I was thinking about writing a topic concerning what I practice. As I was praying over this topic God showed me that I should write this topic first, which is a subject I had not "thought" of. Many of you will look at the subject and enter this discussion thinking that I am asking for an opinion on some subject or another. Well I am but probably not in the way you "thought" of when you read the title.
Are any of you aware that scripture tells us clearly what we should "think?" I will start off with the most obvious of the verses I know where God is deliberately telling us what we should be "thinking" about. Next I am asking any of you who know other verses (there are several more) that tell us what to "think" to post them, along with sharing wrong things about your "thinking" and right things about your "thinking" as you feel led to share with us.
The obvious:
Philippians 4 [SUP]8 [/SUP]Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Do any of you look at this verse and consider we ought to be practicing "thinking" of only things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?
Honestly I "think" that if any of us could "think" only these things(true, noble, right, pure ...) that we would actually become perfect which I know is not possible. As I said, I was going to post about what I practice, this post is about the very first thing I practice which is, practicing "thinking" only godly "thoughts."
I ask God to help me to "think" only godly things, and to help me to be aware when my "thoughts" are impure and I notice I have godly "thoughts" and impure "thoughts."
here are some evil things I "think," and unfortunately I even practice them. Perhaps writing about this will help me to "think" properly which would prevent me from practicing evil.
I used to "think" smoking wasn't sinful. (used to, like when I began writing this post that's what I "thought.")
now I am "thinking" is it true? yes. Is it noble? no. Right? no. Pure? no. lovely? no. excellent? no. Praiseworthy? No. Admirable? No. Hmm. Now I "think" it is evil for me to even "think" I want a cigarette. I don't really want to smoke. I actually hate it. The craving for nicotine for me is far more powerful than the craving for food or water. It is much easier for me to fast from food or water than it is to fast from smoking. What I actually want when I crave a cigarette is to avoid suffering the withdrawal from nicotine. What I should be "thinking" is that each time I feel this craving it is my body telling me that it is overcoming its dependence (which is really what withdrawal is) This is just one example of how my "thinking" is not in line with what God wants me to "think."
So now you have some idea of what I am asking. What do you "think?"
Are any of you aware that scripture tells us clearly what we should "think?" I will start off with the most obvious of the verses I know where God is deliberately telling us what we should be "thinking" about. Next I am asking any of you who know other verses (there are several more) that tell us what to "think" to post them, along with sharing wrong things about your "thinking" and right things about your "thinking" as you feel led to share with us.
The obvious:
Philippians 4 [SUP]8 [/SUP]Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Do any of you look at this verse and consider we ought to be practicing "thinking" of only things which are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?
Honestly I "think" that if any of us could "think" only these things(true, noble, right, pure ...) that we would actually become perfect which I know is not possible. As I said, I was going to post about what I practice, this post is about the very first thing I practice which is, practicing "thinking" only godly "thoughts."
I ask God to help me to "think" only godly things, and to help me to be aware when my "thoughts" are impure and I notice I have godly "thoughts" and impure "thoughts."
here are some evil things I "think," and unfortunately I even practice them. Perhaps writing about this will help me to "think" properly which would prevent me from practicing evil.
I used to "think" smoking wasn't sinful. (used to, like when I began writing this post that's what I "thought.")
now I am "thinking" is it true? yes. Is it noble? no. Right? no. Pure? no. lovely? no. excellent? no. Praiseworthy? No. Admirable? No. Hmm. Now I "think" it is evil for me to even "think" I want a cigarette. I don't really want to smoke. I actually hate it. The craving for nicotine for me is far more powerful than the craving for food or water. It is much easier for me to fast from food or water than it is to fast from smoking. What I actually want when I crave a cigarette is to avoid suffering the withdrawal from nicotine. What I should be "thinking" is that each time I feel this craving it is my body telling me that it is overcoming its dependence (which is really what withdrawal is) This is just one example of how my "thinking" is not in line with what God wants me to "think."
So now you have some idea of what I am asking. What do you "think?"