THE THOUGHTS – Proverbs 12:5
Proverbs 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
If all of a sudden other Christians could read your thoughts, what would they think? Would they see that your thoughts were pleasing to the Lord, or would they be shocked at the filthiness of your mind?
You understand that God has instructed you not to take HIS name in vain. You also understand that there are certain activities that are an abomination to the Lord. However, it is very easy to convince yourself that as long as no one knows what your thoughts are, you are not hurting anyone and thus it is permissible to think whatever you want whenever you want.
The ways of God are not the ways of the world. God will hold you accountable for every thought. You do have control over your thoughts and God will judge you one day for the things that you meditated upon in secret. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not just condemn adultery, but HE also taught that thinking lustful thoughts is also adultery.
God has set a high standard for your life. Rather than say that God is being too legalistic and establishing your own guidelines to live your life by, you need to realize that you must learn to fill your mind with the things of God so that Satan does not have the ability to fill your mind with things of this world. Satan would love nothing more then for you to fill your hours entertaining yourself so that you do not spend as much time reading the Bible and drawing closer to God.
The day Isaac was introduced to Rebekah, we find that he was out in a field meditating. Isaac had probably had a long day at work, but rather than sitting around the camp fire telling stories with the servants, Isaac made an effort to be alone with God and draw closer to HIM. It was because of this relationship with God that when his wife Rebekah was unable to conceive, he was able to talk with God and intercede on behalf of Rebekah and himself that God should give them children.
If the world were able to see your thoughts, would they still think that you are a Christian? Are you proud of some of the thoughts that go through your mind? The same Jesus who died on the cross to cleanse you from your sins is the same Jesus who died so that you could be free from the bondage of your mind. You do not have to let Satan have control over your mind. You do not have to think such sinful thoughts.
When thoughts enter your mind that are not pleasing to the Lord, you need to confront those thoughts immediately. This means that you cannot sit back and simply meditate upon those thoughts but you must immediately start spiritual warfare and take every thought into captivity.
It is important how you spend your time. Satan will try to convince you that it is permissible to splurge every now and then. Do not allow Satan to win the battle over your mind. This means that you need to daily be adding knowledge of the ways of God to your life. The more time you spend thinking about the things of God, the harder it will be for Satan to win the battle over your mind.