Calvary Church
Thoughts That Shape Your Future - Josh Douglas
‘We see a growing church, meeting in many locations around the world, helping people to know Jesus, find community and make a difference.’
Locations & Times
Calvary Sunshine Coast
212 Crosby Hill Rd, Tanawha QLD 4556, Australia
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
THOUGHTS THAT SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
The future is full of mystery, so many people conclude that it’s simply outside their control.
•“Whatever will be will be”
Matthew 9:27–29
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
According to Jesus, life goes not according to fate, but according to faith.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Franco Ongaro (Director of Technology - European Space Agency)
The future is not something to predict. The future is something to build.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our thoughts take us places …
•Our feelings follow our thoughts
•Our actions follow our thoughts
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Before I came to Jesus, I had spent years, decades, thinking thoughts that were not God honouring, God inspired.
Unless I take God’s word and meditate upon it, I’ll fall right back into old ways of thinking.
Ephesians 4:23
and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude]
Ephesians 6:17
… take the helmet of salvation
To apply faith to my thinking means I’m going to choose to think in a way that reflects salvation I’ve received.
Prodigal Son (Luke 15)
Luke 15:17–24
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’
And they began to celebrate.
1. Think in terms of who you are, not who you were
When the prodigal son comes home, he is filthy – physically and spiritually.
His choices had left him stained.
The father interrupts the shame with restoration:
"Bring the best robe and put it on him."
The robe was not just clothing – it was identity.
This is exactly what God does with us in Christ – He gives us a new identity.
We don't approach God on the basis of our past behaviour.
We stand before Him on the basis of what Jesus has done.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The Gospel does not just forgive you – it redefines you.
2. Think in terms of your future, not your past
The danger is not just remembering the past — it’s living there.
Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that God’s plans for us are directed toward “a future and a hope.”
While we often fixate on where we’ve been, God is focused on where He’s taking us.
Your past may explain you — but it does not have to define you.
When your mind is anchored in hope, expectation, and promise, you begin to partner with God in shaping what’s ahead.
3. Think in terms of plenty, not scarcity
Luke 15:17
“How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!”
For the first time, he remembers what his father’s house is actually like.
•My Father’s house isn’t tight.
•My Father’s house isn’t barely getting by.
•My Father’s house has more than enough.
Scarcity is dangerous because it doesn’t just affect what we have — it affects how we think.
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
God is not short of supply. He owns the entire earth.
When you think in terms of plenty:
•You give generously.
•You pray boldly.
•You obey quickly.
•You dream again.
4. Think in terms of authority, not helplessness
“Put a ring on his finger.”
It was a signet ring – a symbol of authority, identity, and representation.
We see this clearly in the story of Joseph.
•When Pharaoh elevates Joseph, he doesn't just give him a title.
•Pharaoh removes his signet ring and places it on Joseph's hand.
•In that moment, Joseph is authorised to act on Pharaoh's behalf.
In Christ, we are not victims, we carry authority.
God does not just forgive you and leave you powerless.
He restores you and entrusts you.
Authority doesn't mean control over everything – but it does mean:
•You can resist what is not from God
•You can stand firm in faith
•You can step forward with courage
When you begin to think in terms of authority, your prayers change, your posture changes, and your future changes.
5. Think in terms of a son, not a stranger
The moment the prodigal returns, he is immediately restored as a son.
And with sonship comes full entitlement.
•Not partial access.
•Not limited favour.
•Not conditional love.
•Full access to the house.
•Full standing in the family.
•Full inheritance.
Sometimes we can be in the house — but still living like guests.
•Forgiven, but cautious.
•Accepted, but distant.
•Loved, but unsure.
God does not bring you back as a stranger – He restores you as a son.
We cannot afford to think a thought about ourselves that God does not think about us.
•If God calls you a son, you cannot call yourself a stranger.
•If God has clothed you in righteousness, you cannot keep wearing shame.
•If God has welcomed you home, you cannot keep standing at the door.
You are a son – fully restored, fully accepted, fully loved.
The future is full of mystery, so many people conclude that it’s simply outside their control.
•“Whatever will be will be”
Matthew 9:27–29
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
According to Jesus, life goes not according to fate, but according to faith.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Franco Ongaro (Director of Technology - European Space Agency)
The future is not something to predict. The future is something to build.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our thoughts take us places …
•Our feelings follow our thoughts
•Our actions follow our thoughts
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Before I came to Jesus, I had spent years, decades, thinking thoughts that were not God honouring, God inspired.
Unless I take God’s word and meditate upon it, I’ll fall right back into old ways of thinking.
Ephesians 4:23
and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude]
Ephesians 6:17
… take the helmet of salvation
To apply faith to my thinking means I’m going to choose to think in a way that reflects salvation I’ve received.
Prodigal Son (Luke 15)
Luke 15:17–24
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’
And they began to celebrate.
1. Think in terms of who you are, not who you were
When the prodigal son comes home, he is filthy – physically and spiritually.
His choices had left him stained.
The father interrupts the shame with restoration:
"Bring the best robe and put it on him."
The robe was not just clothing – it was identity.
This is exactly what God does with us in Christ – He gives us a new identity.
We don't approach God on the basis of our past behaviour.
We stand before Him on the basis of what Jesus has done.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The Gospel does not just forgive you – it redefines you.
2. Think in terms of your future, not your past
The danger is not just remembering the past — it’s living there.
Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that God’s plans for us are directed toward “a future and a hope.”
While we often fixate on where we’ve been, God is focused on where He’s taking us.
Your past may explain you — but it does not have to define you.
When your mind is anchored in hope, expectation, and promise, you begin to partner with God in shaping what’s ahead.
3. Think in terms of plenty, not scarcity
Luke 15:17
“How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!”
For the first time, he remembers what his father’s house is actually like.
•My Father’s house isn’t tight.
•My Father’s house isn’t barely getting by.
•My Father’s house has more than enough.
Scarcity is dangerous because it doesn’t just affect what we have — it affects how we think.
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
God is not short of supply. He owns the entire earth.
When you think in terms of plenty:
•You give generously.
•You pray boldly.
•You obey quickly.
•You dream again.
4. Think in terms of authority, not helplessness
“Put a ring on his finger.”
It was a signet ring – a symbol of authority, identity, and representation.
We see this clearly in the story of Joseph.
•When Pharaoh elevates Joseph, he doesn't just give him a title.
•Pharaoh removes his signet ring and places it on Joseph's hand.
•In that moment, Joseph is authorised to act on Pharaoh's behalf.
In Christ, we are not victims, we carry authority.
God does not just forgive you and leave you powerless.
He restores you and entrusts you.
Authority doesn't mean control over everything – but it does mean:
•You can resist what is not from God
•You can stand firm in faith
•You can step forward with courage
When you begin to think in terms of authority, your prayers change, your posture changes, and your future changes.
5. Think in terms of a son, not a stranger
The moment the prodigal returns, he is immediately restored as a son.
And with sonship comes full entitlement.
•Not partial access.
•Not limited favour.
•Not conditional love.
•Full access to the house.
•Full standing in the family.
•Full inheritance.
Sometimes we can be in the house — but still living like guests.
•Forgiven, but cautious.
•Accepted, but distant.
•Loved, but unsure.
God does not bring you back as a stranger – He restores you as a son.
We cannot afford to think a thought about ourselves that God does not think about us.
•If God calls you a son, you cannot call yourself a stranger.
•If God has clothed you in righteousness, you cannot keep wearing shame.
•If God has welcomed you home, you cannot keep standing at the door.
You are a son – fully restored, fully accepted, fully loved.
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