The Thought Closet Challenge

Have you ever had someone ask you, “What’s on your mind?”  It’s a challenging question because at any given moment, there are tons of things on our minds.  We are constantly thinking about what we will eat, drink, wear, who we will talk to, how we look and so on. There are things we want people to know and there are things that we don’t want people to know.  Hence, the Thought Closet Challenge.  Share about what you are really thinking for 24 hours and see what happens as a result.

This doesn’t mean go find the people you are most annoyed by and tell them what you think about them in the name of the Challenge.  This means be genuine, honest, and considerate as you tell people what you are really thinking for 24 hours.  Try it, you just might like it.

If you haven’t seen the Movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, you should.  It’s a great example of what goes on in our thought lives and what the people around us are thinking and doing around us as a result.  The premise of the movie is that Walter Mitty’s secret life is him daydreaming about a cooler, better self and what he really thinks and feels about the people around him.  It’s just a movie, but it’s very real for each one of us.  The challenge is to get that life out into the open. Why is this important? Because of the quote below:

“Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become your character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

Anonymous

Essentially it says that our thoughts rule our lives and determine our destiny and it’s so true! Have you ever noticed how we change when we get hungry and turn into crazy people? It all starts with a thought of being hungry and should eat but haven’t, and as a result get more and more angry by the second. It’s the same concept spiritually.

Be careful what you think [Above all that you guard, protect your heart], because your thoughts run your life [life flows from it].

Proverbs 4:23 (EXB)

What we think, runs our life.  If we are filled with hateful thoughts, we will be hateful people. Same with greed, envy, impurity, and selfishness.  While we would all love to be filled with good thoughts, we have to admit that we have sinful thoughts as well.  Once we admit them, we move forward to better thoughts and better results.

I have thought about my life, and I have directed my feet back to your written instructions.

Psalm 119:59

Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

Philippians 4:6-8

The power of reflection can be powerful.  It can lead to amazing change.  Reflect. Pray. Change.