally appeared here.
