A Healthy Thought Life
How is your thought life these days? Are you trying to live a good life while thinking just the opposite? If so, yours is a losing cause. The Bible says, As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). What we think is what we are. Get your thought life in order and the rest will follow.
Here is a challenging verse of Scripture found in 2 Corinthians 10:5, where the apostle Paul wrote, Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Thought life is of extreme importance, because all our actions are preceded by our thoughts. It is easy, even for Christians, to have a distorted thought life.
This is why many professing believers are ineffective for Christ. Paul tells us that our thoughts are to be brought into captivity . . . to the obedience of Christ. What we think should be God-pleasing in every respect. We may seek to please God outwardly, but if we have an unhealthy thought life, growth in grace will be limited.
What are the kinds of thoughts that may hinder our usefulness? One of the most common kinds is self-righteous thoughts, living under the supposition that we are better than other people. This kind of thinking leads to pride, causing abuse of other Christians. The most difficult person in the world with whom to live and work is a proud person. The proud Pharisee stood in the temple and prayed, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess (Luke 18:11,12). What an empty, superficial shallow prayer this was. Here was a man mastered by his self-righteous thoughts. I am sure the day came when God stripped him of his self-righteous thoughts and he stood spiritually naked in eternal shame. If we think we can pray, speak, sing, or play an instrument better than somebody e lse, how foolish. We need to bring our self-righteous thoughts into the captivity of Christ.
Another kind of thinking that can be a hindrance in the believer’s life is complaining thoughts. Some people think negatively most of the time. If asked how things are going, it is always bad. Years ago, I had a pastorate in a prosperous rural area in Minnesota. There were several of the farmers who came to church whom I never asked how things were on the farm. If the weather was not wet, it was “too dry.” If it was not hot, it was “too cold.” For them, it was always the worst year ever as far as their crops were concerned. There are some people who hardly speak a sentence without complaining about one thing or another. Instead of telling you about the good things they are enjoying, they waste your time by telling you all about their aches and pains. They never have praise for the Lord but only grumble and complain.
Why should any of us go about making the rest of the world miserable? Let’s get rid of complaining thoughts and give thanks and praise to God. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Let's be content and not grumble. God says in Psalm 107:8, Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! All the blessings of heaven can never make us happy, as long as we are possessed by complaining thoughts.
We can have all that this world can give, and yet be miserable. Or we could be very, very poor, and yet be cheerful and happy. To a large degree, it depends on how we think. Don’t provoke God with complaining thoughts. The children of Israel provoked Him by their attitude in the wilderness and He sent fiery serpents among them. Read about this in Numbers 21:4-6. Think thoughts of praise and honor to the Lord.
A third kind of thinking among believers that needs to be brought into the obedience of Christ is unbelieving thoughts. Often, these come in the form of doubts. We wonder if God can really help us in our time of need. We fear that maybe He has turned from us and providence has failed. We may think that everything is working adversely when, in reality, because of our sovereign God, things are working to our advantage. But with our shallow thinking we refuse to believe Him. We allow our imagination to carry us into the realm of superficiality saying, “But what if God fails,” “What if God doesn’t answer my prayers,” “What if God does not help me?” How vain are our unbelieving thoughts!
I wonder if this kind of thinking harassed Job in his extreme hours of pain and anguish. I am prone to think that it might have. In fact I see him at a very low ebb when in the midst of it all he cried out, Thou he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15). In other words Job said, “Away with such thoughts of doubting God; they are ridiculous. What God wants is what I want.” Job won the battle and got on the victory side.
On which side are you? Do you believe we have an unfailing God? In 1 Kings 8:56, we are assured that there hath not failed one word of all His good promise. What God has said, He will do. He always does. He never goes back on His word. Believe Him, child of God. Do not for a minute allow your mind to be cluttered with unbelieving thoughts. Trust the Lord. He is sufficient for every need of life.
There are other kinds of thoughts that hinder our effectiveness for Christ; dishonest thoughts, worthless thoughts, immoral thoughts, and hateful thoughts. Satan is busy with all of us, tempting us to think incorrectly. For that reason, daily in our prayer time we need to allow the Holy Spirit to bring our thoughts into the captivity of obedience to Christ. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. He is giving us good advice. How can we best banish our worthless thoughts? Think good ones! We cannot think about two things at one time. Let’s choose the right thought s. We are the masters of our thought-life. The manner in which we think cannot be blamed on anyone else.
You may feel that you are too weak. In reality, all of us are. But remember, Christ is strong. He is Almighty. As we give Him the pre-eminence in our thought life, we shall enjoy His blessing in ever other realm of life. Maybe, however, your real problem is that you’ve never really entered into a personal relationship with the Jesus Christ. For you it is a difficult battle; I know, for I have been there. Before you can change your thought-life, you need a change of heart. And that comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Call on Christ at this moment. Tell Him your need, and then pray, “Lord, I’m sorry for my sins. I want to be saved. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.” God will hear you and God will help you. Trust Him!
J. Allen Blair
THE NEW YEAR & THE NEW LIFE
J. Allen Blair
Are you thinking, “I wish I could start my life all over again. I don’t think I would get in the mess I’m in now.” Some of you have made a miserable failure of life. Maybe you think you married the wrong person, or you are living in the wrong city or town...if somehow you could get out of it all. Well, there is a way to experience a complete change through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you have never received Jesus Christ into your life, I urge you to do it right now. Living without Him is a hopeless blank. But, when He comes in, He changes things and you experience a newness like that of a baby just born into the wor ld.
At the beginning of this New Year, I urge you to accept God’s wonderful salvation, and then you will begin to sing with meaning, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” Don't go through life trying to face temptation and sin in your own strength. God has made this marvelous provision to enable you to overcome temptation and live a life of victory and blessing in Christ. Experience the newness of life in Jesus Christ!
Encouragement for the New Year
“Perfect” rather than “neglect” your gift!
(1 Timothy 4:14)