Thoughts

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” Gen. 6:5-6 NKJV

“The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.” Psalm 10:4 NKJV

Both of these verses are troubling.

Yet, it is important for those who seek to follow the Lord to see what it means to not.

To stop and look at what the Lord calls wicked is to take personal inventory.

Is there any place where the Lord is not a part of our thoughts?

Has a certain area of the heart become “off limits” to Him?

If so, repentance should be swift, because it is easy to see that the wickedness of those God calls wicked comes from their thoughts and God is not a part of a single one.

Let us then look to scripture.

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Cor. 13:11 NKJV

Is there an area in our lives where we simply need to grow up?

Are we self-disciplined, honorable, kind, thoughtful, courteous, respectful, and willing to work?

“I thought about my ways,
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.” Psalm 119:59 NKJV

The Bible is the standard for proper behavior, attitudes, perspective, and relationships.

“casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Cor. 10:5 NKJV

Take every thought captive and run it through the list:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV

If our thoughts are allowed to “run loose” we will find they stray far from these things.

God understands that it is in the thoughts of our heart where we either draw near Him or slide away.

Therefore, He gives us signs and instructions to help us.

For the Bible has much to say about the Lord’s thoughts toward us.

“Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 40:5 NKJV

“O LORD, how great are Your works!
Your thoughts are very deep.” Psalm 92:5 NKJV

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for these words of guidance and warning. Lord it is often that I find my thoughts going waywardly away from Your standard and it is with sorrow that I struggle with this. Lord, please continue to bring my thoughts back to those things which honor You. Lord, help me learn even more how to take every thought captive. Lord, please help me to focus my mind on those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and are praise worthy. Lord, thank You for the thoughts You have of me. How You love me and want what is best for me at all times. That all these things in Your Word are for edification and blessing for all peoples. Lord, when I think of the lengths You have gone and the work You still do to reach mankind, I am overwhelmed by Your mercy, grace, and love. Thank You for being good all the time and for loving us far beyond any measure. Truly, how great are You, God Almighty! Mighty in word and deed! I praise Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Living in today

Matthew 6:34 NKJV — “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Jesus’s words are so rich.

Yet, how easy is it to live in today without worry?

Especially those worries which point to a future moment.

“What about…?”

“How will…?”

“What if…?”

At times our minds can be so full of doubt, worry, and fear that we feel overwhelmed and lost.

Our very understanding is twisted by despair if not unchecked.

Therefore Jesus’s words hold such freedom.

Live in today and don’t worry about tomorrow.

Each day has enough in it without dragging in worries and fears about tomorrow, next week, next year.

Yet, without purposeful effort, the enemy will bombard our minds with worry, fear, and doubt.

So how do we live in today and refuse to fall into the web of worry?

Be purposeful.

Take every thought captive.

Choose to trust God.

At times it’s helpful just to state it.

“Lord, I don’t know what is happening and tomorrow seems so uncertain, but I trust You to handle it all. What is the task at hand I need to focus on?”

Then follow through.

If you can’t hear the Lord direct you, look to see what needs to be done and do it.

Sometimes that’s as mundane as laundry.

Sometimes it’s as eternal as guiding a child’s heart.

Sometimes it’s as small as an encouraging word.

Sometimes it’s as monumental as God’s truth in season.

Whatever you find to do, do it with all your might unto the Lord.

In the doing, is where we will find our faith in God built-up.

Live in today unto the Lord, and refuse to fall prey to the enemy’s schemes of worry.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for this verse. Please help us to better understand how to walk without fear. Lord, we are frail and often feel helpless. Please step in at those moments and take charge of our hearts and minds, bringing us security in You. Lord, thank You for being so faithful and diligent in all things and teaching us how to walk closer to You each day. Lord, if there is anything which has tied and trapped us into the enemy’s web of worry, please expose it, so we might repent and allow You to cut the ties that bind us to sin. Lord Jesus, we love You and we thank You for all You are doing on our behalf. We praise Your glorious name! Amen!

Tell yourself

This picture makes me laugh.

Taken years ago during a skit, it still conveys an emotion.

My expression was meant to convey to the child audience a thought in my head:

“I really don’t think you know what your talking about!”

And therein lies a truth.

Our own thoughts have an enormous impact.

Recently, the point was brought into focus through these words:

“…The most important voice you hear outside of the Lord’s is your own. What do you tell yourself?”
Pastor Chuck Swindoll, Dallas Theological Seminary, Pressing On

What do you tell yourself?

What should anyone bathed in Christ’s redemption be telling themselves?

The Truth.

Words filled with Christ Jesus.

John 14:6 KJV — Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

No matter the circumstance, the answer is in Scripture.

Romans 12:15 NKJV — Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Praise God over blessings and benefits!

Be thankful.

Uphold those who sorrow in prayer.

James 5:13 NKJV — Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Let a worship song play over and over inside.

Thoughts can be purposeful meditation upon the Word.

Psalm 119:15 NKJV — I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.

No, it’s not just a positive mindset.

Nothing fake or pretence.

Nor is it ignoring strife, pain, or disappointment.

It’s purposeful.

Take thoughts, allow them to be combed and groomed by the timeless truths of the Gospel.

It’s learning to surrender even everyday preferences to the hand of the Master, Jesus.

For without Christ, the Savior, we are nothing.

The psalmist put it best:

Psalm 119:30 KJV — I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Tell yourself the truth.

Fill your thoughts with Christ.

In the solitude

Unfortunately I didn’t get the name of the Archbishop whose quote was used.

I wasn’t able to write it down word for word.

Yet the message of those words have lingered in my heart.

It ran something like this:

“You will know what is really god in your life by where your mind goes in times of solitude.”

The pastor restated it.

“What do you think about when you don’t have something you have to think about?”

So I looked inward.

“Lord, are You the first thing I think about and the most common thing on my mind?”

Prayer is my life line.

It holds me close to Jesus and carries me from one thing to the next.

But is it the thing I do most with my solitude?

Honestly, I hope so, but I don’t trust my own judgement.

It’s easy to say, “Oh yeah, I totally have that under control”, but as a person whose sinful it’s easy to deceive myself.

When I think I’ve got it all together is when I’m the closet to danger.

This being my state, I must revisit this question of who is god in my life.

I want Jesus to be.

I want my thoughts to be continually in prayer.

I want my solitude to be filled with Him.

Just wanting something doesn’t make it happen.

Therefore I am looking for ways to focus my mind on Christ.

1 Peter 1:13 NKJV — Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

“Dear Lord Jesus,

Please help me to kick out anything which would take over my thoughts. Let my mind be filled with You, that You might be the only One upon the throne of my heart. Lord, it is easy to get caught up in the cares if this life. Please help me keep my focus clear and my mind upon You. Thank You for these words whose truth have helped me look inward with clarity. May Your name be praised!

Thoughts

Where do thoughts come from?

At times mine are planted from things I have read or heard.

Others it has been spoken words that replay like voice mail in my brain.

The thoughts of fear, and failure, and tragedy are normally not mine but have been shot at me like arrows from the enemy of my soul.

But all of these are washed away in the thoughts of Scripture.

Something so refreshing as, “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Is.40:11

As a mother who’s greatest desire is to bless and encourage our children it is so comforting to know it all doesn’t rest on my abilities.

I am being led.

As long as I choose to walk in the path of the Master and to allow the Good Shepherd to guide me I can rest in His leading.

Even in my thoughts,  I can choose to follow Him.

Am I worried about my daughter’s progress in math?

I can spend those moments in prayer for her.

Am I concerned about the physical safety of the girls in sports?

I can seek the Lord as to how to train them to be safe, but only after trusting the Lord with them.

Do I find my thoughts lingering near the ugly and ungodly?

I can seek forgiveness and again apply scripture to heal and nourish my soul.

So where do thoughts come from?

I hope yours as well as mine are being bathed in scripture as we are led down the paths of righteousness.