Obedience Entire

How to Control Your Thoughts

Ken

“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5 KJV). Mind control is not an external force demanding compliance, but it is the inner direction of the indwelling Holy Spirit inspiring and persuading us to pattern ourselves into the image of Jesus Christ. “For whom He did foreknow [us], He also did predestinate [us] to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren [us]” (Romans 8:29). 

First, it is possible to control all our thoughts for the LORD, or we would not be commanded to do so (2Corinthians 10:5), because “His commands are not burdensome” (1John 5:3 NIV). 

Second, thought control requires complete submission to God. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [Lordship of Christ], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Third, thought control must be total or not at all. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). 

Fourth, thought control must be directed by the Holy Spirit inspiring us to obey God. “And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). 

Fifth, thought control requires our complete cooperation, as if we were following in the steps of Christ.  “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1Peter 2:21). 

Sixth, thought control necessitates us to think and have the heart attitude, What would Jesus do in this circumstance? “What wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). 

Seventh, thought control must be God’s normal means of building His Kingdom, and requires (of course, not all at the same time):

A- Hearing, reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of God, i.e., “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

B- Singing God’s Word, which is worshipping God, i.e., “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).  

C- Praying in the Spirit, quietly or out loud, i.e., “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27). 

If we are so occupied with God, He will be in all our thoughts. The wicked are not so. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). 

Father, may You inhabit all our thoughts, for You are worthy. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen and amen.

Err From Thy Commandments (Psalm 119:21)

Ken

“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from Thy commandments” (Psalm 119:21 KJV). God rebukes the proud with a curse. Sinful pride is being more concerned about our glory than His. An evil misfortune wished upon someone is only incidental, unless it comes from the Almighty. “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). Erring from God’s commandments is not an attempt to obey that falls short, but a lack of heart to do what God requires. We shift the blame from ourselves to God, if we say we are doing the best we can, but only a sinful nature or inopportune circumstances prevented us from fully obeying and complying with His commands. God is a “discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12) and knows if we really are sincere and trying to be obedient. On the other hand, it is easier for us to blame a sinful nature or poor circumstances. 

Theologians have given us the opportunity of laying the blame upon a sinful nature. In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. Popularly put, I can’t help it, I was born this way. Blaming a sinful nature for our sinning is like blaming God for why I am the way I am. It is true, we may be more prone to steal to survive, if we were born poor; but, possessing riches is no guarantee we will not become thieves. Consider this in support of not being born with a sinful nature: “For this is the love of God: that we keep His commandments. And His commandments do not weigh us down” (1John 5:3 NET). In short, God’s commandments are not impossible to obey. If we could plead His commands too weighty, then we are absolved from loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor equal to ourself. God is no man’s fool. Perfect Love must be possible or else God’s Kingdom has no foundation. Father, may we rest in Your Spirit inspiring us to keep Your commandments. And, may we teach and act, as if the laws of Your Kingdom are a joy to be obeyed. Preserve us from misunderstanding Your precepts. May You receive the praise for our obedience, for it is You, who works in us “to will and to do” (Philippians 2:13). Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.