Have you ever found yourself in a downward spiral of fear, anger, or worry only moments after you felt like you could conquer the world—all because of one little negative thought? It’s happened to me many times before and I’m sure you’ve experienced it too. There’s a reason people say “The mind is the gateway to the heart.” Our thoughts affect so much—our emotions, feelings, desires, and even actions.

If our mind is so important, then how can we be good stewards of it? How do we keep the bad out and let the good in? How do we use our minds for God’s glory?

Thankfully, the Bible has a lot to say about the mind. Colossians 3:2 tells us, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (ESV). Paul commands believers in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Okay, so now we know what God wants us to do with our minds. We just need to guard it. Easy, right? But how exactly do we do that? Today, dear Rose, I want to share three steps you can take to guard your mind in Christ.

1. Take an honest assessment of what you’ve allowed to shape your mind.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What media do I consume on a regular basis and what message(s) does it communicate?
• Who do I follow on social media and why do I follow them?
• What voices do I listen to the most and why?

With so many conflicting messages bombarding us at once, it can be very confusing knowing who to believe.

And the hard part is that the world’s messages often appear good at first. For example, we would all agree that it’s good to love and accept others for who they are. But unlike the world, we believe that doesn’t include accepting their sin.

Take a careful look at every influence in your life and how it affects your thoughts and beliefs. Line it up with God’s Word. Is it true to what God says, or contrary?

The lies are often the hardest to find, so be prepared to dig deep and be brutally honest with yourself.

2.  Reject any influences that are contrary to the Bible (or unhealthy for you).

It’s that easy. And that hard.

Even with the Bible to guide us, it can still be hard to know what’s good and bad, especially in the gray areas the Bible doesn’t address. Use this verse to help you as you decide what influences to listen to and which ones to reject: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).

Even if something isn’t necessarily bad, it can still be unhealthy for you personally. For example, if you struggle with contentment as a single person, it might be a good idea for you to stop reading romance novels, even if they are clean. Or if you’re prone to worry, maybe you should limit how much of the news you listen to.

Even harder than knowing what’s good and bad is letting go of the not so good.

I know how difficult this is. But from personal experience, I can tell you that it is worth it. As you clear away the unhealthy influences, I can assure you that you will find you have fewer worries and temptations and more peace and joy in Jesus.

3. Pursue truth.

We can’t just reject the bad, we have to fill our minds with something. And that something is truth.

Read God’s Word daily. Pray. Fellowship with like-minded believers you know will edify you. Read books that grow your intellect and draw you closer to God. Watch movies that challenge you to do great things for God. Listen to music that inspires you to lift up your own voice in praise to the Creator.

This is what it means to pursue truth. And this, dear Rose, is the best way you can guard your mind. Truth is the greatest weapon you can use to fight the lies of the Enemy.

There will be many times you fail. But thankfully, it doesn’t all rest on you. Jesus promises that we can do all things through Him. So rest in Him. Trust Him to keep You.

Remember that your mind is a gift from God. So treasure it and guard it well, dear Rose!

What can you do today to help guard your mind? Do you have any other tips you’ve found helpful to guard your mind?

Comment below, Roses, and let’s chat!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kristianne Hassman is a missionary kid who currently lives in the beautiful country of South Africa. She has a desire to encourage other young women that they are not alone in their struggles and that there is hope in Jesus. When she’s not writing, you can find her helping out with her family’s ministry, playing her violin, or connecting with other young writers at her blog Whimsical Wanderings.

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