The average person has more than 6,000 thoughts in a single day, according to a recent study; and of these thoughts, 80 percent are said to be negative.
Imagine trying to fight off all those negative thoughts on a daily basis – it’s a constant battle that happens in the mind. Of course, some of these thoughts are pretty trivial: ‘Should I eat that extra slice of cake or put it down?’ But others can be toxic and detrimental to your faith.

Now here’s the thing: you are a reflection of your thoughts. The information that you feed yourself every day will make up your substance.

For example, if you spend all day feeding your mind with negative thoughts about yourself, you are bound to start hating yourself. How many times have you watched an emotional movie and cried along with the characters? Or left the theater feeling like the superhero that you had just seen on the big screen?

You are a reflection of your thoughts.

If you are not careful, you will give in to that 80 percent theory and allow your mind to be plagued with negative thoughts – fleshly thoughts that do nothing for your faith.

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; … So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8: 6-8)

When we know what is right but tolerate and entertain fleshly thoughts, we are mocking God.

Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you can eat all the junk that you want and still keep your figure.
Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you won’t become violent if all you do is play violent video games all day.
Don’t kid yourself into thinking that you won’t act out those lustful thoughts you’ve been harboring.
Don’t kid yourself into thinking that God can’t see what is going on in your mind.

Avoid the things of the flesh! Reprimand the negative thoughts as they come instead of entertaining them, and seek the Holy Spirit (which, by the way, knocks out that 80 percent theory) because being spiritually minded bares positive, faith-based thoughts. Thoughts that please God and lead to a happy and fulfilled life.
When your mind is guided by the Holy Spirit, you don’t make foolish mistakes and you are able to navigate your way through life successfully. Your conscience remains clean and you will not have the need to try and ‘hide your face’ from God.

Fill your mind with the things of God and not with the fleshly things of this world, because hell is no party!

May the God of the Bible bless you.

Bishop Joshua Fonseca