The Thought Train
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Wow. So much truth in these words. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:5 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. Paul, was of course, on track and the idea that our thoughts don't sometimes become action is ludicrous.
So the logical way to control our thoughts is to put in the right thoughts. Not dead assumptions, but truly alive thoughts. Hmmmm. The writer of Hebrews explained the intense teaching of God's Word in this way. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. In other words, there is a deeper penetration into our inner self that changes us at our core. It divides our soul and spirit and the division opens a portal to a better way of thinking because it changes us at our deepest part and influences our thoughts as well. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,for everything you do flows from it. Everything we do? Yep! Well, what influences your heart? The old man or natural man as the Bible says, is the old you BEFORE Christ. The new you is the spiritual man, who is to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and of course, God's Word. I think we underestimate the power of THOUGHT at times and discount the need to deepen our relationship with God at our core. That is a mistake.
Just imagine you are the only person on the earth right now and God is your source of reason, thought, and decisions. You would rely totally on His guidance to take the right steps to live every moment. Your thoughts would be "I wonder what God thinks about this and I wonder which decision He would want me to make?" It wouldn't be long before you decided "I just need to ask Him!" You would be relying on every word that comes out of His mouth wouldn't you? The natural or old you would live from a reality of putting food on the table and succeeding in your job or family. The spiritual you would line up with Jesus where in Matthew 4:4 He says 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. To live, in this verse might mean to exist! In other words our every existence is to be tied to the Word of God, our source, and yes, our thoughts also.
Where does this source of understanding come from and how does this all work. Paul explained in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Our source has to be God, but that is where we pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit to take over our thoughts and teach us the ways of God and that change is amazingly powerful. If there is some hesitation to let the Holy Spirit take over every part of your life perhaps reading 1 Corinthians 2:14 will give you a good vantage point of what needs to be done. 14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. You are no longer the "natural" man(or woman) because you received the Holy Spirit and now He is in control from the inside out. You might wonder what should be our attitude in relating to God as a spiritual person. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:33 where He says But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.
All of this stuff is tied together and at it's source is the very thoughts we think. Let God change your thoughts to line up with His and it will change your total perspective on life itself. No more trying to think on your own, but doing as 2 Corinthians 10:5 says 2 Corinthians 10:5 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. This is obedience at it's core...your core. Spend time with God talking about this and I know He will line up with His Word and affirm you as you seek Him with all your heart. God just does that you know! Jump on The Thought Train and everything else falls into place.
The Pilgrimage continues...
David Warren