Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand…”

Our standing in Christ is eternal. We are on a journey that is progressively conforming us to His image. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”

Our standing never changes, but our state is in constant change. Think in these terms. Our state of mind is not stagnant. It changes with our circumstances. In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul used the words a sound mind. It means disciplined thought patterns. 

2 Corinthians 10:5 helps us understand how we are to discipline our thoughts. It says, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

We discipline our thoughts by not allowing them to continue. We radically intercept their pathway with another type of thought ~ gratitude or thankfulness. It derails and overthrows the intentions.