Thought Life

How can my thought life be pleasing to God?

God’s Response

It is the thought life that defiles you. . . . All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God. Mark 7:20, 23

Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and affections. Psalm 26:2

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

Controlling our thought lives is one of our greatest struggles. God takes your thought life very seriously, because your thoughts define and disclose who you really are. Even if you do not act them out immediately or exactly, thoughts shape your attitudes and actions. A habit of ungodly thinking easily leads to a habit of sinful living. We are to allow God to change the way we think by focusing our thoughts on him, and on anything that is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. We can begin with reading, meditating on, and memorizing Scripture that focuses on these good things.

God’s Promise

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. 1 Chronicles 29:17