April 11, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Numbers 24:11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

Balak was the king of Moab. He attempted to hire Balaam to put a curse on Israel. When Balaam the prophet did not do exactly that which Balak wanted him to do the king fired him. Adding insult to injury the king falsely claimed that the Lord was the cause of Balaam’s lack of future honor. As we have learned in other devotions, changing one’s mind is a great gift. But as with any gift of God it can be misused. Here the king changed his thought toward Balaam because Balaam would not do what the king wanted him to do. Far too often we see this same drama unfold in the lives of people today.

A husband starts off well, only wishing the best for his bride, willing to give her anything she wants. Somewhere along the line she does not live up to his expectations, so he withholds those things he once freely gave to manipulate her.

A wife starts off well, only wishing the best for her husband, willing to do anything for him. But somewhere along the line he does not live up to her expectations, in response she begins to withhold in an attempt to manipulate him. 

A boss…, an employee…, a pastor…, a church member…, we could go on and on and on. This method of manipulation is rampant, and most don’t even recognize that it is being employed either by them, or against them. Fewer yet are aware of the long-term negative effect it has on their relationship. Sad.

The next time your thoughts about a person change for the negative, ask yourself the reason why. Ask yourself the question, “If the shoe were on the other foot, would I understand if they gave me the same treatment?”  Be careful about your thoughts toward others. Be willing to change, if need be, but be very slow about that change making sure it is the right thing to do. Balak was wrong in his expectation of Balaam, his response to Balaam, and in changing his thought toward Balaam. He was wrong on so many levels, just as we all are prone to be.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe