4th September 2026

I am going to appropriate last week’s New Testament reading as a manifesto for the Tyndale Thought for the Day:

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think (Romans 12.2, NLT).

In the context of Paul’s letter, chapter 12 marks a new section in his argument. There is a shift from theological reflections on sin, grace, and election, to specific instructions on how to live as a community of God’s people.

That order is important. Beliefs come before behaviour. Thoughts precede actions.

This principle is the basis of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – one of the most successful, scientifically-tested forms of psychotherapy. It “is a type of talking therapy where a therapist helps you to change how you think and act” (NHS website). The beliefs or thought patterns that we build up over time determine how we think about ourselves, how we treat other people, how we react in any situation – for better or for worse.

CBT also challenges the notion of “thoughtless actions”. Have you ever used that phrase about the things someone has done? Psychology would suggest that actions are not “thoughtless” at all – they are the result of how we think. Not consciously in the moment, perhaps, not intentional, but always a consequence of our thoughts.

So how about we allow God to renew our thinking? In Paul’s words from another of his letters, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4.8, NLT).

Ian Waddington