Bible Reading
- Joshua 23
- Psalms 94
- Proverbs 21
- I Corinthians 7
Would you ever take your hands off of the steering wheel and let the car go where ever the wheels pulled it? Absolutely not! That would be completely irresponsible. The car would veer off the road. The result could be injury to someone or to one of your passengers. You have to stay in constant control of the vehicle; making constant, subtle corrections to keep the car in the right lane.
Just like the car will go anywhere with no control of the wheel, your thoughts can physically take you down paths that morally you would never go, or imagine yourself acting in ways you would never actually act. If you would never actually “do” that thing, then why do you allow your brain to “think” about it or play with the idea?
2 Corinthians 10:5 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;
Thoughts are not innocent motion pictures passing through your mind’s eye. They are directly linked to your emotions and pave a pathway for real action and real feelings. Have you ever let your mind play out a situation where you were a part of the scene? As the dramatic story develops in your head, you start to feel the anger or sadness of the situation. Maybe it even brought you to tears. Thoughts are very powerful and they can emotionally pull you off of the road.
Image a lady that is unhappy in her relationship with her husband. A pleasant thought flows through her mind about a beautiful life with someone else. It is comforting and exciting to watch this play out in her mind. Her thoughts are continually about leaving her husband and imaging the love with another. No one saw these thoughts; only her, but her thoughts are pulling her farther “off the road” and away from her husband. These thoughts are paving a way for her to physically take the next step. She is becoming comfortable with the thought to the point where she has already left her husband emotionally; she just needs to take the next step – the easy one – and leave him physically. She let go of her thought steering and blazed a road toward destruction.
If thoughts can be dangerous and destructive they can also be healing and motivate you toward great things. You are the one in control of this steering wheel. Where are you going to take your thoughts today? Whatever you do, don’t let go of the steering wheel. You have to direct your thoughts down the road that will glorify God.
Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
The key is to “bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” You do not get to let go of the steering wheel and let your thoughts run wild. You get to control each one. It takes a conscious effort of be aware of what is going through your brain and accept or reject it. Sometimes you have to grab that steering wheel and yank the bus back on the road!
Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness
If thoughts can pave the way to real action, then creating thoughts of serving the Lord could pave the way toward better service toward him. This is a huge step from letting anything flow through your brain, to forcing your brain to think on things that will bring glory to your wonderful Lord.
1 Corinthians 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
You are a Christian. Abide with God both physically and mentally. Focus your thoughts on him and how you can serve him. Ask him questions; pray and talk to him. Image yourself serving him and the glorious results. Drive your thoughts down the road so your next step for the Lord will be easy to take.
If your brain is filled with conversation with your Lord and focused on what you can do for him, you will not get distracted and let go of the steering wheel. You will be in control of your thoughts with a constant attention on thinking about him.
Joshua 23:6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
Thoughts are a very powerful force in your life. To ignore that fact is to let go of the steering wheel and let them take you where ever they want. You will be surprised where you end up emotionally and physically. The alternative is to choose what you will think about. This choice will determine what you serve.
Joshua 24:15 …choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Are you going to serve fear, passion, drama, bitterness, conflict, or escape? Or are you going to take a conscious control of your thoughts and thus serve the Lord?
HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH GOD
Lord, where have my thoughts taken me?
Lord, what have my thoughts lead me to do?
Lord, have I allowed my thoughts to take me somewhere I should not go?
Lord, I want to control my thoughts. I want my thoughts to keep me on the right road and paving the way for me to do great things for you…
Glory, Strength, & Beauty 