Thoughts and His Word

Chapter 2

The chapter begins with a prayer from the author that the reader is grasping the importance of training your thoughts to think on what is true and real. I’ve been going to biblical counseling for the past three weeks in order to help look at areas in my life and then turn to scripture for guidance. During the 2nd and 3rd weeks we focused on training my thoughts and asking several questions when something starts to creep in my mind. Honestly, I was thinking it was pretty dumb which was Satan telling me to continue to do it his way instead of God’s way. And what does God do, he has a friend suggest a book that starts off with “training your thoughts.” Man, God is good. I keep resisting and He keeps reaffirming this is the way…and to TRUST IN HIM. So maybe it is not dumb after all, and I need to take this seriously & there is something to it. Continuing to rebuke the bad, negative thoughts is never ending. The thoughts come in a moment’s notice and I’m starting to recognize them and cast them away, instead of dwelling on them and/or allowing Satan’s downward spiral effect occur. Temptations are all around, from magazines to movies to menu items to internet sites to internal urges, and when they come that switch is starting to flip and I am acknowledging that it’s a temptation vs. just the norm. I am so use to doing everything that is in the world which is not of God. A verse I love that reminds me of this is 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” Absolute Truth.

Replacing the non-truths with scripture is hard when you don’t know scripture by heart. You have to search for what He says and it takes time, which can either distract the mind or discourage the mind & conclude God has nothing to say about this. This is so untrue, since the Bible covers all aspects of a person’s life. But it can be very frustrating, too. I must persevere, as the Bible says. This is why I always have to fall back on James 4:17, if I get that feeling that this isn’t right, then it’s not God’s way & I must refrain from it. Even if I can’t find a specific passage that addresses the situation I am in, James 4:17 covers it all, at least for me. Tomorrow I will most likely be saying this verse over and over as nighttime hits and the devil comes out to play. I am going to have many temptations to go out and have a sinful time….yup James 4:17!

The two areas I am still struggling with, which were discussed in this chapter, are after you confess your sins to God not feeling forgiven and not thinking God could really forgive me for this. Per Elizabeth George, “When I do this, I am allowing my feelings to take precedence over the rock-solid, doctrinal truth of the forgiveness of sins available to us through Christ.” And “I’m allowing my thoughts to take precedence over the Word of God.” Isn’t that the truth! And the truth can be found in scripture too, 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I have to stop right there, and think on that and not allow my mind to wander.

Part of Elizabeth George’s study was to think on the value of God’s Word. I do believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, everything was inspired by God and is the Truth…bottomline. As I continue to read Scripture, of course, I am going to have questions about the verses and I may not understand exactly what I am reading. With God’s grace He will help me to understand by surrounding me with people who know His Word, are a wealth of knowledge, and radiant how a person is able to walk in His path. Plus, 2 Timothy 3:16 clearly states the ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and profitable in life.

A verse to meditate on…how the price for our sins and redemption was the pure blood of Christ Jesus (wow! doesn’t that just make you want to bow down and thank HIM) 1 Peter 1:18-19 – “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”