Quit Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’! — Scripture Reflection #035
Romans 8:5-6 (New Living Translation)
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Do you ever catch yourself thinking some outrageous thoughts? Like those thoughts that you know are evil and wrong? Perhaps you are wishing that something bad will happen to someone who you think deserves it. Or maybe you find yourself thinking about a person in an inappropriate, lustful way. Maybe you are thinking about what you wished you had said in that argument that would’ve shut that person up. I know I catch myself thinking these ways quite often.
Today’s scripture, however, warns us that when we continually open the door to these evil thoughts, death will soon come knocking. And while some of these thoughts may feel “right” or good in the moment, God has called us to control our thinking and surrender it to the Holy Spirit.
We can replace such thinking processes with ones that align with God’s will for us. In Philippians 4:8, Paul instructs us to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — anything excellent or praiseworthy.” Honestly reflect on what those thoughts look like for you, right now.
The Challenge: Ask God to make you aware of any thoughts that do not align with His will. Then surrender them to God and ask Him to help you think in a way that glorifies Him. And, hey, God promises that when we let the Holy Spirit control our minds, we will find life and peace (Romans 8:6). Who doesn’t want that?
