Now for some people, it is a startling concept that the brain is supposed to serve us, not the other way around. In other words, we can and should choose what we want to think, and when we want to think about it. This may sound a bit foreign to some people, since today fantasizing and daydreaming are almost national pastimes.

But, by your free will, you can choose what you want to think about and what you don't want to think about. This means that when a thought pops up in your head you can choose to let it stay, or determine to kick it out.

The reason that God gave us the free will to choose is because not every thought we think is going to be profitable or healthy for us. There are numerous things that we could think about that would absolutely not serve us well at all, and would in fact be very detrimental to us if we allowed those thoughts to harbor and incubate in our minds.

We live in houses that have windows and doors. The reason for the windows and doors is not to keep us in, but to keep things that we don't want outside the house from coming in! In utilizing our doors and windows properly, we can control what comes in our home. Plenty of things out there might even be damaging and even dangerous!

Likewise, we need to take charge and control what we allow to our brains to dwell on.

Taking charge over your own mind is a lot like training a puppy. You tell the dog, "Sit." And then you work with the dog until he learns to "sit." If you don't train the dog, he just runs around and does whatever he wants!

Sadly, a lot of people either don't know, or just refuse to control their own minds. Many have what I call a "Chihuahua mind!" It's like a little dog running all over the place all the time. Others have a "tired old dog" mind. They just sit there, almost oblivious to every thing going on around them.

Take charge of your own mind! Speak up! Tell your mind what you're going to think about, and what you are not going to think about. "No, mind, I am not going to think about those negatives, instead I have decided to think about how exciting life is and how God has promised to bless and provide."

"Hold it right there, brain, I don't want to think about all the lack in my life. I want to think about God's promises of prosperity."

And just like a little puppy, you need to persist when your mind starts to wander off. "Hey, mind! Get back here. Stop thinking about that, and start thinking about this."

Now I am aware of many methods and techniques for staying in control of your own mind. I love the dog training analogy because I think most people can readily relate.

Whatever method and style you use is your business; the point is, you really can take charge and control your own mind. It is so critical for your life's failure or success. People succeed or fail because of the thoughts that they choose to plant and nurture.

What you choose to focus on is the direction that you will point your life toward. The reason so many people go around in circles in life, is because their thoughts are going around in circles in their minds! Their minds are engaged in wandering, daydreaming and fanaticizing; they never stay focused long enough to allow what they truly desire to come into their lives.

What you consciously set your mind on is what you will manifest - good or bad, successful or unsuccessful. The Bible says, "As he thinks in his heart so is he."

So, why not take charge? Decide what you want in life and where you want to go, and take charge of your mind! Tell your mind that this is where you are going and this is what you are going to think about. Then make your mind "sit."

Once you get that mind of yours to "sit" where you want it to sit, don't let it wander off! If you have decided to think and focus on God's promises, then that is where you want your mind to "sit." When it starts to wander off, thinking about the lack in your life, consistently bring it back and tell it, "stay".

Again, it is just like training a puppy. It's easy most of the time to get the dog to sit. But it takes a little more effort to get him to stay there. So too it is with our minds. We can easily shift and think about something, but to stay focused on it, takes a little more persistence. But, the results are well worth the effort.

Take charge of your life by taking charge of your thinking.