Author: Thomas Casper

Motivational speaker Earl Nightingale once said, “You will become what you think about most of the time.” While often discussed in personal development, this is actually a biblical principle. Our thoughts shape who we are, and what we allow into our minds—whether through social media, entertainment, or the company we keep—deeply influences our attitudes, decisions, and faith.

Recently, I’ve had to make some tough decisions about my own influences. I realized that the time I spent reading the news or scrolling through social media directly impacted my mood, my energy, and even how I treated others. Fear, anxiety, and anger sell. The more anxious, outraged, or divided people feel, the more they stay engaged with the content fueling those emotions.

The world thrives on stirring up fear, keeping us in a constant cycle of worry and frustration. But what we consume in our minds doesn’t just stay there—it affects our hearts and ultimately our actions.

Scripture Readings:

📖 Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

📖 Mark 9:42-43, 45, 47 – “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands… If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.”

📖 Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Reflection:

Jesus gives a strong warning about allowing harmful influences to control us. He isn’t literally telling us to harm ourselves, but He is making a very clear point: If something is leading you or others away from God—whether it’s media, habits, or toxic influences—you need to remove it. Cut it off! Get rid of it!

If social media leaves you feeling bitter and divisive, maybe it’s time to step away. If the constant flood of bad news fills your heart with fear instead of faith, perhaps it’s time to turn it off.

Earl Nightingale’s words remind us that we become what we think about most. If we focus on fear, we will live in fear. If we focus on anger, we will respond in anger. But if we focus on God’s truth, we will live in peace.

The world profits from our fear and outrage, but God offers something better—a transformed mind and a heart at rest.

Application:

1. Self-Examination – Take inventory of what you consume daily. What worldly influences are shaping your thoughts the most?

2. Prayer for Discernment – Ask God to reveal anything that is causing fear, anger, or division in your heart.

3. Mindful Media Choices – Consider taking a break from social media or certain news sources that fuel negativity.

4. Scripture Meditation – Focus on passages that remind you of God’s peace and truth. Write them down and repeat them throughout the day.

5. Intentional Conversations – Engage in discussions that build up, encourage, and bring wisdom instead of fueling frustration and division.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, help me to be mindful of what I allow into my heart and mind. Show me what I need to remove so that I can walk in Your peace instead of fear. Fill my thoughts with Your truth and wisdom. Transform me from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Recently, my oldest daughter randomly asked me if I was OK. She said that I seemed “off.” I assured her that I was fine—maybe just still recovering from being sick. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But later, it hit me: a change was happening in me, and others could see it, even when I couldn’t.

My daughter, who knows me so well, noticed the shift in my demeanor—my facial expressions, my energy, my responses to conversations. To her, something was really off. But to me, I was just physically sick. What I didn’t realize was that I was spiritually and emotionally sick too.

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time on social media and the news. At first, it seemed harmless—just staying informed, scrolling through updates. But little by little, it began to consume my thoughts, shape my emotions, and alter my perspective. Without realizing it, I was being influenced in ways I never intended. The negativity, the comparisons, the endless stream of information—it was all affecting me. It wasn’t a sickness in my body, though that might have also been a contributing factor; it was the sickness in my soul.

Sometimes, we don’t even see it.  It’s like a festering wound we ignore until it becomes so big, so undeniable, that we’re forced to deal with it. When we finally recognize the change within us, we’re left asking: Who am I? What have I become? But the better question is: God, who do You say I am?

Scripture Readings:

📖 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

📖 Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

📖 Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

📖 Isaiah 43:18-19 – “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Reflection:

Life has a way of pulling us down rabbit holes—searching, questioning, chasing answers—only to leave us feeling more lost than found. When we finally pause to reflect, we may not even recognize the person staring back at us.

Like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we may wake up one day and realize we have strayed so far from where we intended to be that we don’t even recognize ourselves.  It’s never too late.  But just as the father in that parable ran to embrace his lost son, God is ready to welcome us back with open arms.

So, ask yourself: What am I really seeking? Is it truth? Fulfillment? Peace?

More importantly, am I seeking it in God—or in things that will never satisfy?

Application:

1. Self-Examination – Take time to honestly assess where you are in life. Are you moving closer to God or further away?

2. Prayer for Renewal – Ask God to help you rediscover who you are in Him and to realign your heart with His purpose.

3. Scripture Reflection – Meditate on God’s promises about your identity in Christ. Write them down and speak them over yourself daily.

4. Accountability & Community – Talk to a trusted friend, mentor, or pastor about what you’re experiencing. We aren’t meant to navigate our faith alone.

5. Action Step – If there are areas in your life where you’ve strayed, take one intentional step back toward God today. That could be through prayer, fasting, worship, or simply surrendering your need for control.

Closing Prayer:

Father, I feel lost. I’ve gone down so many paths seeking answers, yet I still feel empty. When I look in the mirror, I don’t recognize who I’ve become. But You see me, You know me, and You call me Your own. Lord, renew my mind, transform my heart, and guide me back to You. Help me release what is not from You and embrace who You have created me to be. I trust that You are making all things new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.