What Are You Thinking?
One of the many things I noticed while reading the Gospels is how often the writer will say: “Jesus, knowing their thoughts said _______.” I was reading “Mary’s Song” in Luke 1:51 and then what Simeon said in Luke 2:35 and haven’t been able to get it out of my head. So what has my brain been ruminating on?
In Luke 1 Mary talks about how great God is and what He will do for her. Then verse 51: “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.” (italics mine)
Way to drop a bomb, Mare! It’s all sweet and wonderful until she tells us God will scatter those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. Wait! What?
Then in Luke 2 Simeon is all excited to see the Savior, he’s been waiting his whole life, and talks about the faithfulness of God and he blesses Mary and Joseph. Then he drops a few bombs of his own and ends with verse 35: “…so that the thoughts of many will be revealed…” (italics mine)
The word “thoughts” in both Scriptures come from the same root word and means: the mind, disposition, understanding, deliberation, doubts, motives, reasoning, questions about what is true, imagination, plotting, arguments and dissension to name a few. Have you ever had to deal with some of that? Me too!
Thoughts can be scary and overwhelming, especially in the middle of the night when I can’t go back to sleep. Oy.
Yes, Jesus came to be our Savior but also to show us areas in our lives that do not align with Him or the Kingdom of God. We cannot hide anything from God, not even what we think. How does that sit with you? What have you been thinking about concerning that person, that situation, that job, that …
It sent me to my knees.
Jesus never addressed the thoughts of someone to bring shame. I believe He was trying to get them to change and choose to think and live righteously. The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law would get angry because they didn’t want to face that in themselves and make a change. Let’s not be like that.
Jesus always raised the bar and flipped the script. If you lust, you are committing adultery; if you hate, it’s like murder. He gave value and dignity to women, kiddos, the sick and the sinner. He challenged Israel and the Disciples in how they treated others and thought about themselves.
How we live our life matters!
I’d like to piggy back on my last blog a bit when we talked about God taking away our disgrace and shame. What if our continuing to be able to walk in that freedom means we need to change how we think. How we think about ourselves. How we think about God. It’s about our mindset. Is it positive? Is it negative? Does it change daily depending on our mood or circumstances? Do we believe the lie that we will never change?
The definition of Mindset is: a mental attitude or inclination, a fixed state of mind. A habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you interpret and respond to situations.
When we change our thinking, we change our lives.
As I have believed God’s word and really embraced His love for me, His grace, His forgiveness, I have seen a difference in my thoughts, actions, responses, choices, decisions … all the things.
When I’m tired, slack off in spending time with Him, allow someone or something to get under my skin, let it fester and not deal with it. I see things like doubt, insecurity, anger, frustration … creep back in.
We need to know that God DOES not love us any less with all this stuff in our lives. I really like the line in the song “I Am Your Beloved” that says: “The One who knows me best is the One who loves me most.” We are fully seen and fully loved by the God of Heaven, but we are missing out in living free and whole lives by not changing our thoughts. Our motives. Our mindsets.
What can hold us back is what we let ourselves to continue to think about. An lone intrusive thought will always be a part of what we face every day. It’s when we allow that intrusive thought to stay and dictate who we are, what we think, how we respond.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasant and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
The most wonderful news is we are not alone in this battle. The power of the Holy Spirit has given us all the tools we need to fight and win!
Guard your mind, child of God!
Have a great day!
All My Love ~
Jodi xo
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