If we laid bare our thoughts what would they reveal? If our minds could be read daily like a book what would they tell others about us?
“….it is the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly. All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God.” (Mark 7, 20-23 TLB)
Jesus knew the hearts of men and he knew where and how their souls were harmed. It is what you think and say; Jesus said, that would harm our souls.
Not all we hold in our hearts comes out of our mouths. But all that comes out of our mouths is held in our hearts. So how much more do we hold in our hearts than that which we speak.
If we awoke each morning and went to bed each night realizing that God was right beside us how would our lives be different? Of course He is always beside us and we know that, but we often fail to acknowledge that fact by our thoughts and our words. Out of sight out of mind is a cliché we have all heard. If God was a visible deity how much different would our lives, our thoughts and our words be?
We all realize God knows our thoughts and hears our words when we think about it, but if we can’t see him, we often dismiss the fact that He is with us and knows our every thought, word and deed.
If we made God a part of our lives like we make our wardrobe a daily necessity would our lives be different. If when we showered, we washed off all our sinful thoughts, and when we brushed our teeth, we washed out all our sinful words, we would become more Godly. If we put God’s love on every morning when we dressed and met the world, if we invited Him to walk along beside us through out the day, how much different would we talk. If we fed our minds with His word and let Him fill our minds with His thoughts, how different would our thinking be?
If we stopped to think, God hears every word of gossip we speak, every envious or lustful thought we think, I am sure we would live less sin filled lives.
We all are sinners saved by grace, and if you doubt you sin each day and need God’s forgiveness, just lay bare every thought that passed through your mind. Remember every word you spoke in anger and remember what Jesus said about what pollutes our souls, comes from within.
If we made a habit of talking to Him constantly through out the day, perhaps we would become more aware he is with us, beside us all day and night. Perhaps then we would think and speak more Godly and live less sin filled lives. It is hard to have an on going conversation with God and not be aware of His presence. We would be a lot more conscious of our words and our thoughts if we were more conscious of His presence. We all need to make a habit of visualizing the Presences of God – for after all; He is always there with us.
Betty King