The Thoughts of the Heart
Today’s Verse:
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ~Luke 24:38
Thoughts are ideas, images, individuals, and interpretations of our mind. Dictionary.com defines a thought as “a process of mental activity. It is the capacity of or faculty of thinking, reasoning, imagining, etc.” What we think about determines what we do or don’t do. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” What kind of thoughts do you have?
There are divided thoughts.
“I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love” (Psalm 119:113). The word “vain” means divided. We get the idea of doublemindedness. When we are divided in our thoughts, we are doubtful, skeptical, and undecided. Divided thoughts are an indication of little or no faith. If we have divided thoughts, we are unsure of Who God is! We are unsure if God answers prayer or is here for us when we need Him. Like the psalmist, we should hate being divided.
There are discriminating thoughts.
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:4). These kinds of thoughts are when we show partiality to one group of people. We see this when a person is partial towards an ethnicity, is partial towards the rich, or is unloving towards a class of people. James makes it very clear that partiality is a sin. The royal law demands, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (James 2:8).
There are devilish thoughts.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19). Genesis 6:5 says that the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually. Devilish or evil thoughts affect everyone. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Evil thoughts begin with what we allow to enter into our mind. Evil thoughts result in premeditated sin. Evil thoughts lead to cursing, wrathful outbursts, clandestine sins, and hurtful actions.
There are diligent thoughts.
“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want” (Proverbs 21:5). Diligent thinking is productive thinking. I believe that a diligent thinker is strategic and plans ahead. He is goal-centered with a profitable end result in mind. He is organized in his thinking. He is methodical and not haphazard. He is a high achiever in his thinking. He prays in the Spirit and prays in faith for God to answer his prayers. He is thoughtful of others. He weighs risks and reward carefully. He is a dreamer and a visionary. Leaders must be diligent thinkers.
There are directed thoughts.
“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). Directed thoughts are when we submit our concerns, plans, situation, and problems into God’s hand and let Him direct our thoughts. Sermons are developed when we commit our thoughts to the Lord. Strategic plans are developed when we submit what we want to do for the Lord and He gives us the plan. Resolving difficult issues is praying for God to direct our steps. I believe the kind of praying God blesses is when we commit everything to Him and ask Him to order our steps in His Word.
What kind of thoughts do you have? Let the Lord be in control of your thoughts. Bring every thought captive to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a Christ-minded God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Exodus 22-24