Invisible, but powerful.
We can’t see them, but everyone has them. They can influence us, depress us, lift us up, or be harmful or beneficial. Thoughts!
Have you ever wanted to turn off your mind? Your endless, circling thoughts? Thoughts that you know are hurting you and depressing you? I’ve been there.
What can we do? Does God and the Bible speak to us about our thoughts? Yes!
One of my favorite guiding verses is: “As a man thinketh so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) There are differences of opinion on the meaning of this verse, but I believe it is powerful in telling us to be careful of what we think; that our thoughts can shape us, influence us, and are important in our spiritual life.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.”
Clearly, it is important what we think! We are warned in Romans 12:2, “But do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, Then You will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Gracious! To be transformed! To have to opportunity to have God working in and through our thoughts to transform us! Now, that’s exciting.
We have to be on guard and active! 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
I can just see my mind as a grassy plain, a rider on a horse is intentionally chasing and racing and determined to “rope” the “thoughts” that are running around helter skelter through my mind’s landscape, while leaning over the horse and throwing his holy lasso to “capture” the thoughts that are not Godly! Silly, well, what does this verse tell us?
Instead of running around in our minds, we are told to: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
We can pray and ask God to replace our ungodly thoughts with His will!
We can direct our thoughts with God’s help. When harmful, sinful thoughts enter our minds, we can confess them and ask God to give us His thoughts. Resist Satan and make him flee. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.
Read your Bible. Fill your mind with the truth and good things of God. Memorize Bible verses that help you and will make you stronger in Christ. Listen to Godly music. Don’t dabble in entertainment that isn’t Godly.
Think about your thinking! Ask God to make you aware of what you are doing in your thought life. Submit to God and let Him guide your thoughts. Is what you are thinking true? Is it in line with what God says in the Bible? Is it “pure, right, and good” (Philippians 4:8)?
Have a goal to think and speak the truth, throw out “stinking thinking,” pray for God to forgive you, strengthen you, and guide you in your thought life. Expect God to work in your thoughts!
