Becoming an expert in your thought life, in your mind and heart, can change your life, for better or worse…
The word ‘expert’ has become a common word in today’s world, that at times, it may be challenging to determine what or who an expert is. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an expert as ‘one with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject.’ Therefore, one can infer that becoming an expert requires special training for a particular purpose or in a specific area. Suppose a person without special training was told that they could become an expert? One might suppose the informant was misguided. However, I suggest that anyone reading this today can become an expert, regardless of their formal educational status.
According to the Apostle Paul, a highly educated teacher, people should be especially skilled in their thoughts and be experts in these matters. ‘For who knows or is skilled in a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God’ (1 Corinthians 2:11).
This concept might appear insignificant, but when the above bible verse is juxtaposed with proverbs 4:23, it is not. ‘Keep your heart (thinking, mind) with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.’ One can see that understanding one’s expertise in one’s thinking is anything but trivial.
Mastering or becoming an expert of the heart and thoughts is crucial because one’s heart and thoughts can control what flows into one’s life.
Another highly educated instructor, Dr. Caroline Leaf, has spent her life studying cognitive neuroscience and metacognitive neuropsychology and suggests that science supports the idea that thought affects the physical characteristics of the brain. She mentions that the brain can change for better or worse because of specific thoughts of an individual. She also stipulates from experience that the effects don’t stop there. They affect every area of life. One of her significant findings is that humans can alter their brains due to focused mind input. Therefore, it means that becoming an expert in your thought life, in your mind and heart, can change your life, for better or worse. Furthermore, it implies that one can become an expert on one’s thoughts by becoming especially focused and trained in guarding one’s thoughts and what goes into the heart.
This key is especially pertinent in today’s world, where every mainstream media source is focused on the pandemic. Whether it’s television, social media, friends, or something else, one must not allow them to be the experts of one’s thoughts. While it is good to be aware of happenings worldwide, it is critical to ensure that one intentionally guards the entrance to the heart.
Mainstream media, social media, friends, etc., shouldn’t get to decide what goes into your thoughts. They shouldn’t decide how your brain changes. You can become the expert who decides what affects your brain by what goes into your heart, through your thoughts.
In the bible’s words, guard your heart!
