October 20, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

There is an old phrase that says: “Seek to find tongues in trees, books in running brooks, and sermons in stone.”  This means to allow everyday things to inspire your thoughts and give illustration to your communication. So, with that thought, another dog illustration today.

We had a beagle whose name was Ranger. He was a few years old when he came to our home and was a little skittish. The dog seemed scared and nervous, but over time he became part of the family and seemed to enjoy being in our home. One thing about Ranger, he could howl like no other dog. While in the backyard he would begin howling that long Beagle type howl and go on and on and on. He was a pretty good dog, and we came to love him.

Once while on vacation we left Ranger with my dad in the country. Dad raises cows and at the time had those old Texas Longhorns that could be downright ornery. Upon returning from our trip Dad told me that he had not seen Ranger for a day or so; we looked but could not find him anywhere on Dad’s property. About a week later Ranger showed up at Dads, he was walking with a severe limp and seemed to be in much pain. I took him to the veterinarian who said that Ranger must have been stepped on by one of Dad’s cows, his pelvis was damaged. There was really nothing that could be done.

We cared for Ranger, tried to make his life as comfortable as we could and he seemed to heal completely. However, one day as I was petting him my hand ran down the ridge on his back toward his tail and when the hand got to about the base of the tail he attacked my hand biting me pretty good. From then on he would bite anyone who touched his back. Then he began a new attack. Ranger would come up to you, wag his tail, act as if he wanted to be petted but as soon as a hand would reach out to pet him on the head he would bite.

Those in our family understood this and made adjustments. However, guests just couldn’t understand. We would tell them, “Do not pet Ranger, he will bite you.”  But, he would come up to them, wag his tail, and look as sweet as he could. As soon as they reached down to pet him he would bite them. This happened two times too many. Ranger had to leave our home. He was just too dangerous to have around. No matter what we did he would not stop biting people. We were heartbroken; it was a sad day when Ranger had to leave. If he had just stopped faking people out, acting like he loved them only to bite them, he could still be with us today. He appeared to be one thing but was quite frankly opposite from that which he appeared.

Some people are like this, and the Lord was describing them in Mark 7. You see it is not what we do to trick people or to “put on a good show” of piety or righteousness that matters. It is being righteous that counts. Having an evil heart will bring forth evil actions. Something happened to Ranger, he was converted from a nice dog to a dangerous dog. He had been hurt so he began to hurt. Deep down in the heart where only the Lord can see some people are like this. It’s their heart that brings forth evil thoughts that manifest themselves by evil actions.

What one eats, or whether they keep the commandments or traditions of men, these do not make them good or bad, but what one is in their heart, that is what makes them what they are. No matter the situation, God can change a heart; just ask Him, He will and that person whose heart is changed will bring forth thoughts that are right, proper, thoughts of grace, mercy, love, gentleness, kindness and the like.

Someone once told me that they did not think a person could truly change. If I believed that I would stop preaching, throw my Bible away, and never pray again. But people can change. Their hearts can be changed. I know this to be true for I am a living illustration of the power of God to change a man. And you my dear reader are probably one too. This is the work of the Gospel of Christ and the Holy Spirit, they change people’s hearts. From disbelief to belief, from sin to righteousness, from evil to good, from hopelessness to hopefulness, from selfishness to service, and from religion to a relationship with the Father’s only begotten Son. There is always a great change when Jesus enters a person’s heart.

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

Dr. William Howe