What do you think about your thinking?

What Do You Think?

About Your Thinking…

By Estelle Nazary

This could be a never-ending subject.  While we are awake, we usually are thinking most of the time, about something.  Let’s think for a few minutes about:

            WHAT             we think

            HOW               we think

            WHY               we think the way we do.

I have being studying this subject for several weeks and have discovered there is considerably more than I realized in God’s word dealing with our thinking.

Let’s start with Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks within himself, so he is.  This brings up some hard questions. 

            Who am I?

            Why am I the way I am?

            It must have to do with the way I think!!

Do you like who/what you are?

Are there some things/areas that could use some improvement? 

I am sure we can all think of some.

           

How we think affects our whole outlook/approach to life.  Most everything we say or do begins with how we think.  So, if we are wrong in the way we think about something, odds are, we will be wrong when we say or do that thing.  Someone has called this, “Stinkin Thinkin”. 

           

Well, it is clear that we need to change our thinking if we hope to change our actions.  We must have some standards or guidelines that we can use.  Guess what?  God has already provided some for us.  Using our own standards gets us into trouble.  We may think something is right and be very sincere about it, but we can be sincerely wrong!  I am certain we have all had experience with this.

           

How ever we think about things, let us measure them by God’s word.  That is the only true and certain standard for us to use.  We tend to see things from our own perspective or viewpoint.  Are we willing to let God change our thinking when it is not in line with His?

Just think, if we had not changed how we thought about ourselves when we were in a lost condition, we would still be in that condition!

            Do you look for what is right?

            Do you look for what is wrong?

            Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

How does God want us to think about ourselves?  By the way, that is what many think about the most.  Do you agree?  Let us look at some examples:

           

Worry is one of our biggest areas of bad thinking. 

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?' "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things ; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34

We have Wrong Thinking.

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, Proverbs 6:17-18

We should not depend on our thinking.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 

Proverbs 3:5

Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12

There is a new way to think, soberly, seriously.

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. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think ; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:2-3

We should think Cautiously.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

We should think Humbly.

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.  For each one will bear his own load. Galatians 6:3-5

We should not think Foolishly.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless .James 1:26

We should think on Things Above.

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2

We should think about Pure Things.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Paul said, “when I do good (think right), evil is present with me.” Romans 7:21

Satan roams about looking to devour us.  If he gets us to thinking wrong, we are beat already.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Lord, teach us to think more like you, to see things through our spiritual eyes, so we will see from your point of view and become more of what you want us to be.