Our minds and thoughts are a beautiful thing, however they are also a treasured gift from God that should be guarded.
I consider myself a daydreamer. If you know me, you’ll often catch me being “zoned out” and lost in my little world. I’m able to come up with stories, or replay past memories. I can sit in an empty room and my imagination will keep me entertained most of the time!
However, there is also danger that comes with our gift of free thoughts that we often don’t think of, or forget altogether.
The birthplace of sin
The Bible has often referenced our thoughts and desires as the conception place of sin. James chapter 1, verse 15 for example says, “Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Yet we tend to see our daydreams and thoughts as harmless, private, and as something that will not affect us in the “real” world.
Consider this, do you think someone wakes up one day, getting ready for their day job, and then suddenly stuffs a ski mask in their briefcase and goes to rob a bank?
Of course not. Typically, the desire for riches is often thought of in that person’s mind. Then, often too quickly, this desire turns into greed and desperation, and they begin to plan.
Although that example may seem dramatic, the same process often happens within marriages. Perhaps one partner begins to feel unfulfilled, so they begin having “meaningless” daydreams. Faster than you’d expect, they are breaking the covenant of their marriage and committing adultery.
Sin always starts somewhere. It’s so rarely an immediate switch that goes off that causes an out of character action. Sin always begins within our thoughts before it is carried out.
The enemy’s ideals
The enemy uses our thoughts to his advantage. I remember the first time I learned that some of my thoughts were not planted there by myself, but by the devil. Just as God can speak to us, as does the enemy.
He is well aware that most of us do not pay attention to where our minds wander, and he plants ideas in our thoughts which we later carry out in acts of sin. It is so crucial that we learn to be on guard at all times, and aware of where our thoughts are coming from. We must become discerning and consistently filter our thoughts.
Kingdom mindset
If you’re a daydreamer like me, you may find it difficult to rein in and monitor your thoughts. The first step is training yourself to stay aware of your thought life, noticing the good and bad places your mind tends to wander.
Once you’re in the habit of recognising the harmful thoughts you’re having, there’s another important step.
After removing these things, we must replace it with something of substance, as we’re not meant to be empty. We must filter out the bad, and then fill it with good.
Colossians chapter 3, verse 2 instructs us to, “set your minds on things of above, not on earthly things.”
This is truly the best advice and guidepost for us as we learn to guard our thoughts, to focus on God, and His kingdom as we go through our days.
Rather than dwelling on imaginations of what could be, or stressing over the trials of the present, we must keep a heavenly perspective at all times. We need to learn to pray without ceasing, and experience relationship with God throughout our days.
God has given us the beautiful gift of freedom. He’s given us freewill to choose Him, to think our own thoughts, and make choices. While this is an amazing testament to God’s character, and His desire for true, uncontrolled relationship, we must also realise that this gift comes with responsibility.
Miranda Menelaws is a Canadian freelance writer. During her spare time, she can be found travelling the globe in search of a new story to tell.
Miranda Menelaws’ previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/miranda-menelaws.html
Miranda Menelaws is a Canadian freelance writer. During her spare time, she can be found travelling the globe in search of a new story to tell, or writing about her adventures on her blog.
Miranda Menelaws’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/miranda-menelaws.html