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January 24, 2025

William T. Howe Ph.D.

Minding Your Thoughts

 

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life


Jeremiah 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:


The type of religion in which the people were participating during Jeremiah’s time of ministry had not even entered into the mind of God. All of my life I have been taught that God is all knowing, and He is. Yet, the things the people were doing were not things that the Lord even thought about. Of course, He knew of their false worship, in His foreknowledge He even warned them about this type of idolatry (Leviticus 18:21, Deuteronomy 18:10, etc.), but to do it, to allow it, to command it, to approve it, never even entered His mind.


Likewise, there are things that we know about today, things that displease God and things that would harm our relationship with Him. These things must not even come into our mind. In this we can learn to be more like God. Boundaries of the mind need to be established for our own protection and mental health. For example, years ago a man asked me to attend his trial. He was afraid, embarrassed, and in great mental anguish. Standing in the hallway of the court I prayed with him prior to the trial commencing. Then I asked him if he knew any Christian songs. He said he knew “Jesus loves me this I know.”  I told him when things looked like they were going badly to simply start singing that song in his mind and it would help. He later told me that singing that song was the only thing that kept his mind from breaking. You see, the praise of the Savior blocks bad things from entering our mind. Whatever you have to do, just do it to keep harmful things from even coming into your mind.


From time-to-time wrongful thoughts clamor to enter into the mind. These temptations continue on and on and on and on. Shoo them away at once, but just like a bad habit, they will invade again and again. When this happens there are several ways that singularly, or combined, may help.


One, quote Scripture. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He quoted Scripture. Find a verse or verses that speak to you concerning the matter, write them down, and repeat them over and over as long as needed.


Two, sing songs of praise, hymns, or spiritual songs.


Three, keep telling yourself, “I am not going to think that.” In times of great temptation this may need to be a common refrain repeated minute by minute. Keep on until the thought is banished for good.


Four, pray and ask the Lord to keep anything that would not honor Him from even entering your mind.


The Lord God can keep things out of His mind. Through Him, so can you!


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

William T. Howe, Ph.D.

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