If You Want to Change, Start with Your Thinking - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - February 22, 2025
If You Want to Change, Start with Your Thinking By Rick Warren
“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)
Change requires new thinking. In order to change, you must learn the truth and start making good choices, but you must also change the way you think.
The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. So if you want to change the way you act and feel, you must start with the way you think.
For instance, you can say, “I need to love my spouse more.” But just saying that isn’t going to change anything. You can’t change your feelings just by willpower. You first must change the way you think about your spouse. This will eventually change the way you feel, which will then change the way you act. The Bible says, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Ephesians 4:23 NLT).
The battle for sin—and the battle to deal with those defects in your life that you don’t like—starts in your mind. If you want to change your behavior or emotions, start with your thoughts and attitude.
The renewal of your mind is related to the word “repentance.” I know repentance is a dirty word for a lot of people. They think it means something bad, something they don’t really want to do, something painful. They think of a guy standing on a street corner with a sign that says, “Repent! The world’s about to end!”
But “repent” simply means to make a mental U-turn. Repentance is about more than changing your behavior. It’s about changing your mind and learning to think differently.
You turn from guilt to forgiveness, from frustration to freedom, from darkness to light, from hatred and bitterness to love.
You may also need to change the way you think about God. He’s not mad at you; he’s mad about you! You’re deeply flawed, but you’re deeply loved.
So when you want to change, start with your mind. You can change the way you think about all kinds of things—your relationships, the economy, the world, and your past, present, and future. Changing the way you think will eventually change your emotions and your behavior.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Discover God’s Pathway to Healing and Wholeness!
Everyone faces challenges in life—but you don’t have to stay stuck in them!
The Life’s Healing Choices Bible study from Pastor Rick offers a powerful, biblically grounded pathway to freedom and transformation.
Rooted in the Beatitudes of Jesus, this 8-session video* and workbook study will guide you to . . .
• Break free from pain and unhealthy habits. • Find true happiness and experience spiritual growth. • Build a life of wholeness and healing in Christ.
The Life’s Healing Choices Bible study is our thanks for your gift below to help take the hope of Jesus to more people through Daily Hope—so request your copy today!
We’re grateful for your partnership!
*Video is available in DVD or streaming formats. The workbook will be mailed to you.
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
