Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7 KVJ)

I was walking on the gravel road near our home this morning with our dog, Rhema, and I was praying Ephesians 1 and 3 as I do daily. First I pray it over myself; like an oxygen mask, I put it on before I pray for others, for what good would it do if I pray for their souls and not tend to my own? Today as I prayed, one particular word stood out among the rest: think.

I sensed the Holy Spirit challenging me to carefully sift my thoughts moment by moment, because they are powerful in forming who I am and determining the outcome of my prayers. If I pray one thing and think another, my prayers will most certainly run amiss.

I am asking God to move some impossible mountains in my life, and he turns it back to me and says, “You move them, Jill. You know my word in Mark 11:22-25. You move them!”

God is the best of parents: He won’t do anything for me that I can’t do for myself.

What are you asking God for? What are you thinking? If we ask God one thing and think about different outcomes – the ones we don’t want to come to pass – we are double-minded and, according to James, disqualified from getting anything we ask for (see James 1).

Father,

Once again I come to you asking for grace to manage my thought life. You seem to be saying that I’ll receive not only what I ask, but also what I think about! This puts the fear of God in me, for how often have I left off praying and started worrying…? Oh Father, forgive me. Renew my mind with your Word. Transform my soul so that I become all that you have designed me to be! Thank you for your promise that I have the mind of Christ, an anointed mind, a positive mind, a faith-filled mind, a pure mind, a joyful mind, a grateful mind, and a God-centered mind.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. (Colossians 3:2)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)