Focused Thinking

We need to get our thinking straightened out by the plumb line of Scripture!  I'm not just referring to our mental outlook, our worldview, our interpretation of reality and how God is relevant, but also that we need to think less of self and more of Christ and His kingdom's interests. There are two viewpoints to everything: The human viewpoint or way of thinking and outlook; and the divine interpretation or viewpoint relative to God's revealed Word.  We are jointly exhorted:  "Therefore, to gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:13, NKJV).

Why is this vital?  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7, KJV). "You are not what you think you are, but what you think you are," they say.  Our minds need to be transformed into the right frame of mind relative to God's mind and we have been given the mind of Christ according to 1 Cor. 2:16.  There is only one way to do this:  "... [But] be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God..." (Rom. 12:2, ESV).

We cannot know God's will like men's, we must see the light!  We must know Him through faith.  It behooves us to pay attention until "... the day dawns and the morning star rises in [our]  hearts."  (2 Pet. 1:19, ESV).  Paul commands us:  "Brothers, do not be not children in your thinking.  Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature"  (1 Cor. 14:20, ESV).  Why be so concerned about thinking straight? 

There's a correlation between our thinking and obedience:  Paul says, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5, ESV). We need to think godly and soberly, as well as live godly and soberly! As Peter says (1 Pet. 1:13, NIV):  "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming."

Focused thinking is Christ-centered thinking since we have the mind of Christ, let us think like Christ would think and interpret our world accordingly.  A Christian's focused thought is in Christ:  "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5, ESV).  We have Christ's mind at our disposal and should think accordingly with a purpose!  Let's keep our eyes off ourselves and keeping them on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (cf. Heb. 12:2).  Distorted thinking comes when we view reality the way the world does and forget that we are Christians.  Sound mental health comes from sound thinking!

Finally, whatever is in line with Scripture is kosher thinking--meditation is the art of focused thinking, not emptying of the mind.  It behooves us to heed Paul's exhortation in Phil. 4:8 (ESV):  "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."  Soli Deo Gloria!