Mastering your thoughts
“Not having commenced to manfully control his thoughts, he is not in a position to control affairs and to adopt serious responsibilities. He is not fit to act independently and stand alone. But he is limited only by the thoughts, which he chooses.”
— James Allen
Reflection
“Mastering Your Thoughts” directs you to the most sacred stewardship you possess — the governance of your own mind. Allen argues that the difference between a life of peace and a life of turmoil is found not in external conditions but in the kind of thoughts a person repeatedly entertains.
Most people try to manage their emotions, habits, and reactions while leaving their thoughts undisciplined. It is like trying to calm a storm without addressing the winds that create it. Mastery begins by noticing the thoughts that enter your mind and refusing to allow any to remain that violate your purpose, calling, or integrity.
This mastery does not require perfection. It requires awareness. The moment you realize your thoughts are drifting into fear, resentment, or fantasy, you gently guide them back to truth. Over time, this guidance becomes automatic — your mind begins to choose what strengthens you rather than what sabotages you.
Mastery is not suppression; it is alignment. It is bringing your inner world into harmony with God’s truth so you can walk with clarity, stability, and strength.
And that’s worth thinking about.
— Vic Johnson
Putting It Into Practice
- Notice one recurring thought today and ask, “Is this helping me become who God designed me to be?”
- Interrupt a negative mental spiral by speaking a truth aloud.
- Spend five minutes in quiet awareness, watching your thoughts without judgment.
One Question To Ponder
What thought pattern has gone unchallenged for too long — and what might change if you mastered it?
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