For just a moment forget whatever positive or negative stereotypes or opinions you may have about teachings (both Christian or non-Christian) on the subject of the power of our thoughts, and ponder the following verse: “As (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV)

The word “thinks” in this passage is the Hebrew word “Sha’ar” and it means, “to split, to open, to act as a gate-keeper.” The word was used in reference to the gatekeeper of a city whose job was to cautiously and selectively grant or deny access to the city.

This is powerful stuff!

We are the gatekeepers of our hearts, and whatever we let in—through the power of our thoughts—shapes who we are.

All of us who have attended time management workshops or budgeting seminars know that the first step to getting control over our time or our spending habits is to keep detailed records of our activities and expenditures. I wonder what we would find if we applied that record-keeping exercise to our thoughts. Would we discover that the bulk of our thought life centers on gratitude, praise, and confidence that God is good? Or would we find that negativity, pessimism, and fantasies about worst-case scenarios abound?

It would be a worthy exercise to engage in because, according to the Bible, whatever we routinely allow in to our hearts and minds determines who we really are.