Power punch:Mental Training(3)

In Power Punch Training 1 I shortly introduced the eight characteristics of thoughts. Yes, every thought finding its way through our ear- or eye gate, seeking for a place to rest (to stay) is a daily battle.

Why are our thoughts so important?

• God designed us for a specific course(purpose) and our thoughts must be in tune with His word.
• Our thought life can either draw us closer to God or allow us to drift further away from him
• Our thoughts shape our lives and influence our actions

I’ve been prompted by Holy Spirit to look into thoughts, the way I think, and the different ways people think. So, I needed to jump into research about this topic for myself.

Defining thinking

Thinking can be defined as the cognitive activity used to process information, solve problems, make decisions, and create new ideas. We use our thinking skills when we try to make sense of experiences, organize information, make connections, ask questions, make plans,  or make decisions.

In our ignorance, we fell for the trick of strange counsel so many times! Different families of thoughts came to find a place to stay or to have themselves voiced.

This particular topic originated from, what I call my first official prayer journal(Dandelion) in 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic, when I was busy exploring my very first Visual Bible study on Philippians 4.

The very first entry I was prompted to engage within my prayer journal was the transformation of the mind. If God wants to use us for His purpose and in His kingdom, a whole lot of changes need to be made in our minds, our thought patterns which can change to habits, and our hearts. This is what I call alignment!

Our thoughts must be aligned to the word of God

studying, observing, and applying the word of God

What type of thinker are you?

How does our brain works for us OR against us? Do we run according to the rules of our thoughts? Let’s face it: people love to say what they think! Sin begins in the mind before it’s ever manifested in the flesh. We think about it, ponder on it, and then act on it.

“ everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” 

Matt 5:28

What I found interesting is the different thinking styles or we can just call it strongholds:

Unhelpful thinking

• Jumping to conclusions or predictive thinking
• Tunnel vision: Focussing
• Personalization
• Exaggeration
• Black and White Thinking
• Shoulding and Musting
• Generalization
• Labeling
• Emotional Reasoning
• Magnification and Minimisation

Helpful thinking

Sequential thinkers-– organizes knowledge and actions into ordered steps .It refers to the ability to process information in an orderly prescribed manner. It involves a step-by-step progression where a response to a step must be obtained before another step is taken.

Cluster thinking – generally the more common kind of thinking – involves approaching a decision from multiple perspectives (which might also be called “mental models”), observing which decision would be implied by each perspective, and weighing the perspectives to arrive at a final decision. (https://blog.givewell.org)

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It all starts with the seed of a thought

Sow a thought and reap an act; 
Sow an act and reap a habit; 
Sow a habit and reap a character; 
Sow a character and reap a destiny.
(An old Chinese proverb)

“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” 

2 Cor 10:5

This is of course a daily battle and responsibility of us to discern our thoughts carefully before making any move and I am still so guilty of not being mindful about my thought life.

Rampant thoughts crept up

Waiting around the corner

For its turn to skilfully,

And cleverly find its way

Through the gates!

I left open my gates!