thinking God's thoughts

The Lord wants His thoughts to be our thoughts and His ways to be our Ways but with the stresses of life, the daily grind or even the things that we didn't think we would ever endure some of us forget that thinking the way God does can change our everyday lives. What are God's thoughts? God's thoughts are the Word of God - the Bible. Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."
At my church, Charity Lawson is doing a bible study on 'Thinking God's Thoughts" and I would like to share that with you.

1)Defend your mind!

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else (take note of that), guard your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." Charity began by stating that we must guard our mind. Guarding our mind = Guarding our heart. Whatever we put in our mind through our eyes, friends, internet, music goes right to our heart. To "defend" our mind we must know the scriptures.

**You need to know the truth (the word is truth) or you will not know that you are being lied to.**

Satan is the master of making you think and believe things are not true and if you know the word you can combat against him and his lies. 1Corinthians 10:5 says, "Take captive EVERY thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God." Josh 1:8 says that the Word should not depart from your mouth - you speak with your mouth - so the Lord must want you to say the scriptures outloud. Make the word a part of your everyday vocabulary.

**Just thinking positive thoughts has no authority but the Word of God is the ultimate authority**

John 14:26 says that the Holy Spirit will remind us of the Words of God - but we must learn them first and then can he teach us all things.
Learn the Word - Meditate the Word - Speak the Word and God will remind you of the Word whenever you need it in your life.

2)People, Places, and Things

We must guard against things we listen to, the people we hang around and the places that we go to guard our heart. Take "vain imaginations" for instance. "Chic flicks" are full of vain imagination because they may portray this wonderful romantic life, a husband that just does these wonderful things all the time, or a life that is full of good things. Those movies are great and we like to watch them but they may be a "weakness" in your life a "window" of opportunity for satan to lie to you again. Vain imaginations are thoughts that make you think that something is missing in your life or that you could have this or that or you could have such a better life. These thoughts are the "side effects" they are not the real problem. You may have a different temptation in your life - everyone has them, everyone has a weakness they are tempted by. You need to avoid temptation - whatever effects you cut that area out of your life. If you remove the temptation then God can help you. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." Satan would like you to think that you are the only one going through your certain circumstances but you are not.

3)Shut out your circumstances!

Focusing on your circumstances takes away your hope and takes you away from the Lord and reminds you what you are going through.

**Your circumstances may be truth (fact) but God's Word is a GREATER TRUTH.**

You have things that have happened in your past, present and future - but you need to focus on God's Word. Isaiah 41:10 says, "...Do not be dismayed..." He will not leave you or forsake you.

We all need to know God's word so our thoughts will the Lords! I hope you enjoyed her bible study and that it encouraged you today. :-)