Pastor Fari Maghami
What Were You Thinking? The Power of The Mind
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9
Typically, when we are asked, “What were you thinking?” it’s often because we have done something unwise, nonsensical, immoral, or dangerous. Frequently, our response might be, “I don’t know what I was thinking” or “I wasn’t thinking,” even though our words and actions likely stemmed from our subconscious thinking. This is why we often say “think twice before you speak or act.” We need that reminder to consider our thoughts, intentions and actions carefully.
Conscious vs. Subconscious: The Inner Workings of Our Minds
The brain is an incredibly complex organ designed by God to help us process information, emotions, creativity, social interactions, learning, adaptation, and decision-making. A significant percentage of our thoughts, words, and actions are habitual and automatic; they do not arise from deliberate thinking but rather from our subconscious mind. This includes habitual behaviors and speech patterns that occur with little conscious effort or awareness, such as brushing our teeth, driving a familiar route, or reacting to common situations.
For instance, have you ever found yourself driving home from work along a route you’ve taken a thousand times, only to realize you’re not actively thinking about driving, yet you’re still behind the wheel? This has happened to me a few times, and I found it strange and slightly unnerving. This phenomenon is often referred to as ‘autopilot’ or mindless driving. Again, we experience similar automatic behaviors with many other familiar tasks, conversations, and daily routines.
This can vary depending on circumstances, such as when we are learning something new, making important decisions, or engaging in activities that require focused attention. I mention this to remind us that many of our words and actions stem from our habits and subconscious mind. Our subconscious is shaped by various life experiences, inputs, and environmental factors, including practices we repeat and reinforce into our habits, leading to either healthy or unhealthy patterns.
The deepest layer of our mind is known as the unconscious mind, which contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are not readily accessible to the conscious mind. Strong emotional experiences, particularly in childhood, play a key role in leaving imprints on our unconscious that affect our thinking and behavior as adults. For some, seeking therapy or participating in a healing discipleship course, such as the Freedom Session Course, can be very helpful in unpacking old negative and traumatic emotional experiences that have shaped or wounded them.
For example, some people struggle with their identity and destructive habits as adults due to underlying beliefs stemming from their unconscious mind. These beliefs may arise from statements made during their childhood, such as a parent saying, “You’re always a disappointment” or “You’re so stupid.” Such statements can become embedded in the unconscious mind, significantly influencing how individuals view themselves and their capabilities, unless they are consciously addressed and brought to God.
Additionally, our daily media consumption shapes our beliefs and attitudes toward life, people, and God. This underscores the importance of limiting and carefully filtering the daily content we feed our minds and hearts.
If our conscious thoughts align with God’s ways through faith in Christ and submission to His teachings—promoting justice, righteousness, mercy, grace, forgiveness, unity, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control—then these beliefs will also begin to affect our deeper layers, the subconscious and unconscious minds. This alignment will reach and shape our core being, guiding us in a way that is reflected in our words and actions, allowing us to supernaturally express what we hold to be true and important.
Reflect on Your Thoughts: A Choice Between Two Paths
As children of God, saved by grace through faith in Christ, we have received a new heart, a new identity, and the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We are called to think like Him, reflecting His character and wisdom. The thoughts we should reflect on must be true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—excellent and praiseworthy. Every day, we face a choice between two paths: the path of the Spirit or the path of the flesh (Galatians 5:17). The path of the flesh naturally leads to thoughts that are disheartened, false, dishonorable, wrong, impure, unlovely, belittling, and inferior. Ultimately, this way of thinking will result in words and actions that correspond to those negative or evil thoughts.
As Christians, we are called to think and meditate on God’s Word so that our thoughts align with His revealed will and way of thinking. The Bible and the Holy Spirit serve as our mental and spiritual guides and safeguards, helping us take every thought captive and expel damaging, sinful, and God-demeaning thoughts and behaviors (2 Corinthians 10:5). However, this is something we must pursue intentionally and actively. The Spirit enables us, but we must willingly obey God in the process of renewing our minds.
What Did You Say? Reflecting on Our Speech
Our thinking is often revealed through our speech, especially when we are not hiding our true selves. As Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Likewise, Luke 6:45 reminds us, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” This highlights the connection between the mind, heart, and tongue. The heart is also known as the “inner man” or the core of our being. It is impossible to disconnect the heart and mind from one another. We are a three-part being: body, soul (which encompasses the mind, will, and emotions), and spirit. Without and outside of Christ our heart is hard like stone and sick.
Jesus teaches about the heart in Mark 7:20-23:
He went on: What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.
What does your speech reveal about the condition of your heart and the state of your mind? Does it reflect the new, healthy heart that Christ places within every believer? God promises to give His followers a new heart and put a new spirit within us, removing the heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Does your heart and mind acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus and recognize Him as the King seated on the throne of your life?
Anyone who believes in and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior is saved. In the New Testament the Greek word “sozo” means “to save”, but its meaning is broader than spiritual salvation. It encompasses wholeness, healing, preservation, and deliverance. Christ brings restoration to every part of our being: body, mind, soul, and spirit. While full restoration does not occur until we are in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5; Philippians 3:20-21), we can begin to experience His restorative resurrection power now. Praise God for His perfect plan of salvation, offering the free gift of redemption to sinners in dire need.
Seven Spiritual Disciplines for the Mind
An important aspect to consider regarding our thinking is our daily practices, rituals, and habits. Once we repent and believe in Jesus, we are instantaneously forgiven and justified, marking the beginning of our progressive journey of sanctification and renewal. Throughout this journey, you must learn and practice ancient biblical spiritual disciplines that can ideally become your habits—key parts of your rhythm of life. These practices will help you become more like Christ by changing the way you think (Romans 12:2), forming new neural pathways in your mind, a process known as neuroplasticity.
What habits have you developed, and how are they shaping your life? As mentioned, most of our thoughts are subconscious and influenced by our daily routines. We not only create habits; our habits also begin to shape us in significant ways. What do you treasure, love, and store deep within your mind and heart that often flows out through your speech and actions? What habits do you need to eliminate, and what new, healthy biblical habits can you incorporate?
Here’s a look at seven common practices that you can start building into your life:
- Prayer: Set aside daily time to communicate and commune with God for a deeper relationship and alignment with His heart (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
- Holy Scripture: Meditate on and study the Bible using an online reading plan or by reading one chapter from both the Old and New Testaments each day to renew your mind.
- Gratitude and Prayer Journal: Write down what you’re thankful for and your prayers, keeping track of answered ones. This practice shifts your focus to God’s blessings and faithfulness.
- Worship and Praise: Begin or end your day with worship through music, psalms, or hymns (Ephesians 5:18-19), centering your heart on God’s truth and character.
- Connect with the Church Community: Actively participate in weekend church services, small groups, and service opportunities to encourage spiritual growth and transformation.
- Confession: Regularly confess your sins to God (Matthew 5:28) to maintain a close relationship with Him and cultivate humility. Consider confessing to trusted believers for accountability and healing (James 5:16).
- Fasting & Prayer: Temporarily abstain from food and engage in prayer to communicate with God, clear mental clutter, and affirm your desire for Him over physical cravings (Matthew 4:4; John 6:35; John 4:14).
Here is my prayer for you according to the Word: that God would grant you the strength and ability to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” so that you “may be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” May the Holy Spirit empower you to “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:5)