November 22, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Acts 27:39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

They were wrong. The Apostle Paul is being transported to Rome on a trading ship. This trip was as troubled as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The wind was contrary; the strong winds of a severe weather pattern called Euroclydon (similar in sorts to an El Nino) tossed the ship mercilessly; no longer was it possible to even navigate the ship. It was so bad that they tossed the merchandise and gear of the ship overboard, including the tackling (items necessary to sail the ship). No reprieve yet, for many days the passengers of this doomed trip could not see the sun or stars. They gave up all hope of being saved.  It was bad.

In a last ditch effort they were minded to put the ship into a creek inlet. They were wrong, it destroyed the ship, yet, not a soul lost their life. Paul had warned them, but they did not listen. One bad decision led to another bad decision. The only thing that they had going for them was the Lord God. You see, there was an unseen battle going on. A war was being waged concerning the life of Paul. God told Paul that he was to go to Rome as a witness of the Gospel (Acts 23:11). From that time on, Satan stopped at nothing to kill the Apostle, for if Paul died, the will of God would be overthrown, the Word of God would be harmed, and those in Rome would not have Paul’s witness.

The lesson? Even if we are minded to do a thing that proves to be wrong God may be behind the scenes waging a battle on our behalf. He has the supernatural ability to take our failures and turn them into blessings. After all, this band of shipless sailors was cast upon Melita, an island inhabited by barbarians. Paul helped numerous people on that island and perhaps more importantly fulfilled God’s will as proven by Acts 27:26.

Note: This is an amazing story of intrigue, adventure, and peril. It is perhaps my favorite story in the Bible; do yourself a favor and read Acts 27 and 28. I never grow tired of reading it trying to imagine what it would have been like to be on that boat.

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

Dr. William Howe