Making A Difference Through Mentorship Dr. Gregory L. Cruell

Henry Ford is often quoted as saying, “whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.” From Henry Ford's perspective I have amended his statement slightly providing us the theme of today’s podcast.  If You Think You Can You Will.

Proverbs 23: 7 tell us, “as a man old woman thinks that's who we really are.” It was psychologist James Allen that stated in the late 1800s that, “if we alter our thinking, we alter our lives.” Most of us don't really think about how we think… we just think without thinking.

Whatever we think and dwell on is going to be playing on the movie screen of our mind.  So let me ask you… what kind of movies have you been playing in your mind?

Are they movies and scenes that includes thoughts of depression, negativity, grief, worry, despair and hopelessness, sorrow, anger, bitterness and resentment? What we think on repeatedly is going to determine our mindset and how we view ourselves, others and the situations in our lives. “If we alter our thinking, we alter our lives.”

Philippians 4: 8-9, in the Amplified Version gives us instruction as to what we are to think about and imagine. “ Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome,

Whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. 9 The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you.”

God gives clear instructions about what we are to think about.  In order that we live in peace and prosper in our lives. If You Think You Can-You Will. You will experience the promise of Isaiah 43:19…”Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

“THINK LIKE GOD THINKS” (ISAIAH 55:8-9)


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Psalm 102: 13, “Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come.”Time is generally defined in the original Greek as “Chronos” and “Kairos”. Chronos represents a chronological time calculated in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

“Kairos” represents a God-appointed time when something is to occur. “Kairos” generally denotes God’s divine intervention in your life to accelerate or bring to pass some occurrence or event on your behalf. It is an unplanned, unexpected, and unscheduled moment in your life when God decides to bless or favor you according to His sovereign will.

Favor is an uncommon blessing or breakthrough God Himself has orchestrated and ordained for your life. The set time of God’s favor positions us for success and transcends any and all barriers erected by people. Whether they may be racial, social, cultural, financial, relational or even generational barriers. God’s favor rises above them all. The Set Time of Favor has come for us as God's people!


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God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Learning to Think Like God Thinks is a lifelong journey. This doesn't mean that we don't ever Think like God Thinks, but when we are honest with ourselves, we know that we don't always Think Like God Thinks.

The mind can be likened to a warehouse of our imagination, recognition, perception, memory, judgment, and consciousness. This includes the good, the bad, and the ugly times of life. Our predominant thoughts influence our behavior and attitudes which further influence our actions and reactions.

Another way to view this point is that our thoughts are like a video that plays on the screen of our minds. To make changes in our lives, we must play a different video, a video that lines up with cultivating the ability to Think Like God Thinks throughout life.

How do we "think the thoughts of God?"  It is the practical application of the word of God on and in our lives, which is having the "mind of Christ" (Philippians 2:5).

Dr. Gregory L. Cruell

God Thinkers (Isaiah 55:8-9)


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Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, 161-180 A.D. “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”  David, the man after God's own heart one day spotted Bathsheba bathing while walking upon his rooftop and then summoned her to his palace to sleep with her although she was married to Uriah, one of his soldiers. David then had Uriah killed in battle to cover his sins (1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 11:2; 2 Samuel 23:39). The color of David’s thoughts and soul was the catalyst for his sin.

A precept or life lesson that we learn from David is that if we allow our soul to be in control, then our soul will negatively influence our thoughts. In turn, negative thoughts will color our actions and conduct with potentially devastating consequences.

It is also important to note that David repented and declared, “Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires” (Psalm 51:10, TLB). At this point, the color of David’s thoughts and the pattern of his thinking were reshaped by repentance and accountability so that he was brought back to the attributes of quality thinking. The quality or color of our thoughts also reflects our values. 

When we are determined to Think Like God Thinks, we are better able to defeat and overcome negative thoughts that have the potential of destroying our witness of righteousness in representation of the Lord Himself.


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The Mindset of An Overcomer is always aware of their spiritual condition and victorious in life when they have their spiritual eyes wide open and are not led astray by the world (Ro. 12:1-2). An overcomer is also a person who succeeds in gaining control of some problem or difficulty. They prevail in spite of opposition, difficulties, weakness, and hard times.


The Message Bible version of Psalm 119:105 declares, "By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. "

An overcomer comes over their problems by relying on the light of God's word for direction, purpose, fulfillment, and strength to follow His plan for their lives. They trust the Lord in every situation and walk in faith and not fear.


The spirit and mindset of an overcomer is to rise up in faith, find strength and answers, and overcome instead of being overwhelmed and defeated. The word "overcomes" comes from the Greek "nikao" which is derived from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. To be an "overcomer" is to be victorious, to win at life, and to accomplish the purpose for which God designed us.


Psalms 33:11-12 reminds us that, "the Lord’s counsel stands firm forever, the plans in his mind for all generations. How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own inheritance."



God's expected end for you and for me is we think more like God thinks and that we develop the mindset of an overcomer knowing that our sovereign God’s will covers us every day of our lives and we are more than conquerors because we are overcomers!


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Proverbs 23: 7 declares, “that as a man or woman thinks, that is who we really are.” Our thought life, the way that we think, is an inseparable aspect of our human existence. Neuroscientists and neuropsychologists tell us that we have anywhere from 60 to 80,000 thoughts a day and half of those thoughts are negative.

And as we stated in last week's podcast, you don't have to be a negative person to have negative thoughts. Negative experiences with people, negative experiences on the job, even negative experiences with family members will produce negative thoughts.

Our lives move in the direction of our thoughts, like a current in a river, moving us either closer or farther away from becoming the best version of you that God has desired you to be. If you want to change your life, you and I must begin by changing our thoughts.

Our primary focus for today’s podcast is a portion of what Paul taught Timothy as his son in the faith and as a young pastor of the church at Ephesus.

In 2nd Timothy 1:5 in the NLT, Paul says of Timothy, “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

However, and whatever  Timothy thought about himself, Paul now reminds him in 1 Timothy 6:11,  "you are a man of God." And the man or woman of God is to pursue 6 things: righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:11)

You and I can do all things through Christ that strengthens us in righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (meekness). Thinking from this perspective influences our living that makes a difference in the lives of others for the glory of God.


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