The following devotional broadcast is by the late Dr. Robert A. Cook; he can be heard daily on Family Radio. Or you may go to Family Radio.org, then to ‘podcasts’ to listen.
His broadcast today was about thoughts, prayer and the Christian life. It is 13 minutes long and is conveyed in a relaxed manner so that listeners have time to consider his words.
Below the podcast, I noted some relevant considerations I had after listening.
I worked in the field of psychology for over two decades and used the self-exam, linked below, to help the youth with which I worked to get some insight into the reasons underlying their out-of-control behaviors, so they might have a better chance of avoiding prison in the future.
I learned and taught that, from thoughts come feelings; and from feelings, behaviors. Not every feeling causes a behavior, but I think it is true that behavior is the fruit of feelings.
Thoughts –> Emotions (feelings) –> Behaviors –> Thoughts –> Emotions –> Behaviors –> Thoughts…. [seemingly a continuing cycle wherein new thoughts keep it going; that is hopeful however, as new, more constructive thoughts about the events of our life can improve our emotions and behaviors].
From dictionary.com:
ORIGIN OF EMOTION: 1570–80; apparently <Middle French esmotion, derived on the model of movoir: motion, from esmovoir to set in motion, move the feelings <Vulgar Latin *exmovēre, for Latin ēmovēre;see e-1, move, motion
That is basic cognitive psychology and it is not difficult to test out in your real-life situations if you begin to look at the process. Thoughts are often like lightening, however, and it can be difficult to identify them. Feelings / emotions are usually the first thing we notice.
Dr. Cook’s words caused me to pray about things that concern me presently. As I prayed, I began to realize that I have been letting my feelings guide me and have been ignoring the area of thoughts.
Since I have not been consistently in the word, I have not had sufficient motivation from the word and the Spirit to keep God’s thoughts in my mind.
God’s thoughts are the ground of reality and they are righteous; they will have a stabilizing effect on a believer because they will produce more appropriate feelings; and more appropriate and reasonable feelings contribute to more stable behavior.
Our thoughts, unlike God’s, are often mixed with opinions; if our opinions are not reality-based, they will negatively impact our behaviors. (The self-exam packet provides a clearer and fuller explanation.)
I know that when I am in God’s word regularly, I am more inclined to deal with difficulties in my life by struggling through them instead of avoiding them….
APPLICATION: pray to God that I might be more consistently in His word and prayer; that I might attend more carefully to my thoughts
Self-Exam packet includes an exam form and instruction in basic skills required to use it; the exam form is on page 8: DOWNLOADABLE SELF-EXAM -2- docx
FROM THE BIBLE, CROSS-REFERENCES TO THE FOLLOWING VERSE from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
every thought: Gen_8:21; Deu_15:9; Psa_139:2; Pro_15:26, Pro_24:9; Isa_55:7, Isa_59:7; Jer_4:14; Mat_15:19; Heb_4:12
[Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.]
Genesis 8:21 And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Deuteronomy 15:9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.
Psalm 139:2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.
Proverbs 24:9 The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind. [KJV Proverbs 24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.]
Isaiah 55:7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
A FEW OTHER SCRIPTURES ON ‘THOUGHTS’ THAT HAVE SOME BEARING ON OUR TOPIC; if you read them, look for the possible related feeling and behavior.
Psalm_10:4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Psalm_56:5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.
Psalm_92:5 How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!
Psalm_94:11 the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
Proverbs 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
Isaiah_55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
Isaiah_55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah_66:18 “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,
Daniel 2:30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.
Daniel 7:28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Matthew 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
Luke 2:35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Romans_2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
1 Corinthians 3:20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
James 2:4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Featured Image: Youtube