"How would you feel if every guy you encountered had the ability to read your mind,
just by being in your presence?"
As Christians, we can take this a step further by remembering that God knows all our thoughts! What's in your heart and mind that God already knows about .... even if no one else does?
"Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind"
Psalm 26:2
It's important to remember that EVERYONE ~ regardless of our past ~ is in this battle. We are ALL sinners, saved by God' grace. Life brings temptation ~ it's part of being human.
SO ~ does that mean we say OH WELL since everyone has these thoughts it's no big deal .... or
OH WELL what's the big deal if I think about that?
To answer that, the book gives us three questions to consider about our thought life:
* What effect do our thoughts have on our battle for integrity?
Thinking equals rehearsing .... I like the example the book gives about this as an actor rehearsing for a play. When you entertain thoughts that are not appropriate, it is like rehearsing what you would do or say in a situation.
* How can we guard our mind against things that cause us to sin?
Remember in an earlier chapter where we talked about how a young man guarding his integrity will bounce his eyes .... he can't always help catching something in his line of vision that is inappropriate ~ but he has a choice to make ~~ will he continue to look or look again OR will he look away.
We have that same choice to make with our minds. Tempting thoughts can fly into our heads as fast as something can pop in front of our eyes that's inappropriate. So ~ we have a choice to make with that thought. Do we entertain that thought and let it continue OR do we bounce it out of our brain and fill that spot with something appropriate? This takes practice .... the same as it does with our eyes.
* What does the Bible say we should fill our mind with and IS THAT REALLY POSSIBLE??
Yes it is possible ~ Matthew 22:37 - 38 says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND." This is the first and greatest commandment.
Phillipians 4:8 says Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ~ if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
Our focus should be on God, He wants to help us!
