What Are You Thinking?

This has probably been a strange Saturday morning because I’ve spent it thinking about, well – thinking. Remember the old saying, “You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.” Solomon said it first for Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. . .” So who do you “think” you are? Many get their sense of “who they are” from the way they were raised. If a child is raised in a negative environment, then, they may have a low self-esteem. They may be rebellious or fearful. If they are raised feeling accepted, praised, and supported, it will make a difference in the way they think about themselves. Children who are told that they are “stupid or lazy,” usually fulfill that “prophecy” by giving up and not trying to do better.

So, how would you describe yourself? Are you a peacemaker (“For they shall be called the children of God” Matthew 5:9)? Are you pure in heart (“For they shall see God” Matthew 5:8)? Are you kind? Do you hold a grudge? (“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. . .” (Ephesians 4:32a)? Do you feel that you are an encourager (“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” I Thessalonians 5:11)? Last Sunday, Kerry Hueter preached a wonderful lesson on “Holiness.” He brought up the topic that if you asked a group of people if they are a Christian, 95% will probably say, “Yes, I’m a Christian.” But, if you asked if they are “holy?”, most would say, “Well, I’m no saint!” My friends, if you are not a “holy saint”, then you are not a Christian either! For a Paul told the Christians at Corinth that even though “some of them had been “unrighteous – fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners” (I Corinthians 6:9-10) – they were now Christians! He said, “But ye are washed (baptized), but ye are sanctified (set apart – made pure), but ye are justifed (your guilt has been taken away) in the name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:11). They had to learn from the past, but move forward in their Christian walk. Paul encouraged the church in Philippi by saying, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, if there by any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

But you know, I’ve found that changing the way that you think about yourself is hard! I’ve been, well, let’s just say a “fluffy” person most of my adult life. I’ve always thought of myself as “big” and bought clothes that were flattering to that body type. Now, that I’ve lost over 100 pounds, I still look at the same style of clothes – that’s what I like! I have to remind myself that – perhaps I can wear “that size.” I’m having to “retrain my brain!” lol In Romans 12:2, Paul told those Christians to “Be not conformed (fashioned) to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” As the church in Ephesus was encouraged – we must “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23). We have to change our way of thinking, acting, talking, etc. . . from “our way” to “God’s way.” Are you willing to do that?

Friends, who do you think you are? Simply blessed, Courtney