Mindset

Mindset- In decision theory and general systems theory, a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods or notations held by one or more people or groups of people which is so established that it creates a powerful incentive within these people or groups to continue to adopt or accept prior behaviors, choices, or tools. This phenomenon of cognitive bias is also sometimes described as mental inertia, "groupthink", or a "paradigm", and it is often difficult to counteract its effects upon analysis and decision making processes. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

 

Psalm 58:3 (AMP) The ungodly are perverse and estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

 

According to this scripture we are born sinful. We are born ready to sin and commit wrongdoings. This is a natural part of us. We have to learn to do right, to make right and good choices.

 

As we grow from a baby to a young child and start school we learn our abc's and 123's and colors and so forth. We are taught at a very young age to control our minds so that we can learn basic foundations in life. As we move from elementary school to middle school, we are expected to change our minds and think on different subjects multiple times a day. We are to do this ON PURPOSE and without exception.. 1st class is math, 2nd class is reading, 3rd class is science.. We are expected to learn and retain lessons and then remember them later on during testing. As we go forward in growth and take our tests we realize everything that was taught to us is not needed for the tests. 

 

I believe this is conformation that as a human I CAN choose the thoughts in my head and what happens with them. Whether I keep a hold of the thought and let it grow roots, or whether I let it loose from my mind and forget it.

 

In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions.  The term cognition (Latin: cognoscere, "to know", "to conceptualize" or "to recognize") refers to a faculty for the processing of information, applying knowledge, and changing preferences. Cognition, or cognitive processes, can be natural or artificial, conscious or unconscious.(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Making Choices And Decisions 

According to Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, this hypothetical situation was used to help illustrate a greater concept. It is also known as the story about Buridan's donkey

Imagine a donkey standing between a pile of hay and a bucket of water. The donkey continues to look to the hay and then to the water. However, the donkey is unable to decide which to consume first. Eventually the donkey falls over and dies of hunger and thirst.

While there are many ways this could be interpreted, it is easy to see that if we get so locked up in the fear of the decision, we fail to make a choice. When we fail to make a choice, our life is at a standstill.

Sometimes decisions and choices aren't always easy and sometimes we treat them as a matter of life and death. However, regardless of the choices we make today, we can always make a different choice tomorrow. While it is true that the choices we make today do impact those of tomorrow, with each new day, we are still able to make choices with our life even in the roughest of circumstances. (http://mindbodythoughts.blogspot.com/)

Since we are born  to make wrong choices and to live outside the will of God, then we can change that by choosing who we become, by the inner choices and beliefs we have. Our inner dialogue is so powerful and effects every part of our lives.

The Inner Dialogue

by Remez Sasson
Do you talk with yourself? When we hear people talking aloud with themselves we consider it weird. But have you noticed that all people, with no exception, talk silently with themselves? This, we do not consider odd or weird.
If someone hurts you in some way, or says something you do not like, what do you do? You enact a whole scene of anger in your mind! You envision yourself talking angrily; you shout at him and tell him some not so nice things. Sometimes people spend hours in such negative, destructive inner dialogues.
There is a continuous conversation going on in everyone's head, and a lot of energy, time and attention are wasted on small unimportant incidents. This conversation goes on from the moment of waking until falling asleep.
The inner dialogue continues while working, studying, reading, watching TV, talking, walking, eating, etc. There is a constant judging of people, commenting on what is going on, planning, gossiping, and mental conversations with people.
These inner dialogues bring about a snowball effect. The more we conduct them, the more we become chained to them and unable to stop them. When the emotions are also evoked, more power, energy and attachment are added. This has an adverse effect on the behavior, judgment and general performance.
On many occasions the inner dialogue is negative and strengthens any negative attitude and behavior. Few people have enough faith in themselves and in their abilities, so as to conduct positive inner dialogues. The process and effect of these inner conversations is similar to affirmations. Constant thinking about the same subject influences the subconscious mind, which consequently accepts these thoughts and words and acts on them. Negative inner dialogues bring negative results, and positive inner dialogues bring positive results. http://www.SuccessConsciousness.com

Remez Sasson goes on in the article to explain how one can change their inner dialogue. I am here to say that I have a very strong will and once I make up my mind to do something or achieve something, 99% of the time I am successful. Based on my efforts. The Bible says different. It instructs us to goto God about everything and through His power and His will and purpose, then He will give me what is needed to change so that I am more like Christ.


Romans 12:2 (amp) ²Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Ephesians 4:21-24  ²¹Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him],²²Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion;²³And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], ²⁴And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

In both these verses God commands us how to act and to renew our minds.  Psalm 51 goes into further detail on how we are to renew our mind.

 

Psalm 51 ¹HAVE MERCY upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions.  ²Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin!³For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. ⁴Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. ⁵Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. ⁶Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. ⁷Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow. ⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice. ⁹Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt and iniquities. ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.¹³Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness and death, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness (Your rightness and Your justice). ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. ¹⁶For You delight not in sacrifice, or else would I give it; You find no pleasure in burnt offering. ¹⁷My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. ¹⁸Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹Then will You delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, justice, and right, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then bullocks will be offered upon Your altar.

 

The key to this Psalm is asking God for renewal of the mind. The Psalm (psalm-noun (often capital)- any of the 150 sacred songs, lyric poems, and prayers that together constitute a book (Psalms) of the Old Testament)  is a prayer written to God asking for His will, direction, guidance and instruction on renewing our minds. Even with my strong will and determination, I am unable to change my inner man through self-help options.  After all the years I allowed my mind to run amok and do as it pleased, I could not get it under control and think on good things as instructed by the Lord. As I strive to have a daily, active relationship (relationship-noun- a connection, association, or involvement.) with God, (hear His Word, read my Bible, listen to sermons, pray) my mind becomes renewed. Not everything, all at once. God works on me step by step, minute by minute, day by day. 

He works in me and with me to show me what I need to get rid of, change or strengthen. Then we (Him and I) begin the process of doing what He wants me to do. I, under my own power, cannot satisfactorily do anything without God. Anything in me that needs altered HAS to have Gods hand in it, or I will fail. I will fail because without God, I lean back on me and my sinful, worldly thinking and then my actions follow suit. I cannot be successful in Gods eyes, according to Gods Word without His mindsets and guidance. I am able to learn of Gods mindsets and guidance through the Bible and an active, daily relationship with Him.