I have often preached and taught about how Christians need to guard their tongues and be careful about what they say to others. Indeed, the tongue is a very powerful tool for good or ill (Jas. 3:1-10). When teaching or preaching on this subject I primarily focus on what we say to others. However, it is also very important for us to think about the things we say to ourselves. Often, the questions we ask ourselves will determine our attitudes and actions.

Asking oneself the right questions can often be the difference between a good attitude and a bad attitude and make the difference between success or failure in some cases. The reason for this fact is the questions we ask ourselves make us focus our minds. Think of how this happens when another person asks you a question. It forces you to stop thinking about whatever it is you're thinking about and then turn your mind to the question at hand. If I ask you, “Do you like my haircut?” You are forced to focus on my hair (thinning thought it may be).

How does this fact help me? When I ask bad questions I'm focusing on negative things. For example, suppose something bad happens and I ask “Why does this always happen to me?!” Consider where my mind is focused. I am totally self-absorbed and thinking of nothing or no one but myself. There are also some unstated implications in the question. Does this (whatever it may be) always happen? Of course not. Is a person cut off every time he goes through an intersection? No. But when it does happen he is tempted to focus on that single incident and project it infinitely into the past and the future. “He cut me off! People are always cutting me off and they always will!” What silly nonsense.

How much better in a situation like this, or any negative situation, if we asked a question to evoke a more positive response. If in a bad situation I asked myself a question like “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I grow from this?” or “How can I use this lesson to help others not make the same mistake?” Then I've turn the focus of my mind in a positive direction. Do you see what has happened? I have taken control of where my mind is focused and what it is focused upon.

God has blessed us with a wonderful tool between our ears. People in the media are paid billions of dollars to try to control what we think and how we feel. It is time we took control of it ourselves for the glory of God.