What happens in your thoughts, always comes out in what you say or do, in one way or another. You could say that your thoughts are actually your life. But sometimes those thoughts can be filled with unwanted ideas and images. So how do we come to a god-fearing and happy thought life?
Get God’s word into your inner thoughts
It is extremely important that we get our thoughts into God’s word, and that God can reveal His word to us. We need to cleanse our inner thoughts and that can only happen through the word of God. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT). The word judges and separates our thoughts.
In Malachi 3:2 (GNT) it’s written: “He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal.” We sense that we need both the strong soap and the cleansing fire in our inner thoughts so that they become well-pleasing to God. Sin usually starts with what is happening in our thoughts, so we need God’s word to cleanse our thoughts. And we need to hold fast to it.
Many people struggle a lot with their thoughts, even after they come to faith. This is because they have had many bad, ugly, impure thoughts in the past. And this comes back to them and causes great sufferings. But to get rid of them you need to hold fast to God’s word!
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (GNT): “And there is another reason why we always give thanks to God. When we brought you God's message, you heard it and accepted it, not as a message from human beings but as God's message, which indeed it is.” So the word of God is truly very powerful, and when I receive it as from God and not as a word of men, the word begins to work powerfully within me. Then that old thought life is cleansed out, so that I receive new thoughts – a new thought life in line with the word of God.
New thoughts through the power in the word!
If you feel that it’s difficult in your thought life, then you need to have your hope in God and believe in God and the word of God and the fire of God! That fire which is in the word will burn up all of these ugly images in your mind. And then you will receive new, beautiful images to replace them. Good images. God will remind you of people that you can pray for. You will have people who bring you joy when you think of them in your heart. And so on. You will experience that the word becomes alive in your spirit. Then you begin to have new thoughts – a new thought life.
It’s written in 1 John 3:9 (ESV): “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” Here we see the mighty power that is in the word of God. The word is the seed, and when you fill yourself with that, it is alive in you when you are tempted.
For example, the word about patience. When that word is alive within you when you are tempted to be impatient, then you don’t become impatient. Then you can overcome the temptation in the power of the word that is within you! There is such a power in the word of God. You need to turn to God and His word in your thoughts and then you will experience that you will receive a new thought life; you will have new thoughts! And these evil and difficult thoughts will be driven farther and farther away.
A few helpful verses:
“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.” Philippians 4:8 (GNT).
“Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people, who do not follow the example of sinners or join those who have no use for God. Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.” Psalm 1:1-3 (GNT).
“How can young people keep their paths pure? By guarding them according to what you’ve said. I have sought you with all my heart. Don’t let me stray from any of your commandments! I keep your word close, in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you!” Psalm 119:9-11 (CEB).
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT).