Text- Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
Whenever a person misbehaves, one common question people usually ask is “what were you thinking?” The idea behind this question is the fact that every of our actions in life is undernoted by a thought process.
Basically, we are what we think. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “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”. In other words, we are all products of our thoughts.
Research has shown that an average of 10,000 thoughts go through the normal human mind each day. If these vast amounts of thoughts barrage our minds on a daily basis, then we must take care to evaluate our thoughts, particularly the ones we allow to put down roots in our hearts.
When you check through the Old Testament, the laws were more about right actions versus wrong actions… “Thou shall not murder; thou shall not commit adultery, etc.” However, when Jesus came, his emphasis was on right thoughts versus wrong thoughts…
“Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…” – Matthew 5: 21-22
So then, it’s no longer about the act of murder, the issue now is the thoughts of unnecessary anger.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28
So then again, it’s no longer about the act of adultery, we are to entertain lustful thoughts.
Paul the Apostle explained 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”. Beloved, that must be our preoccupation as believers.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8
PRAYER
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.