June 25, 2013

"Who can hide in the secret places so that I cannot see them?"  declares the LORD.  "Do not I fill the heavens and earth?"  declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 23:24 NIV

On our recent camping trip, Kristi and I listened to Bill O'Reilly's book about Lincoln's assassination.  In it he wrote about a secret that John Wilkes Booth had in regards to a part of the assassination plans.  I thought, "How did anyone know about that part of the plan if it was a secret?"  Is a secret any longer a secret if even one other person knows?

With God, there are truly no secrets.  What we whisper to a close friend- He knows.  What we write in our journals- He knows.  What we think in the dark of the night- He knows.  Hateful thoughts- He knows.  Lustful fantasies- He knows.

The danger of our thought life is that thoughts lead to attitudes and actions.  The initial thought is not necessarily sinful.  It is impossible to keep all our initial thoughts pure and righteous, but to allow that thought to take root, that is something we have control over.

Last week a radio preacher shared a challenge he used to have in regards to thinking about former girlfriends.  Evidently it had become an issue for this particular individual.  He shared how he memorized many of the old hymns to combat the old flame thought pattern.  He laughingly shared sometimes it would take all six verses of "Amazing Grace" but eventually his thougths would get back in line.  The golden oldies from the hymn book were his defense against destructive thought patterns.

It is just not lustful thoughts that need to be replaced with godly ones.  Any thought patterns that are destructive need to be taken captive.  Any thoughts that rob today of its joy have no place in a Christian's life.  God has promised He will take care of His children's needs.  He will "work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Hymns, scripture, remembrances of God's providence in past situation.  Whatever it takes, replace negative, sinful, destructive thoughts with God-pleasing, edifying ones.