leading little hearts home: DOES GOD CARE ABOUT WHAT WE THINK?

I can't believe it's Back to School time already!

RIGHT THINKING MATTERS

I just want to say from the start, this isn't a post to add one more burden for anyone to carry. The point is not that we won't make mistakes in our thinking but that there are times I buzz through life with the false impression that my thinking is inconsequential to some degree.

Maybe you do too.

We know that God cares about what we do; how we treat others, spend our time, abilities and resources. And we know He cares about what we say (our words are to encourage, exhort and so on), but have you given much consideration to the idea that God cares about what we think?

Back to school packs. Each kiddo had their own color. And a chocolate. Because
really-- everything is better with chocolate, right?

GOOD-BYE STINKIN’ THINKIN’

Recently, I have been reading a lot of verses that have reminded me that our thinking matters.

Before we were believers, we had a different way of thinking.

Ephesians 4:17-18 says that we are commanded to no longer walk or even think as the Gentiles.

“no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance in them, because of the hardening of their heart.”

Our thoughts are new, just like our hearts. And when they are not, we have a new pattern of how to deal with those thoughts.

Getting our hands dirty harvesting the last of the garden spoils.

We learn (with ever so much trial along the way) to “bring every thought captive into the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

We push out ungodly thoughts and worldview to have “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16).

And we make provision to grow in our discernment and understanding (Phil. 1:9).

All packed and ready for a last little slice of summer-- a day at the lake.

Yes, God cares about what we think. I guess that we should too.

We had a private beach for hours to play and rest.

DAVID HAD RIGHT THINKING

As I have been meditating on the Psalms the past few weeks, I have been so very encouraged reading David. Sometimes I think that he has a much clearer view of God as his Father than I do.

Tada! Sister love. They played for hours in the lake.

David’s enemies were ungodly. That didn’t mean they didn’t go to temple, but they were slick-talking, self-promoting and vile. They exposed their own lack of faithfulness with throats that were like an “open tomb” Psalm 5:9.

As a side note, just think about the purpose of the tombs in David’s day. Remember, they conveniently kept the stink in (John 11:39). There was deadness and decay inside and people wanted to keep that stench contained. If only the sharp tongued men who attacked David had a stone placed over their mouths.

Smiling at my honey (see me in his glasses?)

But this is really about how David responded when he was literally run out of town by these men, led by his own son Absalom.

You remember that Absalom had covertly worked to turn hearts against David and toward himself. He seemed proud to "make a name for himself" like the ungodly men from Tower of Babel.

David's life was turned completely upside down as he was forced to flee far from his home; was cursed by men who misunderstood him and heard the people say, "There is no help for him in God (Psalm 3:2)."

Dog surfer by Michaela.

David, while running from their traitorous hands cries to the LORD:

“But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,

My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

I cried to the Lord with my voice,

And He heard me from His holy hill.”

- Psalm 3:3-4

This is right thinking.

Faithie soaking up the heat and the chance to read.

David set his mind on truth. While others said he was without hope, David rightly believed that God heard his cry and was the lifter of his head.

I am a head lifter. As parents, we all have opportunities to lift up little downcast heads, don't we? When a little someone has had their feelings hurt by others, it is our love relationship with that little one, that allows us to lift their little head; look in their eyes; dispel their fears and comfort their heart.

And David knew that God is our Father in that way. He is the lifter of our heads.

I love this man like crazy. We just celebrated 23 years of marriage.

Later David said:

“But let all those rejoice who put their

Trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because

You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as

With a shield.”

- Psalm 5:11-12

Goodbye sweet Summer...

David asked that all of those who trust in GOD (that is you and me!) would rejoice, shout and be joyful! Not because we won't face trials, but because GOD Himself is our shield! And we can't get a better deal than that.

We know that God has fought for us in the past. We have seen His faithful hand extended to us. Remembering those truths and having patterns of thankfulness.

That is right thinking.

It's been great to visit on the porch with dear long-time friends.

David had it right.

Paul had it right.

And they not only remind us of right thinking, but also tell us to protect that right thinking from the crafty and persuasive words of men (Col. 2:4) as we are rooted and built up in Him (Col. 2:6).

Friend love.

Is the way we think really such a big deal? I guess it is because God placed a warning sign up for us to read in His Word.

It starts as all serious warning signs do-- with the strong declaration of "BEWARE":

"Beware lest anyone cheat you

through philosophy and empty deceit,

according to the tradition of men,

according to the basic principles of the world

and not according to Christ,

For in Him dwells all the fullness of

the Godhead bodily;

and you are complete in Him,

who is the head of all principality and power."

- Colossians 2:8-9

Unless we guard right thinking, we will be cheated.

Back to School we go!

As we get back into schooling our children, or in some cases as we send them to school, right thinking is something worth our attention.

Dr. Greg Bahnsen, writes in his book, Always Ready:

'"All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ (Col. 2:3-8).' Note he says all wisdom and knowledge is deposited in the person of Christ- whether it be about the War of 1812, water's chemical composition, the literature of Shakespeare, or the laws of logic!

Every academic pursuit and every thought must be related to Jesus Christ, for Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)." p. 4-5

As we read the headlines, study academics, interact socially, we have so many opportunities to filter those things through the protective screen of God's Word.

May we clearly show our little ones that all thinking and all wisdom relates back to the One Who made us, sustains us and lifts our troubled heads.

What are ways that you are proactively protecting right thinking and growing in discernment?

Because right thinking matters.

May you be blessed!