SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1035

“Thought Life”

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

Have you ever been lost in thought and suddenly brought back to present reality by someone saying, ‘ A penny for your thoughts’? Would you eagerly share them or would you be ashamed of where your mind has been?

Our thoughts are the wellspring of our life decisions and actions, therefore we must be as concerned with what we think as we are with what we do. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23) Our thoughts can generally be in one of three areas: The Gutter of Wickedness, The Gulley of Worry, or in The Garden of Life.

Gutter of wickedness: And he (Jesus) said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23) We may be able to hide the time we spend with our mind in the gutter by not accepting the offer of a penny for our thoughts, but we cannot hide the truth from God. “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

By the conviction of the Word of God, repentance and the grace of forgiveness we can climb out of the gutter. For the word of God is living and active…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:7))

Gulley of worry: Some of us become physically and emotional ill from worrisome thinking. …Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:25-34)

We can escape the gulley by keeping our thoughts on the Word of God. Read, study, and commit to memory key Scripture verses that you can think and speak to keep out of the Gulley of Worry. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ… (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Garden of life: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8) There is no shame in such thoughts and we eagerly share them – they are priceless, worth far more than a penny.

May our prayer be as that of the psalmist who wrote: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)