WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

"What were you thinking?" Who has not heard that question at some time in their life? The person being asked that question has done something or said something that has exposed the root of all our actions and all our speech - our thought life.

God created man unique in that he is able to articulate his thoughts in a written and spoken language. He is able to comprehend the universe around him, not just through his five senses, but also through the recorded history of those who have gone before. He is able to develop a world view that combines his own experiences with the wisdom and knowledge of the ages. He establishes selfless bonds with other human beings that endure all trials and defy the logic of self protection. He is capable of the highest acts of devotion and he can be the perpetrator of the vilest acts of cruelty. Man is the most complex creation in the universe and the powerhouse of that complexity is the human mind.

Our thoughts are powerful forces. We were designed to be that way and the Word of God gives us a glimpse of the force of thought. The word for "think" in the Bible (as it relates to our thoughts in Philippians 4:8) is linked closely with the Greek word "logos" - the Word. Although God dwells in the eternal Light that no man can approach to (1 Timothy 6:16), He chose to communicate His thoughts with us through the Word that was made flesh. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus said "He that has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Our thoughts and the consequent actions and words they produce are an infinitesimal imitation of the power of the One who created us, the one who is God from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2). Any ability we have to think, reason or understand has come from Him "who endowed the heart with wisdom (and) gave understanding to the mind" (Job 38:36).

We need to be very aware of the power that thoughts generate in our lives. It is no wonder that Scripture is filled with admonitions and instructions about our thought life. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." The New Century Version of the Bible translates this verse as follows: "Be careful what you think because your thoughts run your life." This wellspring of thought has also been called our imagination. It is the place in our mind where we can create images of our God, others and ourselves. The Word of God calls this ability "desire" or "meditation." It is no wonder David cried "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

BY CONNIE HORN