A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day Feb.11, 2019
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
Many years ago, a man approached me after a meeting and told me an amazing story. He said he had molested several young boys in this particular town and was having an affair with another woman. This man was a notable man in the community so he had to be very discrete. He said that the porn store even stayed open late just for him, so he wouldn’t be found out. Also, he was upset because his doctor told him he had an incurable, sexually transmitted disease.
Two things were very amazing about this encounter. First, this was the man who had invited me to speak at the meeting; and secondly, when I asked him how all this got started, he said it was because he started thinking perverted thoughts. When I asked him why he continued thinking these perverted thoughts, he said he couldn’t help it. He said he just couldn’t control what he thought. In fact he asked me, “Why did God let me think those thoughts anyway?”
Even though this man had gone to church most of his life, he didn’t know the Word of God. God did not cause him to think perverted thoughts. He thought them himself. The Bible says we control our thoughts. Hosea 4:6 says “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.” This man was a good example.
The point is this. The battle of faith is fought in the mind and wrong thinking can keep you from having all that God wants you to have. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” Here the Bible tells us clearly what to dwell on. If it was impossible, we would not have been told what to think.
We, as Christians, cannot only control our thoughts, but we must renew our minds daily. We can meditate on the things of the world or we can meditate on the things of God. The choice is ours. We have no excuse.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
We must daily renew our minds. As Christians, we can purify our thoughts and be made more acceptable to Jesus. According to the Bible, this can be done through thinking about and meditating on the Word.
In Ephesians 5:26, we are told that this is accomplished by the washing of the Word. This means that we not only can, but must renew our minds daily by reading and meditating on the Word of God. Some say they just can’t control their thoughts. They say they can’t meditate on the Word of God because too many bad thoughts come in. If that describes you, I encourage you to try this experiment. Count mentally to twenty, silently to yourself. Now say your complete name out loud while you are counting. Did you notice that you quit counting in your mind to speak your name with your mouth? The reason is that your mouth will override your thoughts. So when you feel you can’t control what you’re thinking, just read the Word of God out loud. Your ears will hear the Word and your mind will be washed, plus you will quit thinking what you shouldn’t be thinking about.
