Thoughts

Hi, I have a question. I’m a Christian who strongly try to walk with Christ. There barely been any passing day where I don’t think about being a better Christian. I had two gruesome sins that I overcame through God. Alone it would have been impossible. Now there’s another problem,

Matthew 15:11 Amplified Bible (AMP)It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”
Thoughts. Does this pertains to thoughts to? I try to be clear minded, but thoughts that doesn’t glorify appears. I pray them away. However, it’s not good thoughts at all. Will I be accountable for them?

Hi and welcome. Hope your day is going well.

If you jump down in Matthew 15 you find: "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man," vv. 18-20

We all have thoughts pass through our minds that don't glorify God; but if there's something that occurs over and over and you can't control it, it might indicate a deeper issue. I guess the point is yes, your thoughts matter to God and it's good you're dealing with it. With prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit you would expect to see more self-control over your thoughts. Don't be shy about asking God for the help of His Holy Spirit and for spiritual growth every time you pray. Ask and you shall receive!

Thanks for the response. Interesting to know evil thoughts proceeds from the heart. I know “From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” I always thought to myself that if you speak it, you’re held accountable, not thinking too. My tongue is finely restrained. My thoughts are a menace.

I'll remember you in my prayers. Hang in there and stay positive; He will work all things out for your good!

I once say a demonstration where a man took a glass of muddy water and began to pour clean water into it.
As more and more clean water was added it forced the muddy water out until the glass was full of clean water.
The point is that the more we fill our mind with clean thoughts the less evil thought are present.
Fill your mind with the Word by studying the Scripture when those evil thought come.
It works.

Satan cannot force you to do anything but temptations we have to endure. He does his best work at night when you are the weakest

Precious friend, A Very Warm Welcome. I will pray for you.
Please Be Very Richly Encouraged and Comforted In:

God's Grace Word for our infirmities!

Hope this [ especially 12b? ] helps answer your great question...

Amen.

we’re all still able to be tempted tbats what’s happening your desire to serve God better has aroused the enemy to whisper lies to you.

look for things Jesus was teaching those who believe in him and trust in him like this

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:36-38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Becaue we all have to be held accountable we need to
Listen to what Jesus is teaching us you’ll have to give an account for your words and your actions we have the law of mercy now given by our judge who knows we aren’t perfect and will eventually think and even speak and do things wrong



Go to judgement like this brother we repent of course when we realize we’ve done wrong but live like this in life


“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the gospel will get us through the jidgement the core of the gospel is mercy not only towards us but from us to others that will save us . Repentance is when we realize we’ve done wrong

stand firm your in a great place that fear is wonderful ot will lead you to freedom

You can't pray bad thoughts out of your mind ----you have to cast down the bad thoughts and replace them with God's thoughts ----His Word -----

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 tells us to “cast down” every argument (also called imaginations in other translations) and bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” But instead of casting the thoughts down we sit there and allow the thoughts to linger the wonder why we feel so defeated.

Greek word for cast down

Strong's Concordance
kataballó: to cast down
o cast down: τινα, passive Rec.; to throw to the ground, prostrate: passive, 2 Corinthians 4:9

2. to put in a lower place:

Amen That’s what Jesus did when tempted rejected the lie and responded with the word

I believe that God does not hold us accountable to 'evil thoughts' that "come into the mind" (that we then dismiss); however, I believe that God does hold us accountable for the 'evil thoughts' from the heart that "go out from the mind" - that ultimately end up in the form of 'intent' and "materialize" in some way. (e.g. - speaking, action)

As for speaking in particular...

Matthew 12:

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

"You can't prevent the birds from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair." (source unknown)

What matters is not the nature of the thoughts, but what you do with them. Similarly, God doesn't judge you as sinful simply because you see or hear of sinful behaviour, but if you dwell on that behaviour and make space for it in your thought life, you're probably crossing the line.

2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us to take our thoughts captive. The purpose is to control our thought life. Philippians 4:8 teaches the same.

No. We're not responsible for our thoughts. The devil spoke to Jesus as well, but he didn't listen.

We're only responsible for the thoughts we listen to if they're not true.

It's impossible to control thoughts. It will make you go crazy trying to. But you are responsible for what thoughts you listen to. Dreams are built of thoughts and spirits. In the same way that you can't control your dreams (other than being lucid) you can't control your thoughts.

Many Christians don't like meditation, but meditation is allowing the thoughts to pass without passing judgment on them or yourself either way. I was shocked how negative a lot of them were.... and I decided to stop listening to them. I don't keep doing it, bc I understand how to separate them. You can hear the voice of God easier in my opinion.

Well spoken.

Of course your thought life is ground zero for all your deeds of the flesh.

That is why Paul instructs us to pray without ceasing.

Obviously, thinking of killing someone is the same as actually killing someone.

How can you separate the intent to kill, the planning to kill, from the act of murder?

Thanks. I’ve been reading the scriptures more often and praying more frequently. I like the analogy. I was cleaning a cup one day and thought of the same thing.

Thank you all for your responses. It was insightful and caused me to think. I read each and everyone. Also, thanks for the welcoming. It’s great to know there are fellow believers in Christ.

Remember this: "Apart from HIM, you can do nothing." many Christians fight a battle they can win or fight a battle they are not using the right weapons.

there are two types of Temptation in the word of God

1 is actually testing by God, or God allowed. Read Job.

2 the other is what the devil does to suggest things that appeal to your flesh or something you were set free from.

If you are trying to remember enough scriptures, pray and fast for the purpose of not having thoughts come to your mind as an attack by the devil. Can ensure you it will not stop.


You Must master it! As God told Cain in Genesis chapter 4

6 “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.

But you must subdue it and be its master.”

It is not a sin to be tempted; it is a sin to be a willful participant in the suggestion or temptation.

You will be tempted, so you must fight as Jesus fought.

the word of God says
1. Submit to God
2. resist the devil
3. and he will run from you

Give no place to the devil.
You can't stop a bird from flying on to your head but you can prevent the bird from building a nest on it.

Yes, pray ! Yes, Study the word; yes, you are the company you keep.

So, if you have come out of addiction or sexual sin, it would not be wise for you not to return to that environment to witness to those whom you were pulled out from by the power of God.

You must separate yourself and be disciplined.

Many reasons why Christians struggle with sin.

They don't separate themselves and are Biblically illiterate. They have no prayer life, and they try to fill their lives with activities so they don't have to deal with temptation.

That will work for a while, but when things slow down, Wham! One is hit with hard temptation, and one is burnt out trying to do
" Church." stuff.

Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Tues Bible study, wed prayer. Outreach Missions.

All those things are great, BUT one can sit in church and be tempted.

Jesus was tempted at all points as a man, yet without sin.

Read: Mathew chapter 4 Luke chapter 4

He fought with the word of God, IT is Written," and the devil left. Guess what? The devil came back, mainly through people.

Hebrews 4:15 NLT
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.



God understands, and it is good that it bothers you, but be encouraged.

Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world. No Weapon formed against you will prosper.
If God be for you, Who can be against you?

Remember, the devil and sin seek to take you like a crouching tiger, but you must subdue them and master them!

Jesus is our Help by the Holy Spirit. Submit to God, and you will resist. Don't seek not to be tempted. Seek to rebuke the Tempter in the name of Jesus, and Soon he will give up on that for a time. Draw near to the Lord in prayer and HIS word and separate yourself.

Be still, know that He is God, and See the salvation of the Lord. I am praying for you!