Inside Out: A 40 Day Journey to Transforming Your HeartSample

Mind Reader

Have you ever thought about what it’d be like to have the sixth sense to read people’s minds? How would it affect our view of others if we could know what they thought about us or other things in life? Would we grow to admire them more, or would we grow in disgust with what we uncover? What if someone could do that with you? If someone could know your every thought, would you feel understood, or would you feel exposed? 

God is the ultimate mind reader. He knows our every thought. It says in Psalm 139:2, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” He knows what our minds mull over, spin-on, and what makes us lose sleep because we just can’t seem to shut our brains off.  Our thoughts consume us, overwhelm us, condemn us, and we become sleepless, joyless zombies that just try to get through one more day. How can we make it stop?

Our thoughts come from our hearts. And as we’ve already discussed, our hearts deceive us. We cannot trust what we think is true or right. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”  Jesus teaches that what defiles us begins in our thoughts.  Mark 7:20-22 says, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” 

When we think about something and allow ourselves to meditate on it, it is then that the thought can turn to action. One small action can lead to a slightly bigger action until we notice our thoughts not only have led us astray, they now control us. For example, we may see a beautiful man or woman and have impure thoughts. That meditation may lead to looking at enticing pictures or videos that then lead to inappropriate behaviors. These behaviors can lead to sexual addictions and destroy our ability to have healthy, intimate relationships with others. 

If we want to change our actions, we must begin by changing our thoughts. To change our thoughts, we must immerse ourselves in the truth only found in the Word of God. It is there that our minds will focus on God and how to think rightly to become more like Him.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 

When we fill our minds with the Word of God, our thoughts align with how God sees us and how God sees others. We can begin by studying the promises of God and what the Bible says about our thought life. When we do this, we will not look lustfully at others because they are created in God’s image and should be respected. We will not slander others because we do not want to shame them.  We will not covet because we are thankful for the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ.  We will not envy because we see that God gives us specific gifts and abilities to use for His glory. We will not be prideful because we know our great need for Jesus to forgive us for our sins daily. 

Philippians 4:8 helps us to evaluate what we are to think about, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God knows our thoughts. He is the ultimate mind reader. He provides us with His Word to refocus our thoughts on what is good, acceptable, and perfect. We will be transformed from the inside out when we are intentional to renew our thoughts, one at a time, with His Word. 

Take a Moment:

• What thoughts consume you?

• How can faithfully immersing yourself in the Word of God help you with your thoughts? How can this change your actions? 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not want me to be a slave to my thoughts. Thank You that You have given me Your Word to help transform my mind. Help me to go to You when I know my thoughts are impure. Thank You that You know my thoughts and still give me grace and mercy so that I can fight this battle over my mind.  In the name of Jesus, I surrender my thoughts on ___________ to You.  Renew my mind with Your Word. Take back control of my mind so that I can honor You with my thoughts and transform from the inside out. Amen.