Dear Elim Grace,
Let’s be honest: Are the things we’re thinking about controlling our thoughts?
We have been given “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). We are to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). As those who are “born from above,” (John 3:3) it is now Christ who dictates and directs what we think and how we think. In Christ we have a new mind set, a new mode of thinking.
So while we do think on what bothers us or angers us or offends us, we don’t let those things control our thoughts. In other words, they don’t get to dictate to us that we will/must always think about them!
Our obedience comes from Christ; the power to obey comes from Christ. So setting our minds on the things that are above where Christ is (Colossians 3:2), this comes from Christ. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) This comes from Christ.
The resurrected life of Jesus now lives in us by the Spirit of God. “It is no longer I who live” (Galatians 2:20). We now have the mind (and heart) of the Son of God being formed within us. So while there are many things that will fill our minds, no earthly thing should consume all our thoughts all the time. We take our thoughts captive, our thoughts should not take us captive.
Let’s be honest: Are the things we’re thinking about controlling our thoughts?
If we have died with Christ, then we have been raised into new life with Christ, to Christ now living in us. So, “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Let’s think His thoughts after Him.
Pastor Jonathan