THOUGHTS


Our brain is an awesome creation of God. Our mind is a terrible thing to waste. David knew all too well the struggle of keeping a mind in right standing with The Lord. In my favorite Psalm, David penned about having and surrendering "anxious thoughts" (Ps. 139:23). David also admitted to an enemy who influences our thought life, he said, "How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" (Ps. 13:2)

However, David also wrote about a God so personal that The Lord's thoughts were precious toward him and us and knows all about our dealings. Psalm 139:2 says, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." And Psalm 139:17 says, "How precious to me are your thoughts God! How vast is the sum of them!"

This personal interest in my thoughts and own precious thoughts toward me by God strongly encourages me to get my mind right and try to keep it right before Him. Matthew says, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matt. 15:19) However, the original word used here for "heart" is kardia, meaning mind or center of one's thoughts, feelings or desire. Solomon gives the remedy in Proverbs 1:23 - "Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings."

This call to a higher thought life is not easy, but it is rewarding. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." (1 Cor. 13:11) We must mature in our Faith Thought Life so that we may be a better Christ follower.

The war on any decision or challenge in our lives begins on the battleground of our mind. Every skirmish, no matter what the size in our head or lives, must be filtered through The Word of God and His Holy Spirit. Paul encourages the believers in Corinth and Christians down through the ages - "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." (2 Cor. 10:5)

Taking every thought captive demands action on our part. A major help taking every thought captive is praying for and wearing The Helmet of Salvation daily. This piece of God's Armor not only aides in keeping His Salvation for us in the forefront of our mind, but also protects our mind by keeping His thoughts as our thoughts. I believe this goes a long way in fulfilling what Paul mentions in Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Notice what the reward for having a renewed mind is? The reward is being able to try out and know God's plan or will. Ever wanted to know what God was thinking about your life or something - keep renewing your mind and taking every thought captive to make it obey Christ. The battle, God's plan and the rewards all start with our Thoughts.

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