Thought Life: A Matter of the Heart

The human brain is one of the true wonders of God’s creation.  Infinitely more complex than computers or modern attempts at artificial intelligence, it stores memories and facts that can be recalled in sometimes random and mysterious ways.  Our minds are active day and night (through dreams) and we can’t always control what we think about.  Every follower of Jesus must deal with thoughts that get in the way of our walk with him.   This article will explore ways to deal with this issue. 

The Heart in Scripture

The ancients didn’t know much about the brain and how it worked.  They knew about the heart as a vital organ, but they also came to refer to “the heart” as the place where all of our thinking originates.  It is the place where our thoughts and emotions are generated, where choices are made, where desires come from.  David says in Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.”   The “heart” and “mind” or “thoughts” were synonymous.  See this short video on the “heart” in Scripture.

Considering this, it’s no surprise that the Scriptures have a lot to say about our heart/thought life.  Proverbs 4:23, “above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”.  And Jeremiah writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (17:9).  Jesus says in Matthew 15:18-19, “…what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”  And our hearts can be hardened, by us or even by God (see article, Does God Harden Hearts?).   

On the plus side, the Lord through Ezekiel promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (36:26).  Philippians 4:7, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  

The Battleground of our Minds

Some of the negative thoughts that pop up in our minds are planted by our adversary, and some stem from our own desires.  James gives us a fascinating description of the process of how thoughts can ultimately affect our actions.  

He points out in 1:14-15, “…each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”  

It’s like the birth process.  It starts with our desires (thoughts) that aren’t God’s desires.  They lure us to them, and when we think long and hard enough, we “conceive” the desire, and “give birth” to sin (we act on it) and leads to death.  The wages of sin is death.  This is spiritual warfare.  The battleground is our minds.

Our Weapons

If we live in dependence on the Holy Spirit, He gives us weapons and armor to stand up against the spiritual powers we are dealing with.  See Ephesians 6:10-18.

God’s word is our most powerful weapon.  Jesus responded to the devil’s temptations with Scripture.  Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up (or hidden) your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”  Hebrews 4:12, “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.”  The Scriptures have inherent power to change us.   

How We Fight

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”.

Yes, it is a war, and in our own strength we can never win.  But we have weapons of divine power, and using the battle theme, we can take our thoughts captive so that we may obey Jesus.  In order to do this, we have to have God’s word embedded in us, and we must be aware when we start to wallow in our ungodly desires, and take action.  One of my favorite lines on how to do this is spoken a few times by “theologian” Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show.  “nip it in the bud!”  ( see video here) .  If we nip the bud off of a flower, it won’t bloom.  If we take our thoughts captive before they are “conceived and give birth”, they die. Don’t nurse bad thoughts.

What We Look At

We also need to watch what we let into our minds.  Our social media and entertainment-infested culture assault our minds constantly with content that we really didn’t want to see or hear.  Job’s strategy in 31:1; “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?”  We all need to be purposeful in what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear. 

Doing this consistently takes the Holy Spirit above all, and practice!  It’s like forming any habit.  “If we walk by the Spirit, let’s keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).  Let’s “train ourselves for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7).  It’s a constant battle.

Going on Offense

This isn’t just about dealing with negative thoughts.  That’s the reactive part of the battle, like playing defense in sports.  We do need to play defense, but we also have an offensive weapon of great power!  Philippians 4:8, which Paul wrote when he was under house arrest in Rome, says this:  “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.”  Set our minds on things above, fix our eyes on Jesus.  We defeat the devil when we praise God!

Surrender

Ironically, we win these battles by surrendering!  To God. Dying to self.  Paul puts it this way in Romans 12:1-2: “…present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”  Paul in Galatians 2:20,  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”  

It takes complete surrender to God.  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:5