Proverbs 23: 7 declares, “that as a man or woman thinks, that is who we really are.” Our thought life, the way that we think, is an inseparable aspect of our human existence. Neuroscientists and neuropsychologists tell us that we have anywhere from 60 to 80,000 thoughts a day and half of those thoughts are negative.

And as we stated in last week's podcast, you don't have to be a negative person to have negative thoughts. Negative experiences with people, negative experiences on the job, even negative experiences with family members will produce negative thoughts.

Our lives move in the direction of our thoughts, like a current in a river, moving us either closer or farther away from becoming the best version of you that God has desired you to be. If you want to change your life, you and I must begin by changing our thoughts.

Our primary focus for today’s podcast is a portion of what Paul taught Timothy as his son in the faith and as a young pastor of the church at Ephesus.

In 2nd Timothy 1:5 in the NLT, Paul says of Timothy, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

However, and whatever  Timothy thought about himself, Paul now reminds him in 1 Timothy 6:11,  "you are a man of God." And the man or woman of God is to pursue 6 things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11)

You and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens us in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (meekness). Thinking from this perspective influences our living that makes a difference in the lives of others for the glory of God.