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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.
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