I imagine we’ve all heard teachings on how important it is to “think about what you’re thinking about.” We more mature believers know the  enemy likes to mess with our thoughts. And yes, I’ve got a grin on my  face as I resist the urge to clarify that description. I’ll let each of us decide if the mature reference is speaking to our chronological age or spiritual maturity! Instead, I’ll get straight to my point. What I believe we’re slower to realize is how early the enemy starts plying his trade with our precious children and grandchildren!

It’s so easy for patterns of thinking and faulty perceptions to get ingrained in little minds and once they’re established, they can follow them the rest of their lives. Buried thoughts don’t stay buried, either. They turn into behavior.

Thankfully, our grands can also learn to think healthy thoughts that will lead to healthy lives! This is where we come in, Rockstars! We can teach our grands how to recognize what they’re thinking about, resist it, and turn their thoughts in a wholesome and healthy direction. They don’t have to grow up at the mercy of their thoughts. We can teach them how to invite Jesus in to heal and teach, comfort and correct.

One way we can do this is by watching for clues. The child that says, “I’m bad at math,” or “I don’t have any friends” is a child who is already learning to harbor accusations and engage in damaging self-talk.

Our hearts hurt when we hear that type of confession, don’t they? Our tendency is to smother them with love and give them cookies. (Oh, surely, it’s not just me!) Instead, let’s be intentional about recognizing these moments as opportunities to see what’s playing in their minds and open a better conversation. For instance, we could talk to the child about those math skills and brainstorm ways to get better.

In that friends’ conversation we could ask questions to help them with their growing social interactions. We could remind them that they have to be a friend to have a friend and then we could discuss what that might look like at their age. There may even be poor behavior on their part that they need to confront that’s creating problems for them with friends. A thoughtful discussion can get to the root of these things. (And then, the cookies. Right?)

Much heartache results from not learning how to think but legitimate pain doesn’t have to become lifelong hurt. And now I’m talking to big people and little people, too!

Let’s be aware of what comes from our mouths when we say, “The more I’ve thought about it…” Whatever comes next is shaping our today and creating our tomorrows and it all begins in our private thoughts!  I didn’t say it, God did. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7