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Scripture for the day: Romans 12:1-2 And so, brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will accept.  When you think of what he has done for you, it this too much to ask?  Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
Thought for the day: What do you think about when you can think about anything you want?  Think about that for a minute.  The Bible has a great deal to say about our thought life and yet we hear little about it in most Christian circles these days, almost as if there were a disconnection between our thoughts and our spiritual state of being.  This can never be true for Jesus said, “As a man (or woman) thinks in his heart, so is he.”  In other words, our voluntary thoughts not only indicate what we are now, they are a predictor of what we will become.
 Our voluntary thoughts control so much more of our lives than we may have ever considered before.  I understand there are basic natural instincts which take over in certain situations or compel us to act in certain ways without our even giving those actions any thought.  I also understand that our thought life cannot be raised to the level of being everything as some cults have attempted to do.  Sin is not just an error in thought; neither is all sickness.  People die of horrible diseases every day, whether they believe it or not.  On the other hand, our thoughts can, and very often do, control our will and even our emotions.  Have you ever heard anyone say, “The more I thought about it, the madder I got?”  Of course you have; you’ve probably said it yourself more than once.  Thinking affects emotions and emotions bring about actions.  The only question is this: what are we going to spend our time thinking about?
 Thinking about the things of God creates a climate in which our faith and love can grow.  We can’t change our height or add one more hair to our heads or get rid of our sins or achieve salvation.  But we can, by thinking on the things of God, create an atmosphere in which the Holy Spirit can renew and refresh our very lives.  We can, by keeping our minds pure, provide a place where a holy God will be pleased to dwell.  Paul said, “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate (think deeply) on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:8-9). Now, what can he mean by this except what he has said?  When stray thoughts not pleasing to our Lord intrude on our minds, as they so very often seem to have the habit of doing, we can take captive every thought and usher them out as quickly as they came in.  As A.W. Tozer put it, “These contrary thoughts should pass through our minds like a bird of the air, leaving no trace behind them.  It’s our voluntary thoughts that make the difference.”
 While it’s true that thoughts stir feelings and feelings lead to actions, our will should be master over our thoughts.  Every person can control what he or she thinks about.  I may not be able to control what thought pops into my head, but I can, through the Holy Spirit, decide whether or not it will be allowed to take up residence.
 What have you thought about over the past few hours, or even days, when you’ve been free to think about whatever you want?  If the answer to that question is that you’ve thought of things contrary to the known will of God in your life, you will soon find yourself at odds with that will.  If the answer is that you’ve consciously focused on the things of God, you will find yourself seeing the world through His eyes and responding to the world as He would.  The best way to achieve the second alternative here is to offer the mind to God in absolute surrender.  The Holy Spirit stands ready to take control of our thoughts and help keep them on spiritual things.   If we train our thought life through talking to God as we go about the business He has for us, He will help us form the habit of holy thought.  This is so important in our walk for, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill