I heard a story about a little girl who whined and complained about everything one day. The next day, she was cheerful and sweet to everyone. Her mother said, "What happened to you? Yesterday, you had such a bad attitude. Today, you're so happy about everything?"
The little girl replied, "Yesterday my thoughts were pushing me around. Today I'm pushing my thoughts around."
Just like this little girl, we have a choice. We can either let our thoughts push us around, or we can push our thoughts around. That's why the Bible tells us to take captive every thought and make sure it lines up with the Word of God. If you allow negative thoughts to play over and over in your head, soon they will cause you to say and do things you will regret later. Instead of keeping score in your mind, keep a positive attitude. When it comes to those little irritations, let people off the hook by looking for the best in them. When you do, you influence others to do the same. Do you ever notice that when you have a negative perspective about someone, it doesn't take long before the people around you do, too? That's why we shouldn't focus on the negative; we should focus on what's best in others.
In Philippians 4:8, Paul told us what to think on: things that are good, true, noble, pure, lovely, kind and admirable. These are the things to set your mind on. See, you can't set your mind on autopilot. You have to choose what to think about. Your boss can't choose your thoughts; your mother can't choose your thoughts, only you can choose your thoughts. And, what you think about is what you move toward. Your thoughts will either set you up or set you down. Choose to take captive every thought. Push your thoughts around and move forward into the blessing and victory God has in store for you!
"…We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5,NIV)