Is your way of thinking leading you astray? It’s not just what you think that matters. It’s how you think—your worldview, your assumptions, your perspective.
When Jesus began his ministry, he led with a core message that never changed: “The time has come… The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15 NIV)
Most of us hear the word “repent” and immediately picture a red-faced street preacher shouting at spring breakers. We connect repent with guilt, shame, and finger-wagging. No wonder we avoid it like the Brussels sprouts on a toddler’s dinner plate.
But Jesus wasn’t calling people to feel bad. He was calling people to think differently. The Greek word translated “repent” literally means “change your mind,” but it’s deeper than that. It means to change your mindset, to change your entire way of thinking.
So, let’s revisit the question: Is your way of thinking leading you astray? Is your mindset keeping you from the life you genuinely want to live? Jesus invites us to rethink everything—especially the way we try to build our own little kingdoms. Our default setting is “my way.” We chase control, comfort, recognition, and whatever makes us feel successful. But it doesn’t work. For one thing, nobody else wants to live inside our private “kingdom of me.”
Jesus’ kingdom is altogether different. When we trust him with our lives—when we turn from self-centered thinking and begin following his loving leadership—he guides us like the Good Shepherd he promises to be. He leads us into righteous paths, into ways of living that reflect what’s real rather than our wishful illusions.
This shift doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifelong project. But the first step is repentance—turning from broken patterns of thought and stepping into a new way of thinking that puts Jesus first. That’s where meaning, purpose, and fulfillment are found. Not in our fragile kingdoms, but in his gracious reign.
Flourishing Life 
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