Thinking about thinking 100413

John Own wrote in his work, Spiritual-Mindedness;

"There can be no greater evidence of a renewed heart and mind that a change in the habit and stream of our thoughts."

Certainly a great insight and powerful admonition but how often do we really think about our thinking?  Yes, when we have a real doozie of an evil thought we do but do we examine them more commonly?  Do we examine what they run to, what they are occupied with?

In these tough times many of us are, well, anxious about the course of events around us.  This can occupy our thoughts to the exclusion of any or all spiritual thoughts.

Ok, what are "spiritual" thoughts?  I'm not referring to some airy fairy thinking about heave and angels although there's nothing wrong with that.  But rather I'm thinking of thoughts of God's grace and mercy to us - His providence - His moment by moment providence.

Do we manage our thoughts or do we simply let them run their own course?  If we do the latter the flesh will always find its way in and as it does our thoughts are poisoned.  Deliberately setting our minds on the bountiful mercies that we see and those we don't serves as a strong hedge against the intrusion and manipulation of the flesh in our thought lives.

Paul writes of taking every thought captive and indeed though the context is pretty specific we may extend its boundaries to include all of our thoughts.  They must be attended to with diligence and constancy or we are liable for a fall.

Worry and anxiety, though experienced in the physical body, are thoughts.  They are thoughts that question the providence - indeed the willingness of God to provide what is best for us now.  These are thoughts that must be addressed and resisted - and changed to thoughts of His graciousness and mercy.

The "habit and stream" of our thoughts are indicators of the condition of our hearts.

God tells us that 'the thoughts of men's hearts are only evil continually,' (Gen.6:5) and Owen comments, "What a hell of horror and confusion there must be, then, in the minds of men."

He goes on, "To be delivered from this state must be the most desirable deliverance in all the world."  And indeed apart from the deliverance from the bondage of sin, I agree.

What is the habit and stream of your thoughts?  Mine is toward not being good enough, not being useful to Him, financial distress, health, current events.  They can preoccupy my Mind to the exclusion of "spiritual" thoughts.

Indeed, we need to be thinking (and praying) about out thinking.