If you would like to extend this over a week, you can easily do one of the points each day of your devotion.  Here is a printable version.

Proverbs 4:23 - Be careful what you think about because your thoughts run your life!  (NCV)

In "Life is Shaped by Your Thinking -- What are You Thinking," the following truths teach us “why we need to think about what we think about”: (1) My thoughts control my life, (2) Any change I want in my life must start in my mind, (3) I can change how I feel by changing how I think, (4) An unseen war is going on in & for my mind, (5) To win the battle in & for my mind, I must have God’s Spirit & God’s word inside me, (6) My goal is to learn to think like Jesus.

Let’s Talk It Over!

Open your group with a prayer. This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.

Read Proverbs 4:23 at the top of the page aloud together in your group and discuss what this verse tells us about the importance of our thoughts and what they control. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Romans 12:2 - Do not conform outwardly to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God -- what is good, and is pleasing to him, and is perfect. (TEV)
 
Read Romans 12:2 above. What does this verse say about how we come to know the will of God? What does it say about the effects of God’s word on your mind? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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1 Peter 4:1 Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through, and more, learn to think like him. (Mes)
 
Read 1 Peter 4:1 and discuss why Jesus is able to understand what we are going through, and why he is the best model for our thoughts.
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Discuss what you do each day to learn to think like Jesus. Talk about this process with your group.
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Acts 3:19 - Repent - change your mind and return back to God - so that all your sins may be erased - blotted out and wiped clean – and so that times of refreshing . . . and recovering . . . and reviving . . . may come from the presence of the Lord! (Amp)
 
Rethinking our lives to match how Jesus thinks is called repenting, which comes from the Greek word Metanoia meaning “to change your mind.” Read Acts 3:19 above out loud in your group and talk about what the verse says are some of the results of repentance. Discuss where you plan to “change your mind” (or repent) to line up with how Jesus thinks.
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2 Corinthians 10:3-5 - While we live in the world, we don’t fight the same way the world does. We fight with God’s weapons, not worldly ones. Our weapons have God’s power to demolish the enemy's strong places. We can knock down all the worldly arguments and prideful defenses that set themselves up (in our minds) against the knowledge of God. In this war, we capture every rebel thought and we make it give up, and obey Christ!
 
Romans 8:6 (NLT) says, “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.”
 
5. What two weapon do you need in your life to WIN the battle in and for mind? __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Discuss how Romans 8:6 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 above teach us how to win the battle in and for our minds by having God’s Spirit and God’s word inside us. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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How will you increase the influence of the Spirit and word in you? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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