The average person has over 50,000 thoughts daily, and 95% are the same ones from the day before. That means that out of those 50,000 thoughts, only 2,500 are new.1

Very much of our life has to do with the way we think. Our entire being is heavily influenced by which thoughts we allow to absorb our deep affections and interests. Notice what the Bible says: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Our being, our words, our actions, our habits, our characters—and finally our life—depend on which thoughts we focus upon.

Do you think about good things? How much of your time do you use to do that? Let’s be open with ourselves! Statistics show that 85 percent of Americans are making a conscious effort to think positively each morning. But have you ever heard of overthinkers? That’s a category into which many of us may fall. What is an overthinking person? How do I know if I am an overthinker? An overthinker is when you repetitively dwell on the same thought or situation over and over to the point that it disrupts your life. Overthinking usually falls into two categories:

1. Ruminating about the past, and

2. Worrying about the future. Much of this leads to serious feelings of worry, nervousness, uneasiness, or anxiety.

In The Ministry of Healing, p. 491, we read that “we need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts.” Good thoughts! They are so refreshing and encouraging! Thoughts of hope, joy, calmness, etc. Please pay attention to the next sentence that follows: “The only security for any soul is in right thinking.” That sounds powerful, doesn’t it?

We all need to work on our thoughts. We all need to rise up above small and negative thoughts! “If we will, we may turn away from all that is cheap and inferior and rise to a high standard; we may be respected by men and beloved of God.”—Ibid.

“Although there may be a tainted, corrupted atmosphere around us, we need not breathe its miasma, but may live in the pure air of heaven. We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. Those whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant communion with Heaven.”—Steps to Christ, p. 99.

“Many thoughts make up the unwritten history of a single day, and these thoughts have much to do with the formation of character. Our thoughts are to be strictly guarded, for one impure thought makes a deep impression on the soul. An evil thought leaves an evil impress on the mind. If the thoughts are pure and holy, the man is better for having cherished them. By them the spiritual pulse is quickened and the power for doing good is increased. And as one drop of rain prepares the way for another in moistening the earth, so one good thought prepares the way for another.”—Messages to Young People, p. 144.

Have you ever wondered what is the end result of dwelling upon negative thoughts, worries, or overthinking? First remember the verse we saw above in Proverbs: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” With that in mind, let’s grasp the full meaning of the following sentence:

“Wrong habits of thought, when once accepted, become a despotic power that fastens the mind as in a grasp of steel.”—Mind Character and Personality, vol. 1, p. 195.

Isn’t that powerful and frightening in the same time? We all need to examine our thought tendencies from time to time. Just as we need to check the engine of our cars regularly, it would be wise to do a routine checkup of our thoughts sometimes as well.

I don’t know about you, but when reading the Bible, I have often been surprised that there are recorded so many instances about people having demons or unclean spirits, or simply an evil spirit. Many cases were healed by the Lord Jesus Christ. I was so happy for those people. Now, what about the rest?

To my surprise, it seems in our times that that type of unclean spirits, evil spirits or demon possessed have all disappeared. Do you think that people had evil spirits only back then? How do you think a person ended up having an evil spirit when God “made man upright” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)? Do you think their thoughts had to do a lot with their outcome? Oh, how I wish that every person would cultivate only good and pure thoughts! That they would have never have an evil thought—and down the road, an evil spirit, or evil spirits. . . . We can render our conscience, thoughts, words and actions to only one of the two existing powers in the Universe: either to the prince of evil, Lucifer—or to the Prince of Life and goodness, the Lord Jesus, the Almighty God!

Darkness can be expelled only by the presence of life. Cold can be expelled only by the presence of a source of heat. Evil can be expelled only by the presence of the Good One—the Lord Jesus in our hearts.

In Mark chapter 5, we have a very unique experience of one man meeting with Jesus. Let’s read next the first eight verses to grasp the picture:

“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit” (Mark 5:1–8)

Jesus answered the unspoken prayer of this troubled soul. The man was in great need. His thoughts were accustomed to evil, until evil spirits took full control of his mind and body. I was shocked to realize that the answer towards Jesus came from the unclean spirit, and not from the man himself, per se.

In this case, the man was hopeless. How many of us may likewise be in hopeless situations nowadays.

When you and I say “I’m fine”, “I’m not so bad” or different variations of these kind of expressions, there may still be serious struggles in our minds. Real battles! Our minds are the battlefields between good and evil.

We need Jesus as much as any person in this world. The unspoken prayer of each heart sounds like this: “I need you, Lord! I’m in big trouble! I don’t know what to do next.”

Many of the youth today are saying: “Don’t pray for me.” “I want nothing to do with Jesus.” Yet the prayer of their heart is actually, “I am desperate, I need Jesus’ help.” Well, the good news is that Jesus is so wonderful that He answers the unspoken prayer!

Just as our Lord healed that man possessed by evil, He is ready to heal each one of us—emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The man was transformed and wanted to follow Jesus. Such is the case of everyone who receives the divine touch.

Jesus virtually said to that man something that He would tell each one of us: “What you need is not for you to be with me but for me to be with you!”

“The thoughts are not to be allowed to run riot. They must be restrained, brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Let them be placed upon holy things. Then, through the grace of Christ, they will be pure and true. We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts. The only security for any soul is right thinking.

“Our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell, and if we think upon earthly things, we shall fail to take the impress of that which is heavenly. We would be greatly benefited by contemplating the mercy, goodness, and love of God; but we sustain great loss by dwelling upon those things which are earthly and temporal.”—The Faith I Live By, p. 222.

“One day alone is ours, and during this day we are to live for God. For this one day we are to place in the hand of Christ, in solemn service, all our purposes and plans, casting all our care upon Him, for He careth for us.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 101.

Jesus tells each one of us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

1. https://dreammakerr.com/positive-mindset-statistics/#:~:text=Key%20Positive%20Mindset%20Statistics&text=85%20percent%20of%20Americans%20are,than%20those%20who%20did%20not