THINK AND DO
King Solomon, the sage, penned powerful insights concerning the
connection between one’s thoughts and one’s destiny: “As he thinks in his
heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) This is the foundational truth undergirding
one of his more memorable directives: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for
out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) As we carefully
reflect upon our lives, we recognize that everything (good and bad) emerges
from how we think. How so? Every decision springs from internal
thought processes, and the actions that follow are merely reflections and
realizations of how and what we think.
It naturally follows that our thinking must be judiciously
regulated. Nevertheless, how are we to accomplish this when our senses
are overwhelmed daily by a tidal wave of worldly input via mass media and our
interactions with others?
Firstly, we must adopt a HIGHER
COMPASS by which to navigate and govern our lives. King
David’s prayer concerning this is key. He petitioned God: “ORDER MY STEPS IN YOUR WORD, and let no
iniquity have dominion over me.” (Psalm 119:133) Perhaps, this is the only logical
and practical way for us to fully embrace Solomon’s advice (referenced above)
to ‘guard our hearts.’ ONLY THE “WISE GOD” is consistently “able to keep
you from falling” into sin or error. (I Timothy 1:17 and Jude 1:24)
Why not ask GOD for help in filtering out all the background noise,
the worldly distractions, the confusing voices and the media assault on our
senses, so we are able to think wisely and super-naturally? Indeed, this
is absolutely necessary since the Word declares that “the carnal mind [the
natural or unredeemed mind] is enmity [the enemy] against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7)
The scriptural solution? “Do not be conformed to this world,
but BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) This may
only be accomplished in the life of one who seeks full surrender to The
Creator. Thus, David’s prayer: “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your
statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I
shall keep Your law. Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
(Psalm 119:33-34)
Paying attention to what we are THINKING first involves paying attention to what we are
hearing, what we are reading, what we are watching and what we are ultimately
internalizing. Back in ‘The Stone Age’ – when I was an elementary school
student – we had English grammar workbooks entitled “Think and Do.” It
was an entirely effective way to learn the fundamentals of our language.
Those practical workbooks taught us how to read and write well. In truth,
all of us would be better positioned for life if we would adopt a similar
model. Now hear this, my friends: TODAY…THINK AND DO! Reflect on
the right things, then follow the right path. Your life will be
infinitely better for it.
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