Published March 3, 2024

by Andy Berges

 

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James Allen compared our thoughts to seeds and our minds to “Brain Gardens” when he stated, “A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein and will continue to produce their kind.”

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An assortment of seeds are scattered throughout our “Brain Gardens” every day and the particular ones we choose to sow will determine the quality of our harvests.

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While the Galatians 6:7 Bible verse, “A man reaps what he sows”, refers to one’s actions, the same principle applies to one’s thoughts.

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The key to producing fruitful harvests is to nourish our minds with positive thoughts while eradicating the negative ones that filter within.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, the health benefits of positive thinking may include the following:

• Lower rates of depression

• Better psychological and physical well-being

• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

• Lower risk of developing dementia

• Greater resistance to illnesses

 

Conversely, psychologists link negative thinking to:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Chronic worry and obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Increased risk of developing dementia

• Damages the immune system 

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In summary, a positive mindset generates more happiness, better health, and success in one’s life while a negative frame of mind will lead to depression, illness, and decrease one’s chances to achieve success.

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Although most people focus on thinking positively as much as possible, everyone will inevitably struggle with negative thoughts - in addition to the malevolent ones that the Devil deviously sneaks into our minds.

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An ideal way to combat the Devil’s destructive thoughts is to make it a habit of reading the Bible daily. However, the Devil opposes God’s word and his top priority is to lure us onto his broad road leading to destruction.

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As 1 Peter 5:8 warns us, “Be vigilant always for your adversary the devil, is on the prowl like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

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The Devil will continually attempt to deceive us into sowing his destructive seeds into our gardens and every time he does we must take those poisonous thoughts captive and cast them out while keeping Philippians 4:8 in mind...

“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.”