"O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
. . . You understand my thoughts afar off."
Psalm 139:1-2
Two Christians were talking about their relationship with God. One said, "When you know that God sees everything that we do, it's easier to do the right thing." The other one said, "More than that, when you know that God understands all of our thoughts, you know better than to even think of doing the wrong thing." The Psalmist was aware that God knew his thoughts. He wrote, "You understand my thought afar off."
The Bible teaches that God is omniscient. He knows all things, and that includes all things about us. God is concerned about our thoughts. Conversion requires a change of thought. The word repent means a change of mind. Conversion begins with a change within us, even a change in our thoughts.
After conversion, the battle of temptation takes place in the mind. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:14). Thoughts of wrong desire entice us.
After conversion, the battle of temptation takes place in the mind. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:14). Thoughts of wrong desire entice us.
The victorious Christian life is assured as we take control of our thoughts. The Bible warns us of strongholds of thinking that must be pulled down and brought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). This is referred to as our warfare, the battle within us.
We can ask God to bring our attention to any pattern of thinking which opposes His good will for us. He will. As we pray that all such thoughts be pulled down and brought captive to Christ, the power of temptation is broken. Our thoughts make the difference.
We can ask God to bring our attention to any pattern of thinking which opposes His good will for us. He will. As we pray that all such thoughts be pulled down and brought captive to Christ, the power of temptation is broken. Our thoughts make the difference.
God, we bring our tempting thoughts captive to Christ.
