With wisdom and blessing God provided a multitude of Scriptures relating to how we think, to the best use of our mind in His kingdom. The following Scriptures, among many, clearly show the importance of the type of thinking we select.
According to Scripture the mind can be one that:
understands…is willing…is applied…is at peace…is steadfast…is keen…that loves the LORD…is open…is in unity...has the attitude of Christ…is settled…is convinced…is filled with concerns of God…is renewed…is governed by the Holy Spirit …is set on what the Spiritual desires
Sadly, despite His efforts to equip us, at times, we choose to have a mind that:
is anxious…imagines confusing things...does not rest...is closed…has delusions… is troubled…is filled with human concerns verses concerns of God…of worry...of doubts… is poisoned…is troubled…is depraved…is confused…is deceived…is unfruitful…is dull…is set on fleshly desires.
How many spiritual battles are fought in the mind first…all of them…most of them? He directs us to recall, to remember all that He has done, that our faith, heart and spirit might be strengthened for daily battles:
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
Psalm 77:11-12 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.
Psalm103:17,18
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Memory was crucial to the Israelites in their travels to and acquisition of the promised land
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord.
Remember to serve others, especially those in need
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Remember He is the source of all we have and are…humility is born
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
The importance of giving thanks and glory to God, to meditate and memorize truth:
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts
At the crossroads, the choice is made-Kingdom focus or self
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Heavenly, Holy Father,
You have provided all we need for life and godliness. May our thoughts honor You, our words and deeds bring You glory. May they be expressions our gratitude for all You have done to rescue us and bless us abundantly. Because of Jesus, Amen
Mischelle Oliver,
Stephenville, Texas
