What Do You Think?
What you think matters. You might say, “I only think about stealing; I wouldn’t really do it.” Although the fact that you did not steal from someone allowed their life to go on happy and unchanged; thinking about stealing changed you.
A number of studies have shown that if we think about money, we become more selfish. In his recent book, Thinking, Fast and
Slow,
Years ago I participated in a debate regarding the legalization of prostitution. An argument presented on the “pro” side was that if prostitution were legal, rape would be reduced or eliminated. It turns out, however, that where prostitution is legal, the incidence of rape is higher, not lower. How we think reflects our morality.
The Bible says of a person, “As he thinks in his heart, so he is.” What you think about is important. Jesus warned of people who “Outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
If your thoughts slide down to places they should not go; you can change. If you do not change your thinking, your thinking will change you.
Here are three steps you can take:
1. Give your heart to Jesus. Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied that there would come a time when God would give us a new heart, and Jesus said the time is now. Pray, “Jesus I give you my heart, please come in so I can be the person you want me to be.”
2. Read the Bible. The Old Testament says that we should talk Bible when were sitting, standing, going to bed, or getting up—all the time! The New Testament commands us to “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Don’t spend every minute with the TV, cell phone or computer. Read your Bible!
3. Decide to think about good things.
Change your thinking and change your life.