Thoughts

Thoughts

Where do thoughts come from? We read, “Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind [thoughts].” Eph. 2:3. You think about the things that are your life. “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their thoughts darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart . . . .” Eph. 4:17-18.

Many people struggle and toil with bad and evil thoughts from which they would like to be free, but they do not know how to be liberated from them.

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13.

We can discuss the words of men and have many opinions about them, but not when it comes to the Word of God which we must receive by faith. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom. 10:17.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12-13. The first thing the Word does is to divide between soul and spirit. The soul is the seat of our five senses. Many thoughts come from there, but if you receive the Word in your spirit by faith, then the Word will judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. If you accept that judgment, you will be freed from all your bad thoughts that come from the flesh—but not just like that. You must receive the Word and begin to speak God’s Word to yourself. If you do that, you will soon be freed from your bad thoughts. You will come to a completely new life.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and exhorting yourself [German tr.] in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col. 3:16-17.

You have a great desire to be liberated from the ungodly life you have lived, and the memories of it. However, you cannot be freed from all that unless you exhort yourself with God’s Word concerning your calling, and what God has prepared for you who love Him, and how you can grow up to Him who is the Head—Christ—in all things, etc.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9. The Word is the seed of God. You are filled with the seed of God, and you cannot sin if you speak the Word to yourself and exhort yourself. This is how simple it is to be freed from the thoughts of the flesh that used to plague you and in which you formerly lived.

Feelings are also one of our five senses. If we listened to our feelings, then Jesus could be either dead or far away in heaven. But what does faith say? “The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach).” Rom. 10:6-13, 17.

There you can see again that you need to fill your heart with the Word, and use your mouth to speak to yourself and to others. That will give you strength to be liberated in all areas. Jude 20-21.