SOUNDING OUT:
The Thoughts Of God

"Faster than a speeding bullet" was coined to describe superman. However, sometimes I feel, that's how thoughts race through my mind. It is as if I were at a NASCAR race, but instead of cars roaring by, it's thoughts racing through my mind. It has happened more than once this week that I had to throw up the caution flag and slow them down. I knew if I didn't, a wreck was sure to happen.

Slowing down was necessary to recognize and identify those little "critters." Sorting out which were good and productive and which were bad and counterproductive was important to me because I wanted to avoid the wreck or I felt was immanent. How thankful I was to have a knowledge of God's Word serving as the criterion for what to keep and what to toss. It sure brought an appreciation for God's Word as Hebrews 4:12 came to mind.

Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God's Word is living and powerful. What a difference it made when I used it to quiet my mind and bring every thought into captivity. After receiving the deliverance and peace God promised, I thought of the Psalmist who also found comfort in God's Word-the very thoughts of God.

Psalm 94:17-19:
Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

Although our thoughts are many, it is focusing upon the thoughts of God that comfort and delight our souls. His thoughts are ever so loving, and He is able to help us in any trouble. No matter how slippery the footing seems, the sure foundation of God's Word provides stability and solidarity amidst all the onslaughts we face.

When Israel was taken into captivity God promised to bring them back from captivity. He said:

Jeremiah 29:11-14:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

It was comforting when I realized that not every thought I thought was right or true. Only when my thoughts agreed with His thoughts were they right. My thoughts often brought me down, His thoughts never did. His thoughts are freeing and delivering. His thoughts lift me up and set me on my high places with Him.

Isaiah 55:6-13:
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

If we want to go out with joy and be led forth with peace, we must hold God's thoughts in our minds and act accordingly. They will accomplish that which God pleases. We must simply allow them into our minds and hearts. What a difference a thought makes when that thought is wrought of God.

It's our privilege and prerogative to rejoice at God's Word. We, too, can say:

Psalm 139:17:
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

As children of God we are the object of His affection. We are His masterpiece and He delights in His workmanship. We are always before His sight. We do not live a moment apart from His observation and care. As Spurgeon has said, "His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them."

How precious are His thoughts! Let our minds hold fast to them. Amidst all the uproar and confusion of our times, His thoughts are our delight. Enjoy your feast upon them.