How can I improve my thoughts so they are pleasing to God?

Psalm 1:1-2Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Memorizing Scripture is an excellent way to impress God’s truth on our hearts and minds.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

Joshua 1:8“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

1 Timothy 4:13-15Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.

Studying and thinking about God’s Word continually invites his thoughts to fill our minds. As our minds become more and more in harmony with his, our hearts will too.

Mark 7:20-23He [Jesus] added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Romans 13:14Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Bad thoughts are going to pop into our minds—don’t be shocked! They arise from our sinful nature. It’s when we encourage them to stay that we get in trouble. Instead of dwelling on bad thoughts, we must redirect our minds to good and righteous things. Sometimes choosing God honoring physical activities is the best path away from sinful thoughts.

Psalm 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 26:2Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.

Psalm 139:23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Matthew 6:13“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”

We can ask God to show us our wrong thoughts and give us the strength to reject them. Our own strength and determination isn’t strong enough to free us from sin, but when we turn to God for help, his Holy Spirit empowers us to think and live righteously.

Psalm 51:10-12Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Romans 8:5-6Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

1 Corinthians 2:16For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

If we wish to become like Christ, we must invite God to radically change the way we think. A disciplined mind will not come by just obeying rules or growing our willpower. It requires God’s supernatural help; this will bring a change to our hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 101:4I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.

Proverbs 2:1-2My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:5We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Philippians 4:8Fix 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.

We should make a conscious effort to practice thinking good thoughts, just like we might practice other skills. These thoughts might be about the good things in our lives that we are thankful for, the good in others that we appreciate, the good that we might do for others, and the goodness of God in providing our earthly blessings and in promising us eternal life.