Bible: You are what you think - Proverbs 23: 7

Today's Bible verse:
Proverbs 23: 7
Because, as he thinks in his heart, he is too. (NKJV)

The inspiring thought of today: you are what you think
If you struggle in your thought life, then you probably already know that immoral thinking is leading you to sin. I have good news! There is a remedy. What do you have in mind? is a small simple book by Merlin Carothers that discusses in detail the real battle of life-thought. I recommend it to anyone who tries to overcome a persistent and habitual sin.

Carothers writes: “Inevitably, we must face the reality that God has given us the responsibility to purify the thoughts of our hearts. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God are available to help us, but each person has to decide for himself what he will think and what he will imagine. Being created in the image of God requires that we are responsible for our thoughts. "

The connection of mind and heart
The Bible makes clear that our way of thinking and our hearts are inextricably linked. What we think affects our heart. How we think affects our heart. Similarly, the condition of our heart influences our thinking.

Many biblical passages support this idea. Before the flood, God described the condition of people's hearts in Genesis 6: 5: "The Lord saw that man's wickedness was great on earth and that every intention of his heart's thoughts was only evil continuously." (NIV)

Jesus confirmed the connection between our hearts and our minds, which in turn influences our actions. In Matthew 15:19, he said, "For evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander arise from the heart." Murder was a thought before it became an act. The theft started as an idea before it evolved into an action. Humans recite the condition of their hearts through actions. We become what we think.

So, to take responsibility for our thoughts, we need to renew our minds and clean up our thinking:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, anything is pure, anything is adorable, anything is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is something worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4: 8, ESV)
Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, which by trying you can discern what the will of God is, what is good, acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12: 2, ESV)

The Bible teaches us to adopt a new mentality:

If then you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are at the top, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Put your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3: 1-2, ESV)
For those who live by the flesh put their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live by the Spirit put their minds on the things of the Spirit. Because setting the mind on the flesh is death, but setting the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind which is fixed on the flesh is hostile to God, since it does not submit to the law of God; indeed, it cannot. Those in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8: 5-8, ESV)