What to Do with Wayward Thoughts<\/strong> \u201cWe are taking every thought captive to the obedience<\/a> of Christ\u201d –\u00a0<\/em>2 Corinthians 10:5<\/a><\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Everyone has errant thoughts from time to time. If we handle them well and send them on their way, in no way should we feel shame or guilt.<\/p>\n Martin Luther<\/a> said, \u201cYou cannot keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building nests in your hair.\u201d You thought that line was original with your grandma? I have a hunch Luther didn\u2019t make it up either, but was quoting something he had heard all his life. No telling where it originated. But it\u2019s the solid truth.<\/p>\n Thoughts of all kinds flit through our minds. We reject the bad ones and go forward. But we should not feel guilty that they appeared, if only momentarily. Only had we welcomed them inside and let them entertain us with their juicy (scary!) scenarios should we feel that we have done wrong.<\/p>\n No one should ever rationalize that \u201cWell, it was just a thought and thoughts are harmless.\u201d<\/p>\n They are not harmless. The thought is the preparation for the act.<\/p>\n Every wrong deed begins with a wrong thought. And seriously wrong deeds are almost always preceded by a full-scale onslaught of impure thinking, planning and daydreaming.<\/p>\n As serious disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we fill our minds with thoughts proper and healthy, godly and edifying.\u00a0\u201cWhatsoever things are 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, let your mind dwell on these things\u201d<\/em>(Philippians 4:8<\/a><\/u><\/strong>).<\/p>\n This is not a new idea, but consistently taught throughout Scripture\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHis delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law doth he meditate day and night\u201d<\/em>(Psalm 1:2<\/a><\/u><\/strong>).<\/p>\n \u201cThy word have I treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee\u201d<\/em> (Psalm 119:11<\/a><\/u><\/strong>).<\/p>\n \u201cBut Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Luke 2:19<\/a><\/u><\/strong>).<\/p>\n Never mind the television commercial that asks, \u201cWhat\u2019s in your wallet?\u201d Better to ask, \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d What are you thinking about? What are you dwelling upon? Where does your mind go to rest and when it settles down? What is it feasting upon?<\/p>\n \u201cA man may not be what he thinks he is, but what he thinks, he is.\u201d \u2013 Anonymous and true.<\/p>\n \u201cBlessed are the pure in heart\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Matthew 5:8<\/a><\/u><\/strong>).<\/p>\n![\"Your](\"https:\/\/media.swncdn.com\/via\/22477-your-daily-bible-verse-800x200-1.png\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/a><\/p>\n
By: Joe McKeever<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.swncdn.com\/cms\/CW\/BSMdevo\/64734-bsm337.jpg\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/p>\n