Parson to person: What was I thinking?

It's amazing what can happen when we aren't paying attention. I have two pairs of brown shoes but with just slightly differing styles. Somehow in the blind routine of getting ready in the morning I grabbed a left and right shoe but missed one important detail. I did not realize my error until I was at work and a co-worker enjoyed pointing it out to me that I had two different shoes on.

Sometimes the things that happen from not paying attention can be funny, like wearing two different shoes to work. Sometimes it can be annoying, like when you take a wrong turn. Sometimes it can be deadly, like when a person is texting and driving.

The Bible talks much about the importance of paying attention, especially to our thoughts and what we are setting our minds on. In Philippians 4:8 the Apostle Paul tells us, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - think on these things.” In Colossians 3:1-2, again the Apostle Paul urges us, 'If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” There are many more texts and principles in Scripture that deal with our minds, but the idea is this: pay attention to your thinking.

This saying has so many different reported authors that it is hard to be certain, but it still is good: 'Pay attention to your thoughts, they become words; pay attention to your words, they become actions; pay attention to your actions, they become habits; pay attention to your habits, they become character; pay attention to your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Whoever wrote it has it right that it all begins with your thinking! James 1:13-15 tells us that, 'Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God;' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” It begins in our thinking.

When David went to see his brothers and witnessed Goliath challenging the children of Israel, he marveled that no one would defend the honor of God, much less their brethren. These hardened warriors were scared to death, for all that they could think about was all that they could see, Goliath towering above them. David, however, was not concerned about what he could see, he was focused on what he could not see, the presence and power of God. Who was paying attention to their thinking? Who experienced victory?

This same David, not too many years later, was faced with another challenge that began with his thinking. Instead of being out leading his troops he had stayed home. One night he sees Bathsheba and desires her. She was all he could think about. He ignored warnings from his advisers, he ignored God's Word, he ignored everything but the desires that had taken root in his mind. To make a bad situation worse, he tries to cover up what he did and Bathsheba's pregnancy by devising (according to his own thinking) a plan. A plan that ultimately has Uriah murdered. Same person, same God, different outcomes. What was the difference? David stopped paying attention to his thinking.

How often have we heard someone say, 'I know what God says, but …” Our thinking impacts everything: our words, our actions, our emotions, our reactions, our choices, etc. It is vitally important that we pay attention to our thinking. Be sure that our thinking is not be based on ever-changing feelings or fads or circumstances but upon the unchanging truth of God's Word. What are we thinking?