CEO of your thoughts

If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above… . Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Colossians 3:1, 2)

The chief executive officer of a company is the top executive responsible for a company’s overall operations and performance. His or her job is to keep the organization focused on the goal of that company. A good CEO understands how risky it is for the company to get sidetracked from its core mission.

Did you know that we can be CEOs as well? We can follow our own strategy of staying focused on our core mission—to love the Lord and serve his people. By capturing, examining, and making obedient our thoughts, we can keep ourselves from getting derailed by distractions and lesser concerns that lead us away from the Lord and the life he has given us. 

The first step is to capture our thoughts. Try thinking of nothing for just a few minutes, and you’ll see that you are always thinking! Thoughts constantly roll in and out of our minds—good, bad, and indifferent. But you can get in the habit of noticing the errant thoughts that steer you off course: doubts about God, habits of fearful thinking, appetites, selfish ambition, accusations against other people, and condemnation against ourselves. 

When you catch one of these stray thoughts, your next job is to examine it. Is it true? Does it mesh with what you know about God or his calling for you? Does it make you anxious or bring you peace?

Finally, you can bring this thought into obedience to Christ. If it doesn’t belong in your mind, send it away. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you get free of its influence. Try to focus your mind on what you know to be true, and watch this unhelpful thought wither away and die. 

According to the Scriptures, the kingdom of God is a place where there will be no sorrow or suffering. This is your goal. This is the “above” that St. Paul urges us to focus our attention on. If you practice being the CEO of your thoughts today, you’ll get one step closer to your goal!

“Lord, my eyes are on you. Help me not to get steered off course today. Lift me up to where you are!”

from wau.org