How many thoughts did you have today?

We are always thinking about something from the moment we wake up until we close our eyes to sleep, and well sometimes long after that.

According to the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the University of Southern California, the average person has about 48.6 thoughts per minute. And that will be 70,000 thoughts daily. Unbelievable but that was the result of the study, with facts and figures.

The brain, human brain weighs about three pounds and continues to develop approximately until the age of eighteen. The human brain contains a hundred billion brain cells. The longest living cells in the body.

I would like to go back to the “thoughts” which we are having daily. These thoughts are powered by the neurotransmitters. And these neurotransmitters are powered by red blood cells. These red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen in the brain and to other parts of the body. When our brain is oxygenated properly our thought patterns are more clear.

There are pathways in the brain made by connections between nerve cells. They are similar to waterways or channels. To put it in a simplistic way, when water runs down a particular road or channel it deepens that road. Grooves are formed. Brain patterns are developed as the result of electrical impulses. The more we think of certain thoughts the deeper that groove will be. As an example, picture these neurotransmitters creating electrical impulses in the brain. The more we think of negative thoughts the deeper that groove will be. The more we think positive thoughts the more the positive pathways the brain cells can create.

“What you think, you become.” – is real. The essential truth. The thing we think about long enough is what we become. Our thoughts will literally and definitely will be in a groove. Once our thoughts are sealed in that groove our actions and attitudes follow. ” For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

It is very important to guard our thoughts.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8. The writer of this book, Paul in the midst of trial and difficulty remained in a positive mental state. Even if he was in prison, he was writing and talking about rejoicing. Why? Because he believed. He believed that God is bigger than his trials and greater than his difficulties.

His positive mindset is reverberating in this book of Philippians.

How do you rejoice when you’re faced with challenges? Maybe you’re not in prison literally. But you’re in some kind of prison in your relationships, in your job, in your everyday life. When you’re facing a crises how can you resist thinking of negative thoughts, of depressing thoughts? How can you rejoice in times of difficulty? How can you keep your sanity?

In Philippians 2:5 , Paul wrote ” Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Notice the word “let”. The synonyms are “permit” and “allow”. To put it simply, if we surrender our minds to Jesus and allow Him to guide or shape our thoughts He will transform our way of thinking. Remember if we think of something long enough it will affect our attitude. It will impact our actions.

Our attention shapes our thoughts. What we focus on expands and becomes our reality. Our thoughts are not created out of thin air. There are internal and external factors or stimuli. But the bottom line is, those factors (what is going on around us and what is going on inside our minds), are not as great as what’s going on above us. It is not what is within us or what is around us. But our focus should be on what is above us and beyond. This will keep our sanity in this insane world.

” Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but are the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.

Keep it all together by perceiving everything in the light of eternity. Jesus is coming soon. Believe.