Keep your mind on Him

#Scripture#

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. (Pr 23:7a NKJ)

7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with a peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.(Phil 4:8-9)

Mind your Thoughts

Often we are to be sure of our thoughts; and what we think about. It is written, as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Whatever we allow into our thought life, may, could and can directly or indirectly affect our lives, or the lives of others. Sometimes we are the only representative of God, which people might see. Therefore we are to watch what we think and meditate upon.

We ought to transform our lives thru the renewing of our minds. Our thought life can either be an encouragement, blessing for others and ourselves or may be a stumbling block, which could lead to death and destruction. Therefore we are; to be careful, as to which we allow in our thought life. We always need to watch, be wary, aware, of that which we open our eyes and ears to.

For this reason, we are admonished and encouraged in the Word to take every one of our thoughts captive, bringing them into obedience to Christ Jesus. Remember our enemy may also place incorrect thoughts, meditations, messages, in our minds and hearts. As Paul had written, we’re not unaware, ignorant of his devices (2 Cor 2:11).

This enemy of ours also goes around as a roaring lion seeing whom he may devour, whom we are to resist. We’re only able to resist the enemy, when we submit ourselves to God, humbling ourselves in God’s sight, then the enemy shall flee from us. (1 Pet 5:5-11; Jas 4:4-11).

Usually, our thoughts may lead to action. Whether positive or negative, when we meditate, think long enough about something, we are sure to act or react in some or other way. Thoughts don’t necessarily lay dormant. An action might begin with one seed thought, whether by suggestion, or any other means.

The Lord knows our Thoughts

The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity_ _ _ (Ps 94:11-13a NKJ).

Though the thoughts of man are diverse and many. The Lord is aware of each and every one of our thoughts, which we allow prevailing, in our minds. These thoughts we think about may determine our future outcome. This is why we are to commit our thoughts to the Lord. We may hide our thoughts from others, yet we are not able, to hide the thoughts of our hearts and minds, from the Lord.

Although our thoughts and plans are many, it’s the Lord who directs, our paths; making our steps sure (Pr 16:9 amp). Sometimes we may find our philosophizing, about much ado about nothing.

When young, I regularly had coffee at a certain coffee bar, near my work every morning. This had been a regular event for students, youth and young at heart. (I am not sure if the students, young people of those days would remember “Die Koffiekroeg,” which had been at “Debruynpark,” during that time).

Why am I bringing this to mind, do I hear someone ask? Only for this one reason: –

There had been a group of these philosophical students, in this time, who had started a discussion, about the origin of nothing. While listening to their different interpretations, I noticed their fine humour. They were literally punning the pun. I noticed their highly intelligent brand of humour.

Like Shakespeare, they were literally acting out his famous play; “Much ado about nothing;” truly a comedy of errors. They probably would have said, as philosophers of old: “I think therefore I am. ” Sometimes we may sit and think, or sometimes we may just sit. Yet either way; the Lord, is very much aware, of that which we may meditate or think upon.

Think on these things

We need to meditate think upon God’s Word, for us to be able to grow in spiritual stature. The Lord tells us He knows the thoughts, which He thinks toward us. His thoughts toward us are those of peace, future and hope. These are linked directly or indirectly with His Love toward us, because of His Faithfulness.

For the just live by faith, not by sight. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen(see Heb 11:1-3). So then faith comes, by and through hearing which also comes from the Word of God. This is why we need the Lord to open the eyes of our understanding, then we start to know God’s heart toward others, and toward us.

Then we are able to think of these things. Yes even as Paul writes in Philippians. “Finally, brethren (& sister-en), 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 (think, set your mind upon them) on these things (see Phil 4:7-8).

Through doing these things, applying the Word, in our situation. While we head towards the renewing of our minds, we shall find the peace of God, which surpasses all our understanding, guarding our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).

This means we need to daily check out our thought life, whether it gives Glory to our Lord. Remember, we need to regularly, daily, guard our hearts and minds as recorded in Proverbs. We are to keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life (Pr 4:23 NKJ).

The amplified gives us a clearer understanding. Reading from verse 20 we see the following : –

My son/daughter, attend to My Words; consent and submit to my sayings. let them depart from your sight; keep them in the centre of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that (which) you guard, for out of it flow the (well)springs of life. (Pr 4:20 – 23 amp).

For the Lord gives us the words of life. In fact, He is the Word of God; made flesh. We have no other way to live, except through Christ. He daily leads us, when we give Him the full charge of our life. He is able to make us new people. When we say yes to Him, He shall enter in, give us a new heart.

Renew our Mind

_do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (see Rom 12:2 NKJ)

In due course, we’re able to renew our minds, change our thought life, to conform to the Lord’s Word. When the Lord asks us, even as He asked the disciples. While the others left, He asked the twelve, if they would also leave. Yet Simon aka Peter, answered, saying;

“Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (See Jn 6:60-71). Shall we say the same as Peter? Or are we going to do then the same as those who left Him? I know what I decided, and whom I follow.

I have decided to go the same way as Peter. Yes, I have decided to follow Jesus. There is no other way to go to. Lord, You certainly have the words of Life. He (Jesus) requires us to renew our minds. How shall we hear, unless our ears have been opened, to hear the Word of His testimony? How can we see, unless our eyes have been opened to be able to see, even as He sees?

No one is as blind as those who do not wish to see, Nor anyone so deaf as they who do not wish to hear. The word is near to us, even as close as on our lips, and in our hearts; that is the Word of God, which we preach (see Rom 10:4-10). Our thoughts, what we think of; meditate upon, during the day; may determine our final outcome.

The Lord knows His Thoughts

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer 29:11 NKJ).

The Lord’s thoughts towards us have always been thoughts of life. He desires to give us a future. He desires to prosper us, give us success. We know he also has pleasure in our prosperity. Yet we are to ask, seek our Lord, for His Godly Wisdom, while thinking on our thoughts.

Whenever we attempt any new projects, we need to wisely think about, the planning of the project. This is what our Lord had thought about when He first created man. His plan had been to make us in His Image. God created man male and female H created them. When looking at all of creation, we see there had been a great amount of planning, and thought involved.

Throughout the creation phase, the reality of orderly planning is realized. God carefully thought about the end result. He always does something, with the final outcome in mind. We should also plan ahead of time, with the end in mind. How are our thoughts and lives touching others?

We need to commit our works to the Lord, then our thoughts shall be established. Although we may have many thoughts, eventually God’s plans shall be established. God makes sure of the thoughts, He has for us.