A few years ago, a popular self-help book emphasized that our thoughts can help us achieve our goals, and lead to happiness and success. The mind is indeed powerful, but some people forget that our Creator is the One Who gave us the ability to think at all. When we use our minds to focus on Jesus Christ and all we can be through Him, earthly limitations are removed.

Most people put way too much faith in their own ability to define who they are and what they can do, using their own reasoning and intellect. They depend on their self-efforts to improve their behavior and be a better person, and they get frustrated and confused when they fail repeatedly. If we really want to see transformation in ourselves, getting born again and accepting Jesus is the key. This act of faith radically changes our identity. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12, NKJV).

We are spiritual beings possessing a soul, (our minds, wills, and emotions), and living in a physical body. When we became God’s children, our spirits were immediately made as perfect as God’s Spirit, however, we can’t grasp who we have become in Christ without changing the way we think about ourselves. Salvation is only the first step in a lifelong transformation process. Studying the Bible helps us learn new attitudes and beliefs, and gradually brings them in line with our new spirit. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

The world tells us we can think ourselves to success, or to failure. The will of God for us is not failure, but abundant success in all that we do, as long as we trust in Him. He thinks about us constantly, and His thoughts are always positive. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV). We succeed when we agree with what He thinks about us.

Even the sharpest of minds are no match for the mind of God. When we depend on Him instead of our own limited mental capacity, we have supernatural insights to correct the flaws we didn’t even know we had. “For ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16, NKJV). Relying on His mind gives us far better results than relying on our own. When we let Him change our mindset, we can experience real life transformation.

Apart from God, positive thinking cannot change us. The real power to achieve comes from Him.  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). This isn’t boasting, it’s simply stating the truth. When we realize this, we’ll begin to see amazing results!