My Thoughts Exactly
I’ve had people say exactly what I was thinking. It’s a bit unsettling in some situations. When I’m at a ball game and I think the ref missed the call and another guy calls it out – I’m thinking that he’s correct. I don’t always agree with “how” he calls it out. There have been times when someone had the same idea as I had and we say, “Great minds think alike”!
Jesus encountered the deep faith of some friends of a man who had been paralyzed from birth. He engages the paralytic and forgives his sins. I think Jesus knew exactly what would happen with the Pharisees and religious leaders listening and looking on. Check this out…
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” (Mark 2:6-12 NLT)
I think it was my Pappy (Grandpa) who used to say, “Keep quiet or people might think you’re an idiot; rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt”! I am learning to work at managing my thoughts. I’m also learning that what I read, watch, and listen too has a lot to do with the thoughts that pass through my brain. Thoughts are like a lot like feelings… they are private until I speak of them or act upon them. The Lord knows both my feelings and thoughts. He can help me with both.
I think it’s wise to spend lots of time thinking BEFORE speaking. I think it’s wise to import lots of good information into my mind so that I can learn and grow. I want my thoughts to reflect the Lord’s thoughts. I want His Presence in me to shape my thoughts, my words, and my actions.
Pressing On!
Dwayne