Our Inner Sanctuary 

There is a special place in this world that only you have exclusive access to — a secret place where no one else can enter, and where you hold the power to decide what stays and what goes. The only other person who has access — and reigns supreme — is God. This place is your mind, your inner, mental world. It is precious, because it offers the freedom we all long for—a retreat from this world. We cannot control the world around us, but we can shape what happens within us. This inner sanctuary is very delicate: it can become a garden of light, love, peace, and joy—or a dungeon of fear, darkness, torment, loneliness and disease. Its condition is not random. It is formed, day by day, by the choices we make and the thoughts we allow to take root. As the saying goes, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” What we cultivate in our minds today will become the life we live tomorrow.

But do we have authority over what happens in our minds? Can we actually control our thoughts? Yes—we can, we should, and we must. Just as we are called to obey God with our hands, feet, eyes, and tongues—the visible, tangible parts of our bodies—so we are also commanded to obey Him with our thoughts, emotions, and intellect—the unseen, inner parts of who we are. Our mind is not neutral territory; it is ground to be claimed for Christ.

In this study, we’ll begin by looking at key Scriptures that show we can control our thoughts. Then we’ll explore two primary functions of the mind: imagination and reasoning. After that, we’ll consider why it is so vital to bring our minds under Christ’s rule. Finally, we’ll end with practical steps to help us walk in victory and live with minds that truly honor God.

We Can Control Our Thoughts 

Philippians 4:6-8 

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The last part of these verses are the most explicit command I have found in the Bible on this topic. It says, “THINK ON THESE THINGS.” There are good things we can think about, and evil things, excellent things and distractions. We can decide to think about whatever we want to. Our obligation is to choose to think on the things that are pleasing to God and best for ourselves. We are even given a list of excellent thought topics in this passage. We’re also instructed something not to do with our minds as well: “Don’t worry about anything.” Worry is a sin of the mind. When our minds are bombarded with incomplete or unresolved things demanding our attention, we are to run to God in prayer and praise, and he will give us “mental grace” to help us do his will with our minds. 

Matthew 22:37-38

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” Loving God is the highest calling of our lives. It’s not a feeling, but a choice, a daily choice to live for His pleasure—regardless of the cost. This love involves every part of who we are, including our minds. God, as our Creator, has full claim over our thought life. In His wisdom, He designed our minds to be relentless thought factories. Everything we create or pursue—language, art, relationships, worship—originates in the mind. To love God with all our mind means choosing thoughts that reflect His character, aligning our mental world with His will. It’s in this surrender that we begin to bear His image more clearly in how we live, speak, and think.

Mental idols

Most people would agree that we shouldn’t dwell on obviously sinful things—violence, lust, bitterness. Scripture makes this clear: God hates “a heart that devises wicked imaginations” (Proverbs 6:18). But there’s another danger—mental idols: anything we love or elevate in our thoughts more than God.

What fills your mind? Our thoughts should begin and end with God—He should be the source, substance, and aim of our inner world. Yet often, something else takes that central place. What dominates your thought life? What subtly frames your perspective or colors everything else you think about?

Mental idols aren’t always sinful in and of themselves. They can be good things we’ve given too much weight—relationships, possessions, goals, ideas, or ambitions. How can you tell if something has become an idol? Ask yourself: What does my mind return to again and again? What has a stronger grip on my thoughts than God? What do I naturally talk about most? As Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). What you dwell on in your mind will eventually overflow in your words—and reveal what truly sits on the throne of your heart.

Two Areas Of Our Thought World (imagination & reasoning)

Imagination 

In our quiet moments—when we’re resting, daydreaming, or just waiting—we often retreat into the theater of the mind. We imagine. We visualize. We create. This inner world is an extraordinary gift. What goes on in that mystical, mental world of yours? 

Whether we realize it or not, each of us is a full-time film producer—directing a mental movie that is filming all day, every day. Think of it this way: what we see and experience throughout the day is the filming. Our mediation is the editing and becomes the production. Scene by scene, thought by thought, we compile storylines that shape our inner world—and eventually, our outer life. Some plotlines last a moment; others span years or a lifetime. So the question is: what is your mental movie about?

If we played your mind’s movie on the church projector this coming Sunday morning, would the saints conclude that you love the Lord your God with all your mind?

It may feel like we’re simply the audience of this mental reel—but Scripture informs us that we’re in the director’s chair. We may not control every thought that auditions, but we do control which ones get the starring roles. We decide who and what gets screen time.

We must partner with the Holy Spirit to “edit” our mental content—filtering out violence, impurity, ungodly messages, and mental idols. Our goal isn’t just to have a clean script—it’s to produce something God would gladly sit through. Let your thoughts entertain the Lord with what delights Him. Don’t grieve Him with a film that nauseates him.  

Reasoning 

Another key way we use our minds is through reasoning. If imagination is like producing a movie in our minds, then reasoning is like holding a conversation there. We’re constantly talking to ourselves. Have you ever noticed that the dialogue in your head sometimes feels like it’s coming from someone else? That’s because we have a dual nature (flesh & Spirit) and there are spiritual voices that can suggest thoughts to us. Still, we are the ones who ultimately decide which conversations we allow to continue.

Sometimes we let certain lines of thinking play out just to see where they lead—but the question is, are these conversations pleasing to the Lord?

Every internal conversation is made up of simple statements—each one either true or false. Taken together, they form a storyline, and that storyline can either reflect reality accurately or distort it. For example, consider a mental script that says, “Why does everything go wrong for me? No one likes me. No one loves me. Nothing ever works out.” Thoughts like these are common—but none of those statements are actually true. And if we give them the microphone in our minds, we’re not just tolerating lies—we’re promoting them. What is always true is God’s Word, which says that God loves you more than you could ever imagine, that he will never leave you nor forsake you, that he prefers you (his thoughts towards you are more than the grains of sand on the sea, and that he is committed to making all things in your life ultimately work for your good. 

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That means we must learn to recognize worldly or faulty thinking, and train our minds to think the way God thinks. This is not a one-time fix—it’s a lifelong, often difficult process. But it’s essential. And it begins by saturating our minds with God’s Word, and daily applying it to the way we think, speak, and live.

4 Practical Steps to Help Us Gain Control of Our Thoughts

Like taming the tongue, we won’t gain control of our thoughts through sheer willpower. We need God’s wisdom and God’s strength.

1. Surrender Your Mind to God
The first step is full surrender. Romans 12:1 urges us to “present your bodies [including your mind] as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Who truly rules your thought life? Who is the Master of your mind? Have you yielded your inner world to the Lord? Only you know the answer. If your mind belongs to God, you’ll feel conviction when your thoughts veer toward selfishness or sin. We desperately need God’s help, but he will only help us if our commitment is to please him. 

2. Train Your Discernment
Next, we must learn what pleases God—and what doesn’t. Romans 12:2 tells us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This means we need to grow in discernment. Hebrews 5:14 says that mature believers “by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Don’t assume you already know what’s right in every situation. Real spiritual maturity means realizing how much we still need God’s Word to guide our judgments. It takes time, practice, and humility to let the Lord reshape our thinking.

3. Fill Your Mind with Truth
Our minds are never idle—they are always thinking. So don’t just try to stop bad thoughts; replace them. Feed your mind Scripture. Read it. Copy it. Say it out loud. Memorize it. Let God’s truth sink deep. We will mostly dwell on the things we dwell on—Imagine that! Surround yourself with what is holy and true: music that honors Christ, media that inspires righteousness, conversations that cultivate godly thought. Like a plant thrives in the right conditions, so your mind is more likely to grow strong when it’s nourished by the right influences.

4. Fight Back Ruthlessly
When ungodly thoughts sneak in—whether imagination, reasoning, or mental idols—don’t flirt with them. Fight! 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The thought itself isn’t sin—but entertaining it is. Seeing something isn’t sinful, but staring is. Thinking isn’t sin, but dwelling on it is. The moment you recognize an unclean thought, expose it. Sound the alarm and call on the Lord to arrest and kill it.
We must learn to hate sin. Refuse to let darkness camp in your mental sanctuary. Trust Christ to break mental strongholds, and invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind with purity and power.

Prayer 

“Father, we confess that we have often defiled our minds by dwelling on things that do not please or honor you supremely. Forgive us, in the name of Jesus. Wash our minds clean. Take lordship over our thought lives. Help us to see how sacred and precious our inner man is.

Cultivate in us a deep hatred for sin, and a growing love for what is true, pure, and good. Transform our minds into workshops of truth, love, and praise. Give us wisdom and grace to guard what we see and hear. Teach us balance and discernment in every area of our thinking.

May our minds become fertile ground—where ideas are born that glorify You, and where every thought bows in obedience to Christ. Amen.”